RadioRadio

The first electronic mass The first electronic mass mediummedium

Early broadcastsEarly broadcasts

11stst experimental broadcast experimental broadcast 19101910 U.S. inventor Lee DeForestU.S. inventor Lee DeForest

11stst non-experimental public program non-experimental public program Nov. 2, 1920Nov. 2, 1920 Radio station KDKA PittsburghRadio station KDKA Pittsburgh

Early RadiosEarly Radios

IssuesIssues Required headphones; limited to 1 Required headphones; limited to 1

listener at a timelistener at a time Poor reception, staticPoor reception, static Programs few and infrequentPrograms few and infrequent

Growth of RadioGrowth of Radio

2 years after 12 years after 1stst broadcast, 1.5 broadcast, 1.5 million radios in the U.S.million radios in the U.S.

More than 500 broadcast stationsMore than 500 broadcast stations ChainChain, now known as a , now known as a networknetwork::

11stst linking of radio stations linking of radio stations Jan., 1923Jan., 1923 Broadcast concert in NY and Boston Broadcast concert in NY and Boston

simultaneouslysimultaneously

Impact on CultureImpact on Culture

Brought music (popular and Brought music (popular and classical) to thousands who had no classical) to thousands who had no access to live musicaccess to live music

Created national interest in sportsCreated national interest in sports Helped create national heroes out of Helped create national heroes out of

sports starssports stars Gave rise to fans who knew all about Gave rise to fans who knew all about

nationally famous teamsnationally famous teams

Financing RadioFinancing Radio Publicity Publicity

Entertainers agreed to perform on radio because of Entertainers agreed to perform on radio because of the publicity it generatedthe publicity it generated

American society of composers, authors, & American society of composers, authors, & publisherspublishers As early as 1922, members of this group demanded As early as 1922, members of this group demanded

to be paid for the right to air their musicto be paid for the right to air their music Annual feesAnnual fees

Paid by stations – ranged from $100’s to $1,000’sPaid by stations – ranged from $100’s to $1,000’s Ad timeAd time

11stst radio commercial – long announcement by an radio commercial – long announcement by an apt. complex in NY for $50apt. complex in NY for $50

Toll stations-Toll stations- stations that aired ads stations that aired ads

The Birth of the FCCThe Birth of the FCC

Rapid growth of radio caused some Rapid growth of radio caused some problems:problems: Frequencies overlappedFrequencies overlapped Interference from competing stationsInterference from competing stations Gov’t regulation was needed to keep Gov’t regulation was needed to keep

orderorder Herbert Hoover (Sec. of Commerce in Herbert Hoover (Sec. of Commerce in

1922) played major role in developing 1922) played major role in developing radio system controlled by business yet radio system controlled by business yet closely watched by gov’tclosely watched by gov’t

Radio Act of 1927Radio Act of 1927

Created the Federal Radio Created the Federal Radio Commission (FRC)Commission (FRC)

Developed as a result of Hoover’s Developed as a result of Hoover’s effortsefforts

1934, FRC replaced by FCC 1934, FRC replaced by FCC

Federal Communications Federal Communications Committee (FCC)Committee (FCC)

Licenses radio stationsLicenses radio stations Controls many of the technical Controls many of the technical

aspects of broadcastingaspects of broadcasting Transmitter powerTransmitter power WavelengthWavelength Antenna heightAntenna height

Programming FormatsProgramming Formats

After WW II, radio resembled today’s After WW II, radio resembled today’s television in several ways:television in several ways: People listened to specific programsPeople listened to specific programs Radio dominated by 3 major networksRadio dominated by 3 major networks Growth of tv and increasing # of radio Growth of tv and increasing # of radio

stations changed nature of radio, and stations changed nature of radio, and various programming formats various programming formats developeddeveloped

Profits downProfits down

With so many stations available, it was With so many stations available, it was no longer possible for 1 station to no longer possible for 1 station to deliver to a large enough audience to deliver to a large enough audience to make a network profitablemake a network profitable

Not enough advertising $ to go aroundNot enough advertising $ to go around Energy/development $ being spent on Energy/development $ being spent on

televisiontelevision Radio lost network-supplied programs Radio lost network-supplied programs

and became local mediumand became local medium

Local StationsLocal Stations

Turned to phonograph recordsTurned to phonograph records Disc jockeysDisc jockeys Broadcasts of “rip and read” news Broadcasts of “rip and read” news

itemsitems Inexpensive programs that would Inexpensive programs that would

attract advertisersattract advertisers Talk showsTalk shows Sports broadcastsSports broadcasts All newsAll news

NarrowcastingNarrowcasting

Carefully selecting music to attract a Carefully selecting music to attract a certain segment of the population to certain segment of the population to deliver to advertisersdeliver to advertisers

FM (frequency modulation) FM (frequency modulation) RadioRadio

The introduction of FM Radio brought The introduction of FM Radio brought revenues to an all-time highrevenues to an all-time high

FCC decided AM stations that owned FM FCC decided AM stations that owned FM outlets should not be allowed to outlets should not be allowed to broadcast the same signal on both broadcast the same signal on both stations all the timestations all the time

Limits placed on the amount of time an Limits placed on the amount of time an AM station could simulcast – created AM station could simulcast – created demand for new type of programming demand for new type of programming different than AMdifferent than AM

FM Radio, cont’dFM Radio, cont’d

FM filled this programming voidFM filled this programming void Forum for Rock n’ Roll musicForum for Rock n’ Roll music 1970’s practically overwhelmed AM1970’s practically overwhelmed AM 1980’s – explosion of specialized 1980’s – explosion of specialized

program formatsprogram formats Trend of narrowly targeting people Trend of narrowly targeting people

with particular taste in music with particular taste in music continued through 1990’s and is still continued through 1990’s and is still the case todaythe case today

Satellite RadioSatellite Radio Developed in the 1990’s, satellite radio Developed in the 1990’s, satellite radio

has become increasingly popularhas become increasingly popular Privately held companies received Privately held companies received

permission from the FCC to launch permission from the FCC to launch satellites and blanket the nation with satellites and blanket the nation with digital radio programmingdigital radio programming

Digital sound signals are sent via satellite Digital sound signals are sent via satellite to any radio with proper receiversto any radio with proper receivers

2 main types of satellite radios, Sirius 2 main types of satellite radios, Sirius and XM – merged in 2009and XM – merged in 2009

Satellite Radio and Satellite Radio and RegualtionRegualtion

FCC cannot regulate content, as it is a FCC cannot regulate content, as it is a paid service (like HBO/Cinemax are to paid service (like HBO/Cinemax are to tv)tv)

Satellite radio does not rely on Satellite radio does not rely on advertisers for revenue, again, as it is a advertisers for revenue, again, as it is a paid subscriptionpaid subscription Most stations commercial-free (my favorite Most stations commercial-free (my favorite

perk!)perk!)

That’s all, folks!That’s all, folks!