- Television and Radio
- Film
- Animation
- Interactive Media
- Compute games
- Publishing
- Press
- Photo-imaging
- Advertising and marketing
The industry that I have decided to research is Radio. I have decided to chose two radio stations to research, one of them being Radio 1.
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
BBC Radio 1 is a British radio station which is operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is a national radio station but also broadcasts internationally. People from all over the world can listen in to the radio stations from the Radio 1 website or can download the podcasts that are made. These podcasts are free and allows them to stay up to date with the stations shows.
Being able to access and receive certain information is vital if a radio station like Radio 1 wishes to be popular in the eyes of the public. Much information is provided by the media, including radio, whom collect information and then disseminate this information to the public. With technology advancing so much throughout the years, the important role of the media is becoming ever more important in people's lives and so Radio 1 must constantly be asking how they can improve their role in the publics lives.
Everything that is broadcast on the radio must stick to the radio broadcasting standards. The list of organisations which I am about to give, regulate the radio broadcasting industry in the UK. These are:
- Ofcom - Office of Communications
- CRCA - Commercial Radio Companies Association
- ASA- Advertising Standards Authority
- PRS for Music - Performing Rights Society and Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.
Radio 1 is owned by the BBC. It is the largest broadcaster in the world. It operates under a Royal Charter and a license and agreement from the Home Secretary. A Royal Charter is when a British town has its status raised to that of a city and so as the BBC is situated in London, this is what they are found under. The BBC is funded merely by the money that is gathered by the annual television license fee that is sent around to all British households. As the BBC do not use advertising on any of their programmes or radio stations, they rely on this license fee to be paid.
As I said above, BBC Radio 1 is owned by the BBC. All of the radio stations owned by the BBC are linked back to the broadcasting house in London. However, radio stations that are owned in different ways are those of Heart FM. Heart is a network of 17 adult contemporary local radio stations in central and southern England and also in north Wales. Sixteen of these Heart stations are owned and operated by Global Radio. This is a British commercial radio company and is the largest in the country. However, there is then one station which is owned independently as a franchise. This is when another firms successful business model is used in order to gain more listeners or public appreciation. This radio station is Heart Hertfordshire.
- Television and Radio
- Film
- Animation
- Interactive Media
- Compute games
- Publishing
- Press
- Photo-imaging
- Advertising and marketing
The industry that I have decided to research is Radio. I have decided to chose two radio stations to research, one of them being Radio 1.
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
BBC Radio 1 is a British radio station which is operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is a national radio station but also broadcasts internationally. People from all over the world can listen in to the radio stations from the Radio 1 website or can download the podcasts that are made. These podcasts are free and allows them to stay up to date with the stations shows.
Being able to access and receive certain information is vital if a radio station like Radio 1 wishes to be popular in the eyes of the public. Much information is provided by the media, including radio, whom collect information and then disseminate this information to the public. With technology advancing so much throughout the years, the important role of the media is becoming ever more important in people's lives and so Radio 1 must constantly be asking how they can improve their role in the publics lives.
Everything that is broadcast on the radio must stick to the radio broadcasting standards. The list of organisations which I am about to give, regulate the radio broadcasting industry in the UK. These are:
- Ofcom - Office of Communications
- CRCA - Commercial Radio Companies Association
- ASA- Advertising Standards Authority
- PRS for Music - Performing Rights Society and Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.
Radio 1 is owned by the BBC. It is the largest broadcaster in the world. It operates under a Royal Charter and a license and agreement from the Home Secretary. A Royal Charter is when a British town has its status raised to that of a city and so as the BBC is situated in London, this is what they are found under. The BBC is funded merely by the money that is gathered by the annual television license fee that is sent around to all British households. As the BBC do not use advertising on any of their programmes or radio stations, they rely on this license fee to be paid.
As I said above, BBC Radio 1 is owned by the BBC. All of the radio stations owned by the BBC are linked back to the broadcasting house in London. However, radio stations that are owned in different ways are those of Heart FM. Heart is a network of 17 adult contemporary local radio stations in central and southern England and also in north Wales. Sixteen of these Heart stations are owned and operated by Global Radio. This is a British commercial radio company and is the largest in the country. However, there is then one station which is owned independently as a franchise. This is when another firms successful business model is used in order to gain more listeners or public appreciation. This radio station is Heart Hertfordshire. Heart FM is a popular radio station and so by using the Heart name at the front of their station name, this wuold draw in more listeners who like Heart because they will think that the two are linked.
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses but which fall under one corporate structure. There is usually one main company and then several subsidaries. This means that conglomerate is a multi industry company and are often large and multinational, therefore creating more money.
The BBC is not a conglomerate company. It is an institution, which means that it is an individual company which has many parts to it, such as BBC radio stations and BBC television channels, all of which are owned by the main BBC but can be situated in different parts of the United Kingdom. However, there is BBC Worldwide which is known as a conglomerate company but is still linked to the main BBC. They have recently signed a deal with RTL and so now the German commercial broadcaster has become a co-production partner on the BBC Natural History unit.
