§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Postmaster-General what is the cost per annum of the operation of television; how many hours a day does it function; and what is the estimate of the additional cost when a second transmitter is established in Birmingham.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingI understand from the B.B.C. that the cost of operating the television service chargeable to revenue account during the financial year 1948 to 1949 was about £860,000, including depreciation on capital. The service is broadcast for about 4½ hours per day on the average (including the demonstration film transmission of about one hour in the morning). The B.B.C. expects that the additional annual cost of operating the service, attributable to the second transmitter in the Midlands, will be about 45W £100,000 (this last figure includes the rental for the communication link but excludes the additional cost in respect of depreciation).