Britain Needs Strong TV Industry - IELTS Reading Answers

The IELTS Reading section often incorporates passages like ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’ which includes a variety of subjects related to the media, technology, and culture. This passage is meant to measure your ability to quickly analyze, understand, and locate information. Answering these questions will not only provide you with a chance to practice the IELTS Reading section but also help you to learn different approaches to improve your vocabulary along with reading speed.

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Types of Questions in IELTS Reading Passage ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’

A reading passage would consist of different question types. Getting familiar with them would help you to plan a strategy in which you focus on what to work on and improve your logical thinking. You can also note down the areas of your improvement and help you to score a higher band of 8+. Let’s look at the questions which you will encounter in the IELTS Reading passage on ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’.

• IELTS Reading True False Not Given (Q.27-31)
• IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Questions (Q.32-35)
• IELTS Reading Summary Completion (Q.36-Q.40)

How to Manage Time for the Passage ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’?

Time Management for IELTS Reading is an important skill for you to develop, especially when faced with passages such as "Britain Needs Strong TV Industry." The main aspect is to use your time well where you can read purposefully and avoid completing any question due to less time remaining. Since every question has varying techniques where for some, you need to skim for details whereas others may ask for comprehension or paraphrasing. With a strategic plan, you can reduce rushing through the questions while speeding up accuracy.

Curious to learn how to improve your reading skills to get a band 9? Check out the video below!

IELTS Reading Passage on ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’

Britain Needs Strong TV Industry

1 Comedy writer Armando Iannucci has called for an industry-wide defence of the BBC and British programme-makers. The "Thick of It" creator made his remarks in the annual MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival. 

2 "It's more important than ever that we have more strong, popular channels... that act as beacons, drawing audiences to the best content," he said. Speaking earlier, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale rejected suggestions that he wanted to dismantle the BBC. 

'Champion supporters' 

3 Iannucci co-wrote "I'm Alan Partridge", wrote the movie "In the Loop" and created and wrote the hit "HBO" and "Sky Atlantic show Veep". He delivered the 40th annual MacTaggart Lecture, which has previously been given by Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, former BBC director general Greg Dyke, Jeremy Paxman and Rupert Murdoch. Iannucci said: "Faced with a global audience, British television needs its champion supporters." 

4 He continued his praise for British programming by saying the global success of American TV shows had come about because they were emulating British television. "The best US shows are modelling themselves on what used to make British TV so world-beating," he said. "US prime-time schedules are now littered with those quirky formats from the UK - the "Who Do You Think You Are"'s and the variants on "Strictly Come Dancing" - as well as the single-camera non-audience sitcom, which we brought into the mainstream first. We have changed international viewing for the better." 

5 With the renewal of the BBC's royal charter approaching, Iannucci also praised the corporation. He said: "If public service broadcasting - one of the best things we've ever done creatively as a country - if it was a car industry, our ministers would be out championing it overseas, trying to win contracts, boasting of the British jobs that would bring." In July, the government issued a green paper setting out issues that will be explored during negotiations over the future of the BBC, including the broadcaster's size, its funding and governance. 

6 Primarily Mr Whittingdale wanted to appoint a panel of five people, but finally he invited two more people to advise on the channel renewal, namely former Channel 4 boss Dawn Airey and journalism professor Stewart Purvis, a former editor-in-chief of ITN. Iannucci bemoaned the lack of "creatives" involved in the discussions. 

7 "When the media, communications and information industries make up nearly 8% our GDP, larger than the car and oil and gas industries put together, we need to be heard, as those industries are heard. But when I see the panel of experts who've been asked by the culture secretary to take a root and branch look at the BBC, I don't see anyone who is a part of that cast and crew list. I see executives, media owners, industry gurus, all talented people - but not a single person who's made a classic and enduring television show." 

'Don't be modest' 

8 lannucci suggested one way of easing the strain on the licence fee was "by pushing ourselves more commercially abroad". 

9 "Use the BBC's name, one of the most recognised brands in the world," he said. "And use the reputation of British television across all networks, to capitalise financially overseas. Be more aggressive in selling our shows, through advertising, through proper international subscription channels, freeing up BBC Worldwide to be fully commercial, whatever it takes. 

10 "Frankly, don't be icky and modest about making money, let's monetise the bejesus Mary and Joseph out of our programmes abroad so that money can come back, take some pressure off the licence fee at home and be invested in even more ambitious quality shows, that can only add to our value." 

11 Mr Whittingdale, who was interviewed by ITV News' Alastair Stewart at the festival, said he wanted an open debate about whether the corporation should do everything it has done in the past. He said he had a slight sense that people who rushed to defend the BBC were "trying to have an argument that's never been started". 

12 "Whatever my view is, I don't determine what programmes the BBC should show," he added. "That's the job of the BBC." Mr Whittingdale said any speculation that the Conservative Party had always wanted to change the BBC due to issues such as its editorial line was "absolute nonsense". 

Questions 27-31 

27 Armando lannucci expressed a need of having more popular channels. 

28 John Whittingdale wanted to dismantle the BBC. 

29 lannucci delivered the 30th annual MacTaggart Lecture. 

30 lanucci believes that British television has contributed to the success of American TV-shows. 

31 There have been negotiations over the future of the BBC in July. 

Questions 32-35 

32 lanucci praised everything EXCEPT 

1. US shows 
2. British shows 
3. Corporation 
4. British programming 

33 To advise on the charter renewal Mr Whittingdale appointed a panel of 

1. five people 
2. two people 
3. seven people 
4. four people 

34 Who of these people was NOT invited to the discussion concerning BBC renewal? 

1. Armando lannucci 
2. Dawn Airey 
3. John Whittingdale 
4. Stewart Purvis 

35 The panel of experts lacks: 

1. media owners 
2. people who make enduring TV-shows 
3. gurus of Television industry
4. top executives

Questions 36-40

Easing the strain on the licence fees

Iannucci recommended increasing BBC's profit by pushing ourselves more 36 _____________________. He suggests being more aggressive in selling British shows, through advertising and proper international 37 _____________________. Also, he invokes producers to stop being 38 _____________________ and modest about making money and invest into even 39 _____________________ quality shows. However, Mr Whittingdale denied any 40 _____________________ that the Conservative Party had always wanted to change the BBC because of its editorial line.

Answers with Location and Explanation on Passage ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’

Let’s check the answers with locations and explanations for the IELTS Passage, ‘Britain Needs Strong TV Industry’. This will help you mark your areas of improvement and later you can start working on them before doing similar passages. With such practice sessions, you can achieve a higher IELTS Band Score.