Crossed Signals: The British Labour Government and Cross-Border Commercial Radio after World War II

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Poster Session: Communication History Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Traditional British hostility toward commercial radio increased sharply after the 1945 victory of the Labour Party, with its anti-advertising stance and emphasis on domestic austerity. The Labour government went to great lengths to silence or cripple the remaining continental commercial broadcaster – Radio Luxembourg -- that sought to resume its pre-war influence among British radio listeners. The abysmal state of the consumer market in post-war Britain made the job easier. Also, the government, along with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), tried to bolster the commercial-free public service model in most areas under British influence. There were exceptions both in small colonies and big regions. The most glaring example is South Asia, where the British government was the midwife to the most powerful and successful commercial broadcaster in Asia – Radio Ceylon. This paper examines how conflicting priorities and politicians tried but ultimately failed to inhibit the growth of commercial radio.

Author

• John Jenks