A study was initiated to assess the effectiveness of broadcast television in the post-medical education of practicing doctors in Britain. High quality programs presenting new medical knowledge were broadcast in an effort to promote continuing education of general practitioners working away from centers of medical sciences. Studies using mailed questionnaires and interviews to assess the breadth and reaction of the viewing audience revealed that a remarkably low number of doctors (7% to 21%) tuned in the programs. Reactions from sample panels of viewers tended to be unspecific. Although the study is small, sporadic and not statistically significant, making it impossible to draw conclusions about defects in particular programs, the overall conclusion is that the programs were not having a serious educational impact. (BB)