PROBLEMS WITH CONGLOMERATES
- As one company can now own both television stations, radio stations and film industries under one name, the main concentration has been on wealth and expanding thier businesses even more. This means that the media companies focus on profits and treat their viewers as consumers rather than citizens.
- Many media institutions survive on the cost that is paid through advertising fees. This can influence what is covered and what is not on these programmes. For example, stories can end up being biased and one sided so as to not offend advertisers or owners. The ability for viewers to make informed decisions is one of the main vital parts for a free and functioning democracy but this is now being threatened by such concentration in ownership.
DIVERSIFICATION
Diversification means to have a variety of character, form or components. It offers choice and diversity to viewers or listeners and so reaches out and appeals to a greater number of people, therefore increasing income rates.
The BBC is a fine example of a company which does this and satisfies the needs of thier viewers, both young and old. They have different radio station which are aimed at different age groups. For example, there is BBC Radio 1. This is a radio station which is up to date with current music being released and with new bands that are getting recognised. They stay up to date with the charts and every sunday they have The Chart Show, in which the listener can find out where their favourite song has come in the most downloaded or bought song chart. Even this one radio station is split into different time slots which covers different music genres, appealing to the age ranges which they are aiming at, which is 15 - 29, but its average age of the audience is 33. These alternative genres can be found after 7:00pm and covers music such as electronic, dance, hip hop and rock. It sometimes covers interviews with bands which may interest listeners as this could be their favourite band and so they would be really interested in what they have to say. Or it could help out a band that are trying to get recognised and they can gain some helpful tips from the interview.
There is then all the other radio stations which are owned by the BBC. There are, excluding BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio 1 Xtra, Radio 4 Extra and Radio 6 music, just to name a few.
BBC RADIO 2
BBC Radio 2 focuses on playing music which is described as Adult Contemporary. It is the most popular radio station in the UK as it covers a wide range of music, not just that which is aimed at older age groups. Adult contemporary is a broad style of popular music which ranges from the 1950's and 1960's vocal music, to ballad-heavy music with rock influence.
BBC RADIO 3
This radio station centres its music on classical and opera. However, Jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts are also featured on the stations shows. It holds a 'New Generation Artists scheme' which promotes you musicians of all nationalities, bringing them that one step closer to fame. All of the BBC Proms concerts are broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 as this is the genre of music that they cover. They also, to vary their listening material, have regular productions of both classical plays and newly commissioned drama.
RADIO 5 LIVE
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses but which fall under one corporate structure. There is usually one main company and then several subsidaries. This means that conglomerate is a multi industry company and are often large and multinational, therefore creating more money.
The BBC is not a conglomerate company. It is an institution, which means that it is an individual company which has many parts to it, such as BBC radio stations and BBC television channels, all of which are owned by the main BBC but can be situated in different parts of the United Kingdom. However, there is BBC Worldwide which is known as a conglomerate company but is still linked to the main BBC. They have recently signed a deal with RTL and so now the German commercial broadcaster has become a co-production partner on the BBC Natural History unit.
PROBLEMS WITH CONGLOMERATES
- As one company can now own both television stations, radio stations and film industries under one name, the main concentration has been on wealth and expanding thier businesses even more. This means that the media companies focus on profits and treat their viewers as consumers rather than citizens.
- Many media institutions survive on the cost that is paid through advertising fees. This can influence what is covered and what is not on these programmes. For example, stories can end up being biased and one sided so as to not offend advertisers or owners. The ability for viewers to make informed decisions is one of the main vital parts for a free and functioning democracy but this is now being threatened by such concentration in ownership.
DIVERSIFICATION
Diversification means to have a variety of character, form or components. It offers choice and diversity to viewers or listeners and so reaches out and appeals to a greater number of people, therefore increasing income rates.
The BBC is a fine example of a company which does this and satisfies the needs of thier viewers, both young and old. They have different radio station which are aimed at different age groups. For example, there is BBC Radio 1. This is a radio station which is up to date with current music being released and with new bands that are getting recognised. They stay up to date with the charts and every sunday they have The Chart Show, in which the listener can find out where their favourite song has come in the most downloaded or bought song chart. Even this one radio station is split into different time slots which covers different music genres, appealing to the age ranges which they are aiming at, which is 15 - 29, but its average age of the audience is 33. These alternative genres can be found after 7:00pm and covers music such as electronic, dance, hip hop and rock. It sometimes covers interviews with bands which may interest listeners as this could be their favourite band and so they would be really interested in what they have to say. Or it could help out a band that are trying to get recognised and they can gain some helpful tips from the interview.
There is then all the other radio stations which are owned by the BBC. There are, excluding BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio 1 Xtra, Radio 4 Extra and Radio 6 music, just to name a few.
