In homes with satellite or cable television, the corporation's share has fallen further: BBC1 and BBC2 together have just 23% of the former and 22% of the latter.

For those unfamiliar with MythBusters, it is an hour -long cable television show hosted by two former Hollywood special-effects experts and three charismatic and knowledgeable co-stars.

But Bob Turner, a former cable-TV executive, shocked both sides of the aisle with an unexpected win on September 13th.