HC Deb 01 December 1980 vol 995 c46W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of maintaining the British Army in the Rhine's television service for each year since its inception; and what audience it has served for each year of its operations.

Mr. Hayhoe

Transmission of a recorded television service for British Forces, Germany began in September 1975. The capital and running costs of this service and the audience it has reached each year are shown below. There have also been some £3.2 million works costs falling to the PSA spread over the years since 1976 for the provision of towers in the United Kingdom and in Germany. The annual running costs from 1980–81 will be about £1.4 million.

£ million
Capital and Running Costs
1975–76 1.8
1976–77 2.0
1977–78 2.6
1978–79 3.1
1979–80 3.8
1980–81 *4.3
* Estimated
Number
Audience 1975–76 18,000
1976–77 18,000
1977–78 18,000
1978–79 40,500
1979–80 100,000
1980–81 *145,000
* Estimated