These headings cover a wide range of subjects and a variety of methods of presentation. Whatever the subject or approach, the broad result is likely to be television which is informative or, in the best sense, educative. The importance with which this range of programming is regarded is reflected in the fact that each week Independent Television presents about 25 hours of talks, discussion and documentary programmes, representing about 14 per cent of the total output of separate programmes. On average, viewers in any one ITV area see about 5 hours a week of programmes in these categories. This output is additional to the presentation of news and news magazines, religion, school and adult education programmes.
Current Affairs
A regular flow of information and comment on a wide range of subjects is provided by Independent Television’s many current affairs series. The firmly-established weekly half-hour programme This Week (A-R) seeks to interpret and bring into focus some of the major events of the previous seven days, with specially shot film reports and studio interviews presented by Brian Connell. Roving Report (ITN) is another regular weekly programme, presenting reports on the current situation in overseas countries.
Other current affairs series transmitted over a number of Independent Television areas include What The Papers Say (Granada), a review of the treatment given by the Press to the week’s news; World in Action (Granada), giving the background to the news of the week; and Decision (A-R), a fortnightly survey of current political topics which is a sequel to Questions in the House (A-R). A weekly series which ran until October 1962 was Dinner Party (ATV), in which Lord Boothby was host to groups of distinguished people. Another weekly series which ran until the middle of the year was The Warning Voice (ATV), each programme dealing with a current social problem.
Most of the programme companies produce regular current affairs series for transmission in their own areas. There is a very wide range of subject matter and treatment, but there is a general emphasis on. local participation or topics of particular interest to local viewers.
Features
On alternate Wednesdays, in peak viewing time. Independent Television presents a full-length documentary feature programme. These are generally major studies on a topic of world or national importance, and a great deal of time and effort goes into their production.
Personal Interviews
Series of interview programmes are produced in a number of ITV areas. Many bring into the studios local personalities or distinguished visitors; such programmes are primarily of local interest. A few series are of wider appeal. These include such series as I Believe (Granada), in which eminent upholders of various faiths expressed the reasons for their beliefs; Appointment With … (Granada), when Malcolm Muggeridge interviewed, in the main, leading political figures; and Dan Farson Meets … (A-R), – interviews with popular singers and musicians, a programme which had its sequel in Kingsley Amis Goes Pop. Also of wide interest was the series Meeting of Minds (ATV), in which two well-known people discussed an important, but not necessarily topical, subject; for example, J. B. Priestley and Colin Wilson discussed “The Critic and the Artist”.
Practical and Outdoor
Nearly all the programme companies produce one or more regular weekly series of practical and outdoor magazine programmes. Two series are partly networked: The Other Man’s Farm (ABC) and I am going to be (ATV), a series on careers. The rest, more than thirty series in all, are mostly shown in the areas of the producing companies. A major group is that of the farming magazines, which, while catering specifically for the interests and needs of the local farming community, often gain a wider viewing public. There are a few general country series and some gardening programmes. Several series deal with the care of animals and pets. Other series deal with various aspects of the home, child welfare and cookery.
The most popular times for the presentation of such programmes are during the evening or the early afternoon.
History
Recent history often figures in individual feature programmes or short series. A regular weekly series dealing with the events of twenty-five years ago is All Our Yesterdays (Granada), which makes fascinating use of newsreel film of the period. The history of local regiments is the subject of Soldiers of the Queen (Southern) and The Fighting Midlands (ATV). The history of Southern England was dealt with in Southern Heritage (Southern); while Once a Kingdom (Anglia) dealt with the history of East Anglia, with an emphasis on the archaeological aspects.
Science and Natural History
Series on science or natural history have become established as familiar features of Independent Television. They are usually presented as regular weekly programmes over a period of several months at a time. During the past six months there have been Breakthrough (Granada), a detailed study of the latest discoveries in natural history; The Origins of Man (ATV); the newest scientific developments examined in Threshold (ATV); and scientific research in Insight (A-R).
Miscellaneous
Each week a selection of outstanding documentary films is presented by John Grierson in This Wonderful World (Scottish). Another general documentary series is Here and Now (A-R) which four nights a week presents an on-the-spot report about some aspect of the world in which we live. Other series seen in several ITV areas have included Sing a Song for Sixpence (ATV), in which John Betjeman considers the English music hall; Salute to the Shorts (ATV), a series on British film documentaries; Command (ATV), a notable documentary study of the R.A.F.; Farson in Australia (A-R), a study of life in Australia; and The ABC of Democracy (A-R), dealing with various forms of democracy. In addition, there have been a number of local documentary series and individual programmes.
