The radio annual (1961)

Global Television Programmes Pioneered By Great Britain By VAL PARNELL Managing Dir., Associated Television Ltd. AN exciting new outlook has begun to invade the television screens of the world. Not only in Britain and the U. S. A. but in other countries too, television is now being planned on an international basis. Major programmes are being made not only for screening in the countries of origin— but for distribution in overseas markets as well. In short, Global TV is here. In Britain, my company has been the pioneer in producing programs for the international market. Our U. S. sales— made through our American subsidiary, the Independent Television Corporation—include such network deals as "Robin Hood" and "Danger Man." We have also made big strides in the syndication market with such products as "Four Just Men" and "Interpol Calling." Recently we embarked on another new film series "Ghost Squad," based on Scotland Yard's undercover men. We are producing this in association with the Rank Organisation on a budget of $1,500,000. These film series, however, are only part of the story. Our company has developed a $300,000 mobile recording unit which is now operating throughout Europe. This unit, first of its kind, records programmes on videotape on the American system of 525 lines. It is being used by ABC, CBS and NBC, both for co-production deals and for exclusive assignments for American viewers. Last year we taped a whole week of programs here for Jack Paar and NBC. This spring he was here again taping one-hour inserts in the Carlton Towers Hotel in London. Naturally, we are delighted to be associated with American television in this way and to be in a position to provide your networks with these facilities. In April, we opened our new $14,000,000 Studio Centre at Elstree, Herts, covering 31 acres, and just 14 miles from the center of London. These are the most modern in the world and provide us with the largest studio space of any TV organisation in Britain. All the equipment is capable of working on the 405 line British standard; the 525 60 frame American system and the 625 European line standard. It is here that we will be taping a series of Jo Stafford shows— for world wide showing. We are already placing our own British made TV series in 40 countries including Finland, Yugoslavia, Thailand and Poland. Our programs are seen on more than 1,000 TV stations. For our "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" TV series, we book the biggest international stars available. This is Britain's premier televaudeville show, live from the Palladium stage before a theatre audience. We will be taping some of the these programs for U. S. viewers in the autumn. We produce this show each week, building the programme around our headline star. From the viewers' point of view we aim to give each one of them a seat in the greatest music hall in the world. But our output is not confined to vaudeville. We are getting big overseas sales with our hour long semi-documentary series. One of these is "Probation Officer," the story of behind-the-scenes in a London magistrates' court. Another popular programme which has iust started in Australia is our twice weekly hospital serial "Emergency-Ward 10." As Global TV develops, we in Britain will be bringing performers of calibre to viewers screens everywhere — from Alaska to Sydney; from Tokyo to Beirut. 1026