2 Сomplete the sentences with the information from the text.

1. British television is an object ….

2. The reason lies in the quality of its….

3. This act was inspired by two factors …

4. The act was to open British commercial television to …

5. ITC replaced The Independent Television Authority and …

6. It had the authority to use…

7. It seemed that companies were generally less willing to invest …

8. They would enjoy a franchise long enough ….

9. Any policeman of superintendent rank may demand …..

10. The Broadcasting Standard Council is …

11. Many parents have expressed considerable concern at ….

12. On the other hand journalists were …..

3 Read the text and examine the chart. Answer the questions below. Who watches what?

One of the biggest changes in the way people have spent their leisure time in recent years has been the increase in the amount of time spent watching television. The average winter viewing figures are now about twenty-eight hours per week

As you might expect, television viewing is less popular in summer than in winter and more popular with old people than with any other age group. Viewing also varies according to social class, with professional and managerial classes watching less than unskilled and unemployed. On average, women watch more t

1 Who watches the most TV in Britain? How much do they watch?

2 What sort of programmes are the most common according to the figures in the chart?

3 Comment on the text above and give your arguments why television viewing is by far the most popular leisure time in Britain.

Points for discussion

Discuss in pairs the following:

- How do you think the changes described for radio and TV in Britain will be better for listeners and viewers?

- Are there any limits to violence and indecencies on TV?

- Do you think there should be censorship of TV programmes?

Writing

Write an essay: ‘The BBC is an object of envy and admiration’.

UNIT 5

Government and the media

Before reading

In your opinion, should the media:

a) represent the ‘national’ or ‘public’ interest?

b) be permitted to reveal embarrassing facts about the government which might jeopardize commercial or public interest?

c) publish information gained secretly from politicians?

d) criticize the authority when they feel it is wrong?

1 The following words all appear in the text. Match each one with its correct definition on the right.

1 censure (v)

2 incur (v)

3 liable (adj)

4 realm (n)

5 bashing (n)

6 jeopardize (v)

7 disclosure (n)

8 sack (v)

a) the action of making sth. known

b) a country ruled by a king or queen

c) to cause sth. to be harmed, lost or destroyed

d) criticize sb. severely; to show formally that one disapproves of sb.

e) likely to be legally punished by law

f) to cause oneself to suffer sth. bad;

g) a violent attack, physically or with words

h) to dismiss sb. from a job

While reading