Radio Industry summary

Use your class notes and other resources such as this industry resource  and this worksheet as well as your own research to answer the following questions.

• LNWH is no longer broadcast by the BBC but is atill available online. Summarise the differences between broadcasting and podcasting  for the audience and how it may affect the contant and structure of a programme.
• Define and give an example of a commercial  and a public service  radio broadcaster, explaining the key differences.
• Explain the identity and purpose of the BBC based on its origins, history  and how it is funded
• How does the BBC broadcast or provide content nationally, locally and globally? ( give examples)

Content  and style of BBC Radio 4     LINK

Based on the types of programmes available, the branding of the station , the choice of presenters and listening to the content, explain the general content, identity and audience of Radio 4 and give some examples of speech-based radio programmes from the station.

Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves).

The field of broadcasting includes both government-managed services such as public radio, community radio and public television, and private commercial radio and commercial television. This means audiences can hear the audio live as it comes on television and they can watch it with family or friends and can discuss it instead of watching it online at a different time to others. 

A podcast, however, is an episodic series of digital audio or video files which a user can download in order to listen. Podcasting often uses a subscription model, whereby new episodes automatically download via web syndication to a user's own local computer, mobile application, or portable media player. They are usually mainly audio but videos shared following a podcast model are sometimes called video podcasts, vodcasts or vlogs. This is useful when audiences prefer to binge watch something instead of waiting a long time between each show. 

Commercial and Independent radio stations include Capital, Classic FM and Absolute. These stations are funded by advertising. This means they can show and present whatever they like and while doing so they advertise themselves and create a wider audience.

The term "public service broadcasting", on the other hand, refers to broadcasting intended for public benefit rather than to serve purely commercial interests. A major one in the UK is the BBC, which focuses on the interests of the audience and not so much on making money as they are already funded to educate, inform and entertain.