Pilkington Committee on Broadcasting

The Pilkington Committee was set up on 13 July 1960 under the chairmanship of British industrialist Sir Harry Pilkington to consider the future of broadcasting, cable and "the possibility of television for public showing". One of its main conclusions stated that the British public did not want commercial radio broadcasting and it offered criticism of the existing commercial television licensees.

Pilkington Committee

The members were:

• Sir Harry Pilkington
• H Collison
• Elwyn Davies
• Joyce Grenfell
• Richard Hoggart
• EP Hudson
• JS Shields
• RL Smith-Rose
• Elizabeth Whitley
• WA Wright
• Professor FH Newark (from March 1961)
• John Megaw (resigned 5 January 1961)
• Peter Hall (resigned 27 January 1961
• Sir Jock Campbell (resigned 2 February 1961)

Pilkington Report

For Consideration

• renewal of the BBC Charter;
• Licence Fee funding;
• extending radio hours;
• adult education broadcasting;
• a third television channel;
• colour television on 625 lines;
• local broadcasting; and
• better commercial television regulation.

Television conclusions

The Report, published on 27 June 1962, recommended the introduction of colour television licences and that Britain's third national television channel (after the BBC Television Service and ITV) should be awarded to the BBC. BBC2 was launched two years later. It also criticised the populism of ITV by attacking its American originated acquired programming such as Westerns and crime series.

Radio conclusions

The Report recommended that the BBC should extend its activities to the creation of local radio stations in order to prevent the introduction of commercial radio.

Unintended consequences

In deciding that the British public did not want commercial radio, it slammed the door to licences that were being sought by over 100 British registered commercial radio companies. Its immediate result was historic in nature because it inspired both the creation of a trade lobby group for commercial radio, and the establishment of the first British pirate radio station that was financed and managed by dissenting members of the British Establishment. Their commercial radio station was situated outside of British jurisdiction in international waters on board a ship that broadcast to Britain under the call sign of Radio Caroline.