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BBC One
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===1990s=== [[File:BBC1-1991.svg|100px|thumbnail|right|Logo used from 1991 to 1997]] Stereo audio transmissions, using the [[NICAM]] digital stereo sound format began on BBC1 in late 1987, to coincide with the sale of the first consumer NICAM-enabled equipment, a year after BBC2, and were gradually phased in across BBC TV output, although it took until 31 August 1991 for the service to begin officially on both channels. During this time, both commercial analogue broadcasters, [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and [[Channel 4]] had officially begun [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] transmissions using the BBC-developed NICAM system. Widescreen programming was introduced on [[Digital television|digital platforms]] in 1998. For the first 50 years of its existence, with the exception of films and programmes purchased from the United States and elsewhere, almost all the channel's output were produced by the BBC's in-house production departments. This changed following the passing of the [[Broadcasting Act 1990]], which required that 25% of the BBC's television output be out-sourced to independent production companies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who we are and how we commission|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/articles/who-we-are-how-we-commission|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 January 2016}}</ref> By 2004, many popular BBC One shows were made for the channel by independents, but the in-house production departments continued to contribute heavily to the schedule. In March 1991, as part of the £63 million programme package for spring and summer line up on BBC1, it was announced an extra £20 million was to be spent on rejuvenating the channels drama and comedy output during peak times, to keep the channel in a healthy state once the new [[ITV (TV network)|Channel 3]] licences were awarded.<ref>{{cite news |title=£20m extra for peak-time TV |first=Melinda |last=Wittstock |work=[[The Times]] |date=13 March 1991 |page=7}}</ref> In December 1991 ''[[Wogan]]'' was to be cancelled, due to falling ratings against a number of ITV shows, in which ''Wogan'' only managed six million viewers compared to double that for ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'', ''[[The Krypton Factor]]'' and ''[[The $64,000 Question (British game show)|The $64,000 Question]]''. Additionally an extra £40 million a year was spent on narrowing the gap on ITV's ratings lead, since a few months prior to this the channel had been criticised for its Autumn schedule, having tired formats, uninspiring scheduling of new programmes and poor scripts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wogan to host new shows |first=Melinda |last=Wittstock |work=[[The Times]] |date=2 December 1991 |page=2}}</ref> ''Wogan'' was replaced with ''[[Eldorado (TV series)|Eldorado]]'', in early July 1992, but this was itself cancelled a year later. [[Alan Yentob]] launched the 1993 Autumn schedule calling it "My first try with a lot of help from my friends", with the channel still under criticism, following the start of new programming which Alan introduced a year earlier, and the number of summer repeats. £175 million was spent on 80 hours of original drama produced, enchantment to the arts with an extended 26-week run for ''[[Omnibus (British TV programme)|Omnibus]]'', and documentaries with ''[[The Downing Street Years]]'', new wildlife series and an eight-month look at Sheffield's Children's hospital, while ''[[Goodnight Sweetheart (TV series)|Goodnight Sweetheart]]'', ''[[Grace & Favour]]'' and ''The Danny Baker Show'' were new comedy series.<ref>Yentob concocts dramatic recipe to lift BBC1 ratings. Alison Roberts, Arts Correspondent. The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 4 August 1993; pg. 5</ref> ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' included in the Saturday night line up to increase variety. Following the public disapproval of filling its schedule with 25% of repeats during the summer months of 1993, BBC1 agreed to broadcast an extra 110 hours worth of original programming over the same period during the summer in 1994, which included giving ''EastEnders'' an additional episode per week. Efficiency savings of £25 million were found and redeployed to the new productions. The savings were seen as a vindication for Producer Choice, the controversial internal market introduced in April 1993.<ref>{{cite news |title=£25m savings help BBC curb repeats |first=Alexandera |last=Frean |work=[[The Times]] |date=10 March 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC to run repeats throughout year but only by demand |first=Alexandra |last=Frean |work=[[The Times]] |date=18 September 1993 |page=3}}</ref> [[File:BBC One 1997.svg|thumbnail|left|Logo used from 1997 to 2002]] By March 1999, the channel admitted defeat in its ratings war with ITV, with its spring line up emphasising more on serious factual and educational programmes, and drama. This change in strategy came about after continuing complaints that the channel was appealing to the lowest common denominator to increase viewership. Reliance on [[docusoap]]s and the dropping of the vilified ''[[Noel's House Party]]'' were chastened by the hoax guests on ''[[The Vanessa Show]]''. Alan Yentob said "The spring package is to remind people of what the BBC is here for, range and ambition you won't find anywhere else at peak time". The changes helped the channel distinguish itself from (as one BBC executive said) "its down-market rival and would not compete for viewers on ITV's terms."<ref>{{cite news | title=BBC surrenders in TV ratings war and goes back to nature |first=Carol |last=Midgley | newspaper=[[The Times]] | location=London | date=23 March 1999 | page=1}}</ref>
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