This thesis describes an investigation into the evolution of terrestrial broadcasting -a vital new medium that has had an enormous social impact. The approach has been to concentrate upon the research and development needed to plan the intricate radio and television transmitter networks. These processes required national and international agreement on the use of the radio frequency spectrum, and the specification of many hundreds of transmitting stations. They provided the link between the broadcasters and the public, and this work presents a unique illustration of a project which dealt with many novel technical problems whilst accommodating the demands of all those concerned with the exploitation of the medium.
The UK became prominent in the field of broadcasting technology, particularly in areas concerned with propagation and service planning. The geographical position of this country between large land and sea masses, the nature of its terrain, meteorology and its population distribution, presented a wide range of distinctive problems. Research in the UK provided valuable evidence for the subsequent planning of services throughout the world, although during the rapid development of broadcasting it was impossible to examine fully all the experimental results which were produced. With resources not previously available, the author - engaged on planning work since the middle of the century - has researched evidence much of which was archived many years ago. It is not simply a work of historical interest, because new information concerning radio propagation has emerged. Its timing is also appropriate, because the beginning of the twenty-first century is witnessing revolutionary changes in broadcasting