Current Affairs
| Programme | Description | Company | Mins. | Time & day | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World in Action | International problems | Granada | 30 | 10.30 Monday | Part Network |
| Sense and Nonsense | Topical discussion | Scottish | 30 | 10.30 Monday | Local |
| Midland Montage | Documentary magazine | ATV | 30 | 6.30 Tuesday | Local |
| Decision | Current political topics | A-R | 30 | 10.45 Tuesday (alternate) | Part Network |
| Points North | Topical discussion | Grampian | 30 | 10.45 Tuesday | Local |
| Background | Report and discussion | Southern | 30 | 10.45 Tuesday | Part Network |
| Conflict of Opinion | Topical discussion | Westward | 30 | 10.45 Tuesday | Local |
| What the Papers Say | Review of the Press | Granada | 15 | 10.30 Wed. | Part Network |
| Roving Report | Reports from abroad | ITN | 30 | 6.15 Thursday | Part Network |
| This Week | Study of current issues | A-R | 30 | 9.15 Thursday | Network |
| Look Around | Current Midland topics | ATV | 25 | 6.30 Friday (alternate) | Local |
| Arena | Topical discussion | Anglia | 15 | 6.45 Friday | Local |
| Editorial | Review of local press | Border | 5 | 8.55 Friday | Local |
| Tavern Talk | Popular opinion | Anglia | 30 | 10.35 Monday Jan-April 1962 | Local |
| Enquiry Into | Topical discussion | Border | 20 | 6.15 Monday Jan.-May 1962 | Local |
| Look Here | Topical discussion | Ulster | 30 | 10.35 Monday Jan-June 1962 | Local |
| The Warning Voice | Social and everyday problems | ATV | 25 | 6.20 Friday Jan.-June 1962 | Part Network |
| Report | Documentary series | Scottish | 30 | 6.30 Friday Jan.-Aug. 1962 | Local |
| Questions in the House | Current political issues | A-R | 30 | 10.40 Friday (alt.) Feb.-August 1962 | Part Network |
| Challenge | An expert is questioned | TWW | 30 | 10.40 Monday Mar.-May 1962 | Local |
| What Say They | Topical discussion | Border | 30 | 10.40 Friday March-Sept. 1962 | Local |
| For Richer, For Poorer | Study of the affluent society | Granada | 30 | 10.35 Monday April-May 1962 | Part Network |
| Meeting of Minds | Discussion | ATV | 20 | 2.25 Sunday May-Sept. 1962 | Local |
| Dinner Party | After-dinner conversation | ATV | 30 | 10.40 Monday June-Oct. 1962 | Part Network |
| Looking Abroad | Current events abroad | A-R | 7 | 6.08 Monday July-Nov. 1962 | Local |
| Bridgehead | Foreign communities in Britain | A-R | 30 | 10.45 Friday Aug.-Sept. 1962 | Part Network |
| Look to Tomorrow | Study of current problems | Anglia | 30 | 10.40 Monday (monthly) Aug.-Dec. 1962 | Local |
| Your Point of View | Viewers’ questions | TWW | 30 | 10.40 Monday Oct.-Dec. 1962 | Local |
| We Submit | Review of Royal Commissions | ATV | 25 | 5.40 Sunday Nov.-Dec. 1962 | Part Network |
Personal
| Programme | Description | Company | Mins. | Time & day | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Scrapbook | Eminent people | TWW | 30 | 10.25 Monday | Local |
| Looking Back | Ulster personalities | Ulster | 30 | 10.40 Monday (monthly) | Local |
| Visitors’ Book | Distinguished visitors to the Channel Isles | Channel | 15 | 6.45 Wednesday (monthly) | Local |
| Borderline | Personalities from the Borders | Border | 30 | 8.00 Thursday (monthly | Part Network |
| Midland Profile | Midland personalities | ATV | 25 | 6.30 Friday (alternate) | Local |
| Viewfinder | Various | Grampian | 30 | 10.15 Friday | Local |
Practical and Outdoor
| Programme | Description | Company | Mins. | Time & day | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Care | Welfare of pets | A-R | 7 | 6.08 Monday | Local |
| Come into the Garden | Gardening magazine | ATV | 20 | 6.10 Monday | Local |
| Around the House | Home magazine | Westward | 30 | 6.15 Monday (alternate) | Local |
| Island Farmer | Farming magazine | Channel | 15 | 6.45 Monday | Local |
| Country Focus | Country magazine | Grampian | 25 | 6.20 Tuesday | Local |
| I am going to be | Careers feature | ATV | 30 | 6.15 Wednesday | Part Network |
| Midland Farming | Farming magazine | ATV | 15 | 6.45 Wednesday | Local |
