Both services carried a wide variety of content as well as regional variations in programming and sometimes continuity.
Originally each company would broadcast with their own, unique station name, such as "Yorkshire Television" or "Associated-Rediffusion"; with separate continuity announcers and on-screen presentation.
Various relaxations on these requirements and restrictions were made throughout its history, with a substantial set of deregulation taking place upon the implementation of the Broadcasting Act 1990.
Lifting of ownership restrictions resulting from this act and subsequent acts resulted in a single ITV plc owning and operating the majority of franchises by the early 2000s, with a common identity as ITV1 ("UTV" is used for local programmes in Northern Ireland).
For many years, the ITA, IBA and the ITV companies campaigned for further frequencies on which to broadcast, though these goals were never wholly realised on analogue.
Channel 4 was originally funded by allowing each local ITV franchisee to sell adverts during the station's airtime in their area in exchange for a guaranteed income to be paid to the IBA.
The station was established with the intention to provide programmes for minority groups and cater for specialist interests and has a remit that details these obligations.
Previously ITV and the BBC were obliged to air Welsh language programmes, though these were often shown at off-peak times.
Compared to the other analogue broadcasters, it has relatively few public-service obligations, provision of news programming being one exception.
In addition to the five national networks, a limited number of local stations were broadcast to various towns and cities under what was known as a Restricted Service Licence.
Their output was mainly local, and each contract for an RSL lasted four years until 2004 when media regulator Ofcom stated that each licence will be renewed up until digital switchover.
Television broadcasting began on an experimental basis by the BBC in London in 1936 on VHF Band I.
Broadcast on this system officially commenced in 1967 with BBC2's (and the UK's) launch of colour television programming, though previous years had seen many unofficial colour test films outside of official broadcasting hours, including some which trialled NTSC and SECAM.
These channels were allocated, by the GPO, to the broadcasters to allow for four networks to operate with eventual maximum coverage and minimum cross-network interference.
[citation needed] The government was committed to switching terrestrial television broadcasting to fully digital by 2012.
The schedule was announced by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell on 15 September, 2005.
Some concern had been raised that the London region would be switched shortly before the city hosts the Olympic Games.
Jowell said "I can assure you that I did not slog for two years to bring the games here just to see Londoners reduced to huddling round the wireless to find out who won the hundred metres, I am completely confident that our timetable is a sensible one which will ensure that digital services are delivered with no disruption to the viewing public during the Games themselves.