Radio

Question 1

What does OFCOM stand for?

Answer 1

The Office of Communication

Question 2

What different radio stations did the BBC offer before the reorganisation of BBC radio in 1967?

Answer 2

BBC Radio Home
BBC Radio Light
BBC Third

Question 3

What did BBC Radio Home broadcast?

Answer 3

Education programmes and news - mainly speech based.

Question 4

What did BBC Radio Light broadcast?

Answer 4

Light entertainment (comedy/drama) and music.

Question 5

What did BBC Third broadcast?

Answer 5

Intellectual arts-based talk and music.

Question 6

What is a pirate radio station?

Answer 6

A radio station that broadcasts with a valid license.

Question 7

What led to the growth of pirate radio stations?

Answer 7

Pop music was becoming popular amongst young people, so there was a need for a radio outlet for this music but the BBC didn’t provide one.

Question 8

How is the BBC funded?

Answer 8

Compulsory license fee - everyone pays.

Question 9

What is Public Service Broadcasting?

Answer 9

Television and radio programmes that broadcast to inform, entertain or educate the public, without trying to make a profit.

Question 10

Why does the BBC have to design content for as many people as possible?

Answer 10

Because it needs to provide content that is suitable for its audience as everyone pays.

Question 11

Why does the BBC have to design content for as many people as possible?

Answer 11

Because it needs to provide content that is suitable for its audience in return for payment of a license fee.

Question 12

Why did the BBC try to copy the style of the pirate radio stations?

Answer 12

To be successful, they had to move on from their ultra-formal presentation style to the more relaxed style of the DJs.

Question 13

Why could the BBC not get the style of the pirate radio stations right?

Answer 13

The BBC was a professional organisation, they couldn’t quite capture the spirit and carelessness of the pirates.

Question 14

Why did Radio 1 fail to generate big audience figures in 1967?

Answer 14

• Wasn’t seen as ‘cool’ by teens
• Struggled financially
• Had a more formal style than pirate broadcasters.
• Had to follow its public service remit to inform, educate, and entertain.
• Needle Time: 5hrs of music played per day but pirate stations didn’t have these restrictions.

Question 15

What is Needle Time?

Answer 15

Restricting the amount of recorded music that could be transmitted by the BBC during the course of any 24-hour period.

Question 16

Why was Needle Time unpopular with young radio listeners?

Answer 16

Only 5 hours of music was played per day but the pirate stations did not have these restrictions and the law was difficult to apply offshore. So they could play more music and were more popular with young people.

Question 17

Why did Radio 1 become the most popular radio station in the world?

Answer 17

• Pirate radio stations were officially outlawed, there audience went to Radio 1.
• BBC employed the pirate broadcasters, their audience followed them.
• Developed content more suitable to the target audience.

Question 18

Why is Radio 1 no longer so popular?

Answer 18

Development of other streaming platforms.