Anyone looking at history will know that British contributions to technology and science are extensive, from communications to computing and a wide range of things in between.
What many don't consider, however, is just how much impact it is having on the entertainment and media side of things, and all the ways this is shaping the global media landscape.
Casino
Britain's casino culture is one of the oldest in the world and goes back hundreds and hundreds of years, with most adult Brits having a gamble at some point in their lives. What you may not know is that Britain is now contributing in a big way to the modern online version, between various big international sites like Betfair and loads of game studios as well.
There are great examples such as 1x2gaming, who are based out of Brighton and produce things like the popular Plinko Go game as well as the Gods of Olympus slots series. Between the sites, the studios and the games themselves, Britain has a major role in the online casino industry going forward, one that's only set to expand further in the years to come.
TV
British TV has long been one of the crown jewels of the country's creations, and the BBC alone has an incredible international reputation for both fiction and non-fiction programming. Until recently, however, thanks to the licensing rules around the BBC, shows were limited to those living in the UK. With a new generation of media platforms, that has been changing, and many of the best BBC shows are opening up to a global audience.
For instance, some of the biggest shows such as Peaky Blinders and Call the Midwife have found new homes on Netflix, so even if they are not always updated at the same time, you have the option there. The best news is that, following the success of these shows, streaming services are battling it out to get the rights for other BBC shows, so the selection is only going to increase.
Radio
There is no experience quite as nostalgic for some people as driving to work with a familiar voice coming out of the little box in the car dashboard. Whether it was Tony Blackburn or the late, great Terry Wogan, UK radio has a special, unique quality to it that hasn't been replicated anywhere else. Until recently, though, it was an experience mostly only available in the UK.
In the past few years, international listeners have finally been able to access radio content on a larger scale thanks to the BBC Sounds platform. Rather than the limited schedule of the International Service, Sounds gives access to the full range of BBC stations and has been proving popular with listeners from places as far apart as the US and South-East Asia.
So there you have some top tips of getting the best of British media while you're away. Most things just take a little bit of extra investment, and you'll be enjoying everything just like home!
