HC Deb 24 June 1959 vol 607 cc136-7W
Sir W. Anstruther-Gray

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now able to make a statement about the British Broadcasting Corporation's plans for improving and extending their television and very high frequency sound coverage.

Mr. Marples

Yes. I am pleased to announce that I have now approved in principle proposals by the B.B.C. to erect low-power satellite television and V.H.F. sound stations in the following areas:

  • Berwick on Tweed.
  • Fort William.
  • Galashiels.
  • Llandrindod Wells.
  • Loch Leven.
  • Oban.
  • Oxford.
  • West Cornwall.
Other satellite television stations built in the following areas:
  • Barrow/Lancaster area.
  • Enniskillen.
  • Ipswich.
  • Pembroke.
  • Sheffield.
  • Skegness.
and satellite V.H.F. sound stations in:
  • Channel Islands.
  • Londonderry.
where there are already B.B.C. television stations. All the V.H.F. sound stations will put out the Home Service and the Light and Third Programmes.

These fourteen television and ten V.H.F. sound stations represent the first stage in the Corporation's plans for improving and extending their coverage. They will bring B.B.C. television to some 200,000 new viewers and will improve reception for about one million more. Some 600,000 people will get the V.H.F. sound service for the first time. The Corporation hope to complete these twenty-four stations by March, 1962.

The Corporation will then plan for further stations. All the satellite television stations will have to use frequencies in Band I and it is far too early to say just how many such stations it may, in the end, be possible to fit into that Band. The broad result of this programme will be to bring B.B.C. television coverage to over 99 per cent., and their V.H.F. sound coverage to nearly 98 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom.