At least here in the UK, it was a case of viewer choice being relegated to the two state broadcaster channels vs the two commercial channels. All was relatively OK until the late 80s, with the BBC for the intellectuals and conservatives (as were back then), ITV for The Sun readers, and Channel 4 for lefties and those who wanted to see foreign filth on a Friday night after coming back from the pub.

Then, along came a certain Australian (see, it all leads back to the same sources) media mogul with his ultra-commercialised, ultra-populist 'Sky TV', and the British TV experience all went to Hell. And with the companies conglomerating around Sky increasingly able to pump their dirty profits back into the increasingly radicalising BBC, the twain not only met but embarked on a rampant orgy of non-stop commie brainwashing buttsex that has now polluted the minds of nearly four successive generations unchecked.

It's sad being old enough to remember when you had no chance of getting your face as a presenter on British TV, whether for news, affairs and academia right down to simple continuity announcing, unless you spoke with Received Pronunciation.