| Babytime | Child welfare | WWN | 15 | 11.00 Thursday (alternate) | Local |
| Focus about the Home | Home magazine | Border | 25 | 6.35 Friday | Local |
| Out of Town | Outdoor magazine | Southern | 20 | 6.40 Friday | Local |
| Farming Bulletin | Farming news | Westward | 5 | 8.55 Friday | Local |
| North East Farming Diary | Farming magazine | Tyne Tees | 5 | 2.15 Sunday | Local |
| Farming Diary | Farming magazine | Anglia | 40 | 2.15 Sunday | Local |
| Farm in the South | Farming magazine | Southern | 30 | 2.20 Sunday | Local |
| For Border Farmers | Farming magazine | Border | 15 | 2.35 Sunday (alternate) | Local |
| ABC Farming Comment | Farming news | ABC | 5 | 2.45 Sunday | Local |
| Come Gardening | Gardening magazine | Southern | 20 | 5.20 Sunday | Local |
History
| Programme | Description | Company | Mins. | Time & day | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldiers of the Queen | Regimental history | Southern | 20 | 6.40 Monday | Local |
| All Our Yesterdays | Events of 25 years ago | Granada | 30 | 7.00 Monday | Part Network |
| The Fighting Midlands | Regimental history | ATV | 25 | 6.15 Tuesday January 1962 | Local |
| Southern Heritage | History of Southern England | Southern | 15 | 6.45 Monday Jan.-June 1962 | Local |
| Once a Kingdom | East Anglian history | Anglia | 30 | 7.00 Wednesday Oct.-Nov. 1962 | Local |
Science and Natural History
| Programme | Description | Company | Mins. | Time & day | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Story | Natural history | Granada | 30 | 10.35 Monday Feb-March 1962 | Part Network |
| You’d Never Believe It | Science behind show business | ABC | 30 | 4.50 Sunday April-Sept. 1962 | Part Network |
| Breakthrough | Natural history | Granada | 30 | 10.40 Friday (alt.) June-Aug. 1962 10.45 Tuesday (alt.) Sept.-Dec. 1962 | Part Network |
| The Origins of Man | History of man | ATV | 20 | 5.45 Sunday June-Aug. 1952 | Part Network |
| Threshold | Scientific developments | ATV | 25 | 5.40 Sunday Sept.-Nov. 1962 | Network |
| Insight | Scientific research | A-R | 7 | 6.08 Tuesday Dec. 1962-Jan. 1963 | Local |
Miscellaneous
| Programme | Description | Company | Mins. | Time & day | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Here and Now | Magazine programme | A-R | 15 | 6.45 Tue.-Thur. | Part Network |
| Anglia | 6.45 Monday | ||||
| This Wonderful World | Film anthology | Scottish | 30 | 6.30 Tuesday | Part Network |
| Sing a Song for Sixpence | John Betjeman series on the English Music Hall | ATV | 30 | 10.45 Tuesday (alt.) Jan.-Feb. 1963 | Part Network |
| Salute to the “Shorts” | Series on British film documentaries | ATV | 20 | 5.20 Sunday January 1963 | Part Network |
Features
| Programme | Description | Company | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postscript to Empire | Britain in transition | A-R | 10th January |
| South America | A study of the continent | ATV | 7th February |
| Living with a Giant | Canada and the United States | A-R | 21st February |
| Head On—The Red Dean | Dr. Hewlett Johnson | Granada | 7th March |
| 40 Million Shoes | A report on Brazil | A-R | 21st March |
| Algeria | The story of the Algerian war | A-R | 4th April |
| The Young Offenders | Juvenile delinquency | ATV | 2nd May |
| America Abroad | Americans working abroad | A-R | 30th May |
| The State of the Union | Development of the United States of America | ATV | 4th July |
| Birth | A study of childbirth | A-R | 25th July |
| Watch on the Mekong | Report on Thailand and Laos | A-R | 8th August |
| Challenge in the Skies | British civil aviation | ATV | 5th September |
| Unfinished Revolution | The emergence of Mexico | A-R | 19th September |
| A Roof over our Heads | The housing problem | Granada | 3rd October |
| Oxford | A study of the city | ATV | 24th October |
| Article 237 | The Common Market | A-R | 31st October |
| Dangerous Medicine | Pharmaceutical research | Granada | 14th November |
| The Fanatics | The suffragette movement | Granada | 12th December |