Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Television History, Media Studies, British History

Book Review:
In 1980, Independent Television (ITV) celebrated its 25th anniversary. ''25 Years On'' is the official commemorative volume, a fascinating snapshot of a quarter-century that transformed British broadcasting. It tells the story of the ''ugly duckling'' that defied its critics—from Lord Reith, who thought it a ''grave mistake,'' to Winston Churchill, who dismissed it as a ''tin penny Punch and Judy show''—to become a beloved and essential part of British life.

The book traces ITV's rocky start. The 1954 Act was passed, but the early years were a financial disaster. Advertisers deserted it, and the whole system was close to collapse. The turning point, as Sir Brian Young's foreword makes clear, was the completion of the powerful northern transmitters at Winter Hill and Emley Moor in 1956. Suddenly, ITV could reach more than half the population, and both viewers and advertisers embraced it. The book pays tribute to the unsung engineers who made this possible.

What follows is a celebration of ITV's unique character. Its regional structure—with companies like Granada, ATV, and Anglia—gave it a local identity that the London-centric BBC could not match. The book highlights the innovations: the lively seriousness of ITN, the enduring popularity of Coronation Street, the groundbreaking drama of Armchair Theatre, and the arts coverage of Tempo. It also acknowledges the controversies, including the critical Pilkington Committee report that focused on the ''glitter'' rather than the substance.

The book is richly illustrated, though the images are not shown in these scans. It captures a pivotal era in television history, from the early days of limited transmission to the establishment of ITV as a powerful and permanent part of the British media landscape.

For anyone interested in the history of television, or in British social history more broadly, ''25 Years On'' is a valuable and engaging document. It is a fitting tribute to the people and programs that made ITV a success.