BBC Handbooks, Annual Reports and Accounts, 1927-2002 - Key Data

The British Broadcasting Company became the British Broadcasting Corporation on 1 January 1927 and quickly became an iconic and central part of British culture and life. The BBC firmly established its reputation as an indispensable broadcaster and has since held an influential role in broadcasting worldwide, becoming the oldest and largest local and global broadcaster. Funding for the BBC primarily comes from taxation, which has led to increased public scrutiny on its spending and objectives. In order to answer these questions, the BBC deemed it necessary to publish a yearly report explaining what it does and why. These handbooks are included in this collection and they provide an insight into the internal workings of the BBC.

This collection also contains annual reports and accounts published by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) between 1927 and 2002. In addition, the collection includes a review of each year’s public service broadcasting, with detailed schedules, audience research, performance and objective tables, commentaries, and editorials. Together, these documents provide students and scholars with a unique opportunity to examine the social and cultural forces that shaped Britain in the twentieth century.  

(The BBC word mark and logo are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC Logo © BBC 1996.)