Chap 5 – Popular Radio The Origins of Broadcasting

A Brief History of Radio Early Development In 1887, Heinrich Hertz ran an electric current through one coil, which produced a current in another coil across the room. Scientists determined that radio waves were transmitted across an electromagnetic spectrum. When you think of radio what are things that come to mind?

A Brief History of Radio 1896, Italian Inventor Guglielmo Marconi combined Edison’s electric power, Hertz’s Coil and Morse’s telegraph key With a grounding system and an antenna of his own design. Registered his patent in England Set up an international corporation, Began manufacturing radio equipment to allow ships at sea to communicate through messages in Morse Code.

A Brief History of Radio The First Broadcasters On Nov. 2, 1920, engineer & radio enthusiast Frank Conrad Announced over Pittsburgh’s KDKA that Warren G. Harding had won the U.S. presidential election. KCBS in San Francisco, WHA in Madison and WWJ in Detroit All debuted around the same time.

A Brief History of Radio The Rise of the Networks A Broadcast network A group of interconnected stations that share programming and a parent company that supplies programming to stations. Owned and operated stations (O&Os). When networks own & operate some stations that they provide programming to Most stations in a network are network affiliates, Local stations that are not owned by, but have a contractual relationship with the network. What is the Largest Radio Network in the U.S.

A Brief History of Radio The first radio network was born in 1923 AT&T connected its New York and Boston stations. In 1926, RCA’s David Sarnoff formed the 1st two national radio networks, NBC Red & NBC Blue, and dominated the industry. Network radio helped unify the country Provided experience in which people coast-to-coast were listening to the same programs at the same time. What are some specific radio programs that you listen too…? Talk, sports, news, etc.

A Brief History of Radio Early Programming Radio networks invented Formula dramas, situation comedies, Soap operas, game shows, Musical variety, talk shows, Broadcast news and sports. Spectrum scarcity Caused a jumble of static as broadcasters interfered with one another. The Radio Act of 1912, - 1st law governing radio Passed largely in reaction to the Titanic disaster. Required ships at sea to leave their radio on 24 hours a

A Brief History of Radio The Radio Act of 1927 Established the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) Power to limit # of broadcasters, assign frequencies, and revoke licenses Required the broadcaster to operate in the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Set criteria for Station’s call letters Would begin with a W if it was east of the Mississippi River Or a K if it was west. With few exceptions Communications Act of 1934 Changed FRC to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Gained authority over telephone, telegraph & radio communication.

A Brief History of Radio The Golden Age of Radio Lasted from the 1930s until just after WW II. Talk shows in the morning, soap operas in the afternoon. Music shows w/bands & singers like Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra. Comedy shows featuring Jack Benny, George Burns Abbott and Costello, Bob Hope more Radio dramas included, The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet.

A Brief History of Radio TV News vs Radio News, which would you prefer? Why After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, 60 million tuned in to hear Roosevelt address Congress. FDR used “fireside chats” to broadcast during the war. Americans felt as if he were in the room with them

A Brief History of Radio When drama, comedy & game shows moved to TV Radio needed help in order to survive. By 1958 the radio industry was using the superior sound of FM to compete with television.

A Brief History of Radio The Transistor Portable 2nd development that helped radio compete with TV Transistor, a small version of the vacuum tube, made radio portable. First transistor portable radios Introduced in 1954, by the 60s were cheaper than conventional vacuum tube radios. Portable radios were taken to The beach, the corner hangout, or to the park.

A Brief History of Radio Format Radio 3rd development that helped radio to survive TV’s popularity Consistent programming formula Creates a recognizable sound & personality for a station, Encouraged listener loyalty. Enable ads to target audiences with specific needs and buying habits. Top 40 was one of the most popular formats. Format programming led to the payola scandals of the 1950s When record promoters paid disc jockeys to play certain records.

A Brief History of Radio Concentration and Fragmentation Today 13,750 stations define themselves narrower formats. iHeartMedia - (Formerly Clear Channel) Owns 850 +/- of the largest most profitable radio stations in the U.S. Several other companies own hundreds of stations. Digital Radio Digital radio results in a crisp clear signal Takes up less space Allowing more format choices to be offered. Digital signals radiate from Satellites, the Internet, and from local stations.

A Brief History of Radio Webcasting/Podcasting More than10,000 radio stations have broadcast Web sites, Enable web surfers to tune into radio anywhere in the world. Also dozens of Web-only broadcasters, with no over-the-air operations. Local Digital: HD Radio Local station are also adopting digital radio Preparing them for the day HD radio becomes popular. According to manufacturers, HD radio, (which requires an HD receiver) Brings FM-quality to AM stations & CD-quality to FM broadcasts. What online stations do YOU listen too? Why?

Understanding Today’s Radio Industry Top Formats by Audience Listening Preference According to the chart in the text on page 170 what are the top 5?

Understanding Today’s Radio Industry Dayparts How radio divides the day. Morning Drive time: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Midday: 10a.m. to 3 p.m. Afternoon Drive time: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Evening: 7 p.m. to midnight. Overnight: midnight to 6 a.m. Stations top personalities like Howard Stern or Don Imus Programmed during drive times or “prime time” of radio programming. This audience might also be given more traffic, weather, and news reports What are some controversial issues with Howard Stern & Don Imus?

Understanding Today’s Radio Industry Talk/News Formats Talk radio, had around 170 stations in 1987. By 2007 it had grown to more than 1,300 stations. The format appeals to working and middle-class adults 35+ who appreciate outspoken opinions of the show’s hosts. News formats attract a more upscale audience By providing a formula that listeners can rely on for information. Any talk radio fans in here? What shows do you listen to?

Understanding Today’s Radio Industry The formula never varies at WINS, a popular New York City all-news station: Complete news update every 22 minutes. Time every 3 minutes. Weather every 5 minutes. Traffic every 10 minutes. Sports at 15 minutes before and after every hour. Are there any radio stations you listen to because of placement of material?

Understanding Today’s Radio Industry Public Radio Congress set up National Public Radio in 1970 To interconnect public, or noncommercial stations Produce programs for them to use. Stations get income from listener memberships and corporate underwriting. Government funding was reduced drastically during the 1980s. Critics fear that stations will not offer programs that critically examine donor corporations.

Understanding Today’s Recording Industry Station Personnel On-air talent includes talk show hosts, reporters and disc jockeys. The program/music director, determines the station’s playlist, typically includes three dozen new singles, or “currents.” A hot current will be placed in “heavy rotation” airing 4 or 5 times a day. Audience Most listeners want a station to be dependable and are loyal to just two or three stations. Who has 2 or 3 stations that they listen too regularly Which ones are they?

Controversies The Effects of Concentration Critics are concerned that concentration of ownership Cuts down the # voices that are heard on important debates of the day. When govt. limited the # of stations a network could own Listening choices multiplied. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 Eliminated ownership restrictions and radio outlets in fewer hands Creating potential conflicts of interest. Disney was criticized for refusing to allow its Disney-owned ABC radio To air news reports critical of its Disney-owned theme parks.

Controversies Shock Radio Diversity and Censorship Shock Jocks like Howard Stern Derive humor and ratings by using vulgarity, racism, sexism, cynicism, Things that will attract amazed listeners. The FCC has levied fines against several stations that air shock radio. Fines were so high by 2007 that shock radio moved mostly to satellite radio. Diversity and Censorship Radical groups avoid censorship by creating pirate radio stations, Which are unlicensed, illegal, low power outlets. Pirates regularly move locations to avoid being closed down by the FCC.