The radio industry

1. The radio industry

2. What is a radio public service bradcaster? • A radio or television broadcaster that is seen to offer a public service by catering for a range of tastes and audiences. The main public service broadcasters in the UK are the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C. • BBC radio: the BBC is a public service broadcaster that is funded by the license fee and does not air commercials. BBC radio is both national and regional, there are over 40 local/regional stations attracting more than nine million listeners each week. However, these numbers have been steadily falling due to the competition from commercial broadcasters.

3. What are the 5 categories of commercial radio stations in the UK? • National commercial radio: Classic FM, Talkspot and Absolute Radio. • National brands: these are regional stations that have been collected into networks, sharing some programmes and syndicated output. They are: • Global Radio – Heart, Galaxy, Gold and Radio X • Bauer Media Group – Kiss and Magic • Guardian Media Group – Real Radio • Independent local radio: these are regional commercial stations. They are specific to a certain area of the country and are not part of a network group. • Community radio: this is a different format from public service and commercial stations. Community stations serve their local areas and produce content of interest to local people. The stations are non-profit making and are usually funded by the local community. • Hospital radio: there are hundreds of these radio stations based in hospitals and staffed by volunteers, broadcasting in the UK. 

4. Marketing: How does the BBC promote its stations and programmes? • Cross platform marketing. Other radio stations and BBC television will promote radio stations and events related to BBC radio, for example "T in the Park". • Billboard and magazine advertisements for stations and presenters. • Each station has its own website within the umbrella website for the BBC radio. These allow listeners to access live audio streaming and to listen to archive programmes. They also provide interactive opportunities for an audience and can be accessed by a global audience. • BBC radio produces promotional films focusing on a particular part of its output, for example its presenters or news coverage. • BBC Taster is an interactive service that enables the BBC to showcase experimental ideas and new talent. It allows audiences to give feedback on what they see and hear. It is also a space for the BBC to develop its ideas for digital content and emerging technology. 

5. What are the 7 codes and conventions of speech-based radio programmes? • A presenter: although this can also be the case for music-led formats, the presenter in speech-led programmes acts as an anchor to guide the discussion between various guests • Discussions: a group of people discussing a range of topics. This sub-genre of programme is often a key part of Radio 4's schedule. • Phone-ins: these are effective, cheap ways of involving the listeners, who are encouraged to take part in the programme and offer their point of view. • Drama: Radio 4 has a regular feature of The Afternoon Play • Documentaries: these may be related to news items or current affairs, or be music themed. • Outside broadcasts: reporters, presenters and mobile studios bring stories and features from different national and global locations. The flexibility of the radio medium means that it does not have to rely on visual images and therefore can be more immediate.

6. What is scheduling and how does it work in the BBC's radio programming? • The regular programmes for each station are broadcast at the same time each day. The scheduling of a particular programme will have been researched in order to maximise the target audience. • Radios 1 and 2 both have breakfast shows, which bring in a large section of audience who are getting ready for, or travelling to, work. These are largely music-led but also incorporate chat, sport, traffic and regular slots specific to the programme. • In Radio 4, Woman's Hour and its spin-off, Late Night Woman's Hour, both have specific scheduling times. Keeping LNWH at 11 pm allows the programme to include more adult content.

7. Who is the voice of LNWH on Radio 4? • It is presented by Lauren Laverne who is of a similar age to the target audience nd is known for her involvement in music and the arts. She is a presenter on Radio 6 Music and fronted The Culture Show, as well as covering Glastonbury for the BBC. 

8. Who regulates the radio and television broadcasting industry? • The Communications Act of 2003 established Ofcom as the new UK regulator.  • Accountable to Parliament, Ofcom is involved in advising and setting some of the more technical aspects of regulation, implementing and enforcing the law. Ofcom is funded by fees from industry for regulating broadcasting and communications networks, and grant-in-aid from the government.

9. What is the role of this regulator? • To ensure that a wide range of television and radio services of high quality and wide appeal is available. • To maintain plurality in the provision of broadcasting. • To adequately protect audiences against offensive or harmful material. • To protect audiences against unfairness or infringement of privacy.

10. Key Theory: How can Curran and Seaton's Power and Media Industries be applied to the BBC and LNWH? • The BBC is a major deliverer of radio and television programmes. • The BBC is a public service broadcaster and it has relative freedom from comemercial pressures, for example selling advertising. This gives it more scope to produce innovative and creative programmes, targeting niche and diverse audiences of which LNWH is an example. • The BBC has an ethos in which it needs to address a range of audiences. • The BBC has a felxibility in which it funds its programmes from rhe licence fee, not from advertising revenue, to commission new programmes that appeal to minority audiences. • The organisation of BBC radio, similar to television, means that specific stations have a distinct style and ethos, and therefore appeal to different audiences.

11. What are the 4 factors that create appeal for radio audiences? • The blind medium: it only involves the sense of hearing with no visual images. It allows the audience to use their imagination. • The companion medium: the radio format provides a strong sense of personal communication for the audience. It also offers interactive opportunities.  • The intimate medium: radio is very personal. It encourages intimacy by the use of the direct mode of address. • The undemanding: it allows the audience to do other things while listening. 

12. How does LNWH appeal to audiences? • The coice of presenter. Lauren Laverne is of similar age as the target audience. Her nothern accent also subverts the stereotype of the typical Radio 4 presenter and makes her more relateable to the audience. • The language and mode of address are aimed at a younger female target demographic. • It appeals to a niche, specialised audience signified by the scheduling time. • The themes of the programme and subsequent podcasts are constructed to be of interest to the specialised audience. • The audience is constructed through the style of the programme and the choice of guests – guests tend to be educated and often highbrow. • It is available across a range of platforms and is therefore available to a global audience.

13. How can you apply Stuart Hall's Reception Theory to LNWH? • The dominant position: typically, audience that wouldalign with the hegemonic messages of the programme would consist of young to middle-aged, feminists and/or females. • The oppositional position: an audience that is opposed to the programme would consist of, typically, males. Due to the nature of the programme, a male audience would feel secluded from the programme.

14. What is the social and cultual context of LNWH? • The introduction of LNWH into the Radio 4 schedule demonstrates the BBC's awareness of the need to cater for all areas of society.  • The topics discussed in the programmes reflect what is of interest and concern to young women in society today and cater for a specific social group who have been previously under-represented.