Categories of Radio Station
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 3.4.2
Public Service Broadcasting
PSB stations create and broadcast high quality content intended for purposes other than commercial gain, such as public benefit.
PSB
- PSB is defined (by OFCOM) as:
- ‘High quality content, made for as wide a range of audiences as possible, and for public benefit rather than purely commercial ends’.
UK channels
- The main public service broadcaster we have in the UK is the BBC.
- According to its remit, the BBC aims to educate, entertain and inform via its range of programmes and services.
- Many other TV channels and radio stations also dedicate a proportion of their programmes to public service content.
The BBC
- The BBC operates several national radio stations including:
- Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 4, The BBC Asian network, 5 Live and 1Extra.
- It also operates some specific regional stations such as Radio Wales and Radio Scotland.
Funding
- The BBC is primarily funded by the licence fee.
- This pays for many of the radio and TV stations and channels as well as the BBC websites and online content.
Regulations and impartiality
- The BBC is regulated by OFCOM and has to remain impartial and accurate.
Community Radio Stations
Community radio channels tend to be small organisations who broadcast specialised programming.
Community radio channels
- Community radio channels are usually small and cover a small geographical area.
- They are nonprofit organisations.
Specialised programming
- They can also be quite specialised in their programming, appealing to niche audiences with specific interests of beliefs.
Examples
- Examples of community radio would be:
- Asian Star FM.
- Branch FM.
Funding
- Community radio is funded in a variety of ways such as sponsorship, advertising and fundraising.
Commercial Radio Stations
Commercial radio stations are run for profit and funded by advertising.
Funding
- Commercial radio stations are funded by advertising.
UK stations
- Some of the most well known commercial stations in the UK are:
- Heart.
- Capital.
- Kiss.
- Magic.
Ownership: Global or Bauer
- Many of the commercial stations are owned by either:
- Global or Bauer.
- They reach millions of listeners every week.
Global
- Global owns:
- Heart.
- Capital.
- Smooth FM.
- And many more.
Convergence
- The radio industry is also a good example of convergence as Global and Bauer also own music related TV channels and magazine publications.
Test yourself on Categories of Radio Station
What does PSB stand for?
Which is the main public service broadcaster in the UK?
How are commercial radio stations funded?
Which radio station is NOT owned by Global?