RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

of different sets of capitalists who see their positions optimized or threatened by diff erent sets of regulatlons . Behind this , however , there is a more general guestion which is particularly pertinent in those parts of Europe where it is widely believed that the mar Ket i.s the golden Кеу to freedom and progress . The British experience in rađio is that the proponents of the 'free market' have at the same time very definite views as to who will be allowed to enter the free market and what they will be allowed to sell. No doubt when they feel confident of their present and their future they will stress the hibertarian' aspects of the market. But when, as in mođern Britain , they f eel unsure and insecure , they move towarđs economic freedom is accompanied by a move towards political authoritarianism . In something like TV, they have less cause to worry : anybody is free to bid for a cabie franchise, a terrestrial franchise , or a slot on a satellite, if only they can ralse the millions necessary even to get a bid of f the ground . Radio is a littie diff erent. The entry costs are much lower and if the market is freed then there is по knowing what sort of people might scrape together the cash anđ start broadcasting . This is an old and central dilemma of the market -orlented attitude to. the freedom of expression . We can profitably end with the words of that great apostle of freedom and f гее markets , John Stuart Mill: ‘No-one pretends that actions should be as free as opimons . On the contrary , even opinions lose their immunity when the circumstances m which they are expressed are such as to constitute their expression a positive instlgation to some mischevious act. An opinion that corn-dealers are starvers of the poor, ог that private property is robbery , ought to be unmolested when simply clrculated through the press , but may justly incur punishment when đelivered orally to an excited mob assembled before the house of a corn-dealer, or when handed about among the same mob in the form of a placard.' (Hill, 1962:184) Notes 1 . in saying this I do not mean to imply that prior to 1988 there was no censorship In Bntish broadcasting. Of course , there were and are legal constramts on information , examples of the direct suppression of programs and items and , most importantly , the daily anđ almost unnoticed self -censorship which апуопе wanting to work m a well-pald but very hierarchical envlronment can expect to undertake.

156