Emergency Broadcasts

I don't think state-owned is acceptable either. The BBC is simply unique.

There's plenty of connectivity from the street itself to the major broadcasters and news agencies, but I don't believe there's anything from inside. (Maybe some tielines to the wallboxes on the street? Wouldn't surprise me if they were analogue...)

Yes I was meaning the position outside commonly used for announcements and speeches.

But it is owned by the state, much like the NHS, for instance -- and it is not really unique on a global scale, since many countries in Europe -- and beyond -- have their own BBC equivalents (in many cases modeled directly on the BBC).

I think describing it as 'state-owned' is unusual, but probably accurate, though it doesn't really tell the whole story. (Describing it as 'government' owned would be different and less accurate I'd argue)

However describing the BBC as a 'state broadcaster' is a different issue, as 'state broadcaster', in normal use, implies the government of state controls the broadcaster (usually editorially) - and that is not the case of the BBC as its independence, editorially, is enshrined in a Royal Charter.

Many European broadcasters that could be described as 'state-owned' are more accurately described as 'public service' broadcasters, in the more accepted meanings of the two descriptions I'd say, with some exceptions where independence from government is not the case.

Reminds me of a thread I created weeks ago.
http://www.tvforum.co.uk/forums/post1010643

Here is the ShakeAlert system being developed for California and the West Coast of the US for earthquakes. It supposed to be similiar to the Japanese system that puts out an alert before a certain quake "wave" reaches the population centers. Im not giving an accurate description, but its kinda interesting in concept.


UC Berkeley is involved in the development and they put out a video showing one of possible uses for the system. I dont think at this point they were concerned about the acting or the look and sound of the app since the whole system is still in major development.

The BBC's detailed plans for nuclear war

On a similar note it's well worth checking out Mike Kenner's timeline on Twitter where he's posted the entire 1975 BBC War Book detailing the plans for the Wartime Broadcasting Service

#ColdWarHistory #BBCWarBook The following docs are the declassified 1975 BBC War Book, obtained via a FOIA request.

— Mike Kenner (@wellbright) July 24, 2016

Fascinating reading indeed. Some of the assumptions made for life following an attack are rather chilling read in actual ink on paper (even if they'd been pretty obvious).

One interesting thing is that despite what everyone assumed, the BBC's Long Wave transmitter wasn't part of the plans. I'd always heard that it was of major importance because it covered the while country, but seems at least in 1975 it's lack of regionality meant that the first thing they'd do is shut it down!

It's interesting that the book doesn't really mention local radio, other than some of its managers would be seconded to roles in the WTBS.

Somebody who had access to the bunker at Shipton in North Yorkshire posted elsewhere that there were circuits labelled as 4-wires to Holme Moss, Moorside Edge, Peterborough (?) transmitters and Radio Leeds, Sheffield, Humberside and York.

(The circuits were identified by initials, I wonder if PTB was actually PTP, Pontop Pike, which would make more sense)