The B.B.C. Monopoly
SIR,—The argument against commercial broadcasting of sound, vision or aught else, is instinctive rather than rational. We all know what has happened to the Press as a result of absolute freedom to enter and practise in that sphere; but we are all satisfied that neither that nor any other price can be too high to pay as an absolute safeguard against very much worse evils. But in the matter of broadcasting few people have such feelings; and I, for one, think we shall be very much better off with a monopoly which will know that it is ipso facto suspect to listeners and viewers and eternally invigilated by the Press and will, therefore, be everlastingly alert to shine by truth and quality. Of course .you may say this is facile optimism, the monopoly may think it preferable to invoke Mephistopheles; I can only say, that I do not think so, a monopoly can't afford to fool even some of the people some of the time—provided, of course, its exposer is ever ready in the back-
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