Archive

Large scale document archive

1983 May 25 - 1984 Apr 27
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1172
Broadcasting (Direct broadcasting by satellite; development of cable systems and services; broadcasting policy) (Part 4)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Jan 3
Classification: Confidential
Page count: 304
Themes: Industry, Privatized & state industries, Media

PREM19/1172 - download whole file (PDF, 42.78 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 21 - 38 of 38

Date Value Title
84 Feb 15 We Major Broadcasting: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Ingham, members of the Independent Television Companies Association Limited) [Direct Broadcasting by Satellite venture: "Essentially their concern was the problem of raising £200m to finance their share of the venture"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 1 Th Major Broadcasting: No.10 minute (internal): Policy Unit to Turnbull ("Cable and Satellite Broadcasting") ["The response of the market place confirms that our policy... is correct... We should not, however, use public money... to stimulate investement"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 15 Th Major Broadcasting: Brittan letter to Sir Antony Part (Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS): transmission standards) ["a suitable moment for us to consider you discharged from the commission which you so kindly accepted from us"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 27 Tu Major Broadcasting: No.10 Policy Unit minute to MT ("Broadcasting, Narrowcasting, Computers and Telephones") ["a brief aide memoire setting out the interconnections and the problems"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 30 Fr Major Broadcasting: Tebbit PS letter to No.10 ("Mr J G Anderson: Direct Broadcasting by Satellite in the UK") ["represents US satellite manufacturing interests... seeks to denigrate and misrepresent the proposals of the... consortium... which the BBC had selected to provide a DBS satellite... [suggest] a neutral reply on the lines of the attached draft"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 30 Fr Major Broadcasting: No.10 Policy Unit minute to MT ("DBS") [Direct Broadcasting by Satellite: criticism of project & Government over-commitment; third party involvement; alternative options; recommendation that MT convene review meeting] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 30 Fr Major Broadcasting: Brittan minute to MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS): A Joint Project") ["In the attached memorandum... [Tebbit] and I set out our joint conclusions... propose to announce the general lines of our policy"; potential risks to project going head; News International rival scheme; MT requests meeting of key Ministers] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 3 Tu Major Broadcasting: Policy Unit minute to Turnbull ("AT&T") ["Closer relationships... [with] AT&T... likely to give our companies a better chance of succeeding in an increasingly competitive world market place"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 4 We Major Broadcasting: Lord Cockfield minute to MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite") [case against awarding a monopoly; MT requests meeting of key Ministers] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 12 Th Major Broadcasting: Tebbit minute to MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS)") ["the project to launch DBS has suffered repeated delays... [further] delay of even 2-3 weeks may lose the chance of a 1987 launch... This is a high-cost, and a high-risk venture"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 12 Th Major Broadcasting: Rees minute to MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS)") ["The broadcasters' apparent reluctance to commit themselves suggests to me that we too should tread warily"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 12 Th Major Broadcasting: No.10 minute to MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite") [Tebbit opposed to delay in launch of project if time for consideration is allowed for Lord Cockfield's suggested modifications; MT: "I agree with Lord C. very strongly"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 12 Th Major Broadcasting: Lord Cockfield minute to MT ("The DBS Project") [Direct Broadcasting by Satellite: proposed modifications to avoid risk of Government financial commitment; "We came into office convinced of the merits of the free market economy"; MT concurs] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 12 Th Major Broadcasting: Brittan minute to MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite (DBS)") ["fully agree with [Tebbit]... delay in reaching decisions until 1 May would seriously undermine the chances of success of the joint project"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 18 We Major Broadcasting: Brittan PS letter to No.10 ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite: Joint Project") ["[Brittan] believes it may be helpful to offer the following comments on the two... modifications suggested by [Lord Cockfield]"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 27 Fr Major Broadcasting: No.10 Policy Unit briefing for MT ("DBS") [Direct Broadcasting by Satellite; "The joint [BBC/ICTA] venture should only be allowed to proceed if it is commercially viable on its own merits": outline of criteria] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 27 Fr Major Broadcasting: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite") ["This minute summarises the technological considerations which are a major part of the DBS problem... the penalties of letting this project fail are not catastrophic"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 27 Fr Major Broadcasting: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("Direct Broadcasting by Satellite") [background; key considerations; handling; conclusions] [declassified Jan 2014]