BBC RADIO 2
BBC Radio 2 focuses on playing music which is described as Adult Contemporary. It is the most popular radio station in the UK as it covers a wide range of music, not just that which is aimed at older age groups. Adult contemporary is a broad style of popular music which ranges from the 1950's and 1960's vocal music, to ballad-heavy music with rock influence.
BBC RADIO 3
This radio station centres its music on classical and opera. However, Jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts are also featured on the stations shows. It holds a 'New Generation Artists scheme' which promotes you musicians of all nationalities, bringing them that one step closer to fame. All of the BBC Proms concerts are broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 as this is the genre of music that they cover. They also, to vary their listening material, have regular productions of both classical plays and newly commissioned drama.
RADIO 5 LIVE
Radio 5 live specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, interviews and sports commentaries. However, its main principal is covering sport in the United Kingdom and broadcasts virtually all major sporting events in the UK or involving British competitors. This can be anything from football to cricket, it tells the viewer all that is going on.
These are just some examples of the diverse genres that the BBC radio stations deliver to their listeners and shows that they really do have their listeners interests at heart as they try and cover all that they know the age range which is listneing, would want to hear and they have no advertising and so this is not their main worry for income, it is to make sure that the citizens enjoy what they are hearing and continue to tune in.
These are just some examples of the diverse genres that the BBC radio stations deliver to their listeners and shows that they really do have their listeners interests at heart as they try and cover all that they know the age range which is listneing, would want to hear and they have no advertising and so this is not their main worry for income, it is to make sure that the citizens enjoy what they are hearing and continue to tune in.
BBC radio stations, instead of producing products, produce events which goes towards the funding of thier radio stations. For example, BBC Radio 1 hosts, every year, an event called Radio 1's Big Weekend. This is where they give out free tickets to a certain amount of people, around 500 people, and then they are allowed to come to this gig. It involves new and up and coming bands as well as big headlines such as Beyonce and Jay-Z. They can afford to give away these free tickets as they have such a wide range of products being used and sold everyday and due to the amount of television stations and radio stations that they have ownership of. However, they do rely on the selling of merchandise and refreshments to help go towards their income.
There is then the BBC Proms, which BBC Radio 3 hosts and broadcasts live to their listeners and so this adds to the listener ratings of this radio station.
As explained above, radio stations such as the BBC have a large range of different stations which allow citizens to choose what they want to listen to and then they can tune in and listen to that material. Altogether, the radio industry produces large numbers of different material from eachother, giving the listener the choice of what station they want to listen to, depending on the mood that they are in. For example, although BBC radio stations have good diversity in what they play, there are stations such as Heart FM which plays club classics and dance floor fillers, things that people would want to listen to if they were having a party or getting ready to go out, in order to get them into the party mood.
Although they all come together to allow the listener to choose what they want to listen to, they are all competing against eachother. Each main name, such as Heart and BBC, have many different channels which each focus on different genres of music at different times and allow the listener to have a choice. The amount of listeners that they have is how the compete as this is listener ratings and how they achieve their income. Radio stations such as Heart advertise greatly, unlike the BBC which does not advertise at all. This allows Heart to gain a lot of money throughout all of their shows because of the amount of times that they advertise a product, which they have been paid to do. However, people may not want to listen to adverts constantly and so may change stations to somewhere like the BBC which do not advertise at all in any of the products that they make. The only things that they do advertise are those which they have made themselves, such as Radio 1's Big Weekend.
Most radio stations source of income comes from the adverts that they air on their stations. Companies will pay money to radio companies to allow an advert to be inserted throughout the radio's show and this advert will be able to appear and be heard a certain number of times in one day. However, the BBC does not advertise any other products other than its own and so it relies on the television license that is put in place by the broadcasting company. This money allows them to fund themselves and create better television programs for all age groups.
Digital provision is an aspect which affects the radio industry greatly. There are now many ways in which someone can listen to a radio show and also a lot more radio shows being made available to listeners from all over the world, therefore increasing the competition between radio stations themselves. As technology has improved, there are ways in which people can listen to the radio now without being anywhere near a radio itself. This is because of how far the internet has come. You can now download free podcasts from ITunes and listen to shows that have already passed, incase you missed them or wanted to listen to them again. Because ITunes is such a globally known site, people from all over the world are able to download these podcasts for free, therefore increasing the popularity of this radio station and also allowing them to become higher than other stations in the ITunes chart. This is how competition is made. Also, if a radio station, other than Radio 1, were to get more listeners, then this would increase their popularity. This will then mean that companies will want to advertise on this station more and so therefore increase the amount of money that is being made due to what is being paid to have their adverts heard on the radio.
Task 1 - Merit. This is very thorough Amber. To lift it to Distinction you need to discuss the impact of digital provision on the radio industry. How does it effect competition/ownership/funding etc
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