Abstract

The BBC as Monopoly

The article tells about the divergent views expressed over the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) through the book "British Broadcasting: A Study in Monopoly," by R.H. Coase. In Great Britain the charter of BBC expires in 1951. A committee of inquiry is considering whether it should be renewed or be replaced by some alternative system of broadcasting. The argument has been provided in this volume, whether the BBC should be given a renewal? For the American reader the book has a twofold interest. It disposes of a misunderstanding, for years sedulously fostered here by the radio industry, that BBC is run by the government and so must be condemned. The main interest of the book, however, lies in its analysis of the monopoly aspects of British broadcasting. Here is a fascinating case study of the monopolistic mentality, its tendency to self-perpetuation and its capacity for ingenious rationalization.