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Thatcher's impact on the media - Coggle Diagram
Thatcher's impact on the media
Press
Impactful
Allows Murdock's bid for the Times to be waved through the Monopolies Commission in 1981, highly influential as owns Times, News of the World and the Sun
1980's 70% of newspapers pro Tory
Reforms to trade unions allow for more efficient printing, Sun lost 300m copies to strikes between 1976 and 1986, thus press favoured Thatcher
Limited impact
Thatcher desperately unpopular in the papers prior to dealings with Murdock
Had to set aside her idea of competition to let the Times bid through
Cinema
Impactful
1985 Film Act stopped the subsiding of British films, British Filmmakers go to America such as Ridley Scott (Alien)
Increased Americanisation of UK Cinema due to the rise in popularity of American blockbusters and the removal of subsidies for UK films, 85% of films shown were American
Those going to the cinema had increased for the first time since the 1950s in the mid 80s, this was more due to the popularity of blockbusters than Thatcher's policies though
Limited impact
'Us' and 'them' films - 'us' were British made which showed the reality of Britain, they overwhelming attacked Thatcherism and the gap in inequality. 'Them' films depicted a romanticised Britain made to appeal to the Americans
TV
Impactful
Launch of Channel 4 in 1982, due to resentment of the duopoly of the BBC and ITV
Initially unpopular with the Daily Mail calling it 'Channel Bore'
Eventually a financial success, advertisement revenue exceeding the levy given by ITV
Peacock report (set up to review BBC financing) detailed the success of Channel 4 and led to the 1990 Broadcasting Act, 25% of programmes must be made by independent production companies, Channel 5, growth of satellite TV and most importantly the removal of regulator IBA for a 'lighter' regulator
Programmes reflected Thatchers view of making as much money as possible, programmes such as Dallas that came from America and featured rich families were extremely popular, peaking at 21m views
Limited impact
Guardian Article written by Smith in 1972, benefits of a Channel 4 and the reason why it is not given to ITV, met with conservatives and used ideas of the free market benefits to convince them
Thus Thatcher had a personal dislike of the programmes on Channel 4, sympathising with Mary Whitehouse over the use of swearing in Brookside. Clear indicator of the lack of control she had over it
Isaacs, Chairman of Channel 4 believed in creative freedom, lack of control from Thatcher
Commercial radio
Impactful
1990 Broadcasting Act led to 3 new national stations Virgin, Talksport and Classic FM, in theory large amounts of competition for the BBC
Number of independent stations increased from 20 to 58
Limited impact
New stations only really affected the younger generation as majority of over 50s still using the BBC
Allowance of mergers and acquisitions leads to reduced competition