Examination of the Open University's use of educational broadcasting indicates that it is a valuable resource but a continued emphasis on the hardware, together with a failure to recognize the problems which users may face, will mean that in many cases the results will not match the expectations. The emphasis is too often placed on the hardware when educational broadcasting systems are introduced rather than toward the individuals for whom it is intended, and students often do not possess the skills necessary to make full use of the educational broadcasting programs. Examples are provided from the Open University's experience. (CHC)