BBC Radio
Parent BBC | | |
Website | BBC Sounds |
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BBC Radio |
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Nationwide |
Digital-only |
BBC |
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BBC Radio is an operational
Of the national radio stations,
streams are available only online.All of the BBC's national radio stations broadcast from bases in London and Manchester, usually in or near to Broadcasting House or MediaCityUK. However, the BBC's network production units located in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow also make radio programmes.[4]
History
The BBC's radio services began in 1922. The British Government licensed the BBC through its General Post Office, which had original control of the airwaves because they had been interpreted under law as an extension of the Post Office services. Today radio broadcasting still makes up a large part of the corporation's output – the title of the BBC's listings magazine, Radio Times, reflects this.
First charter
On 1 January 1927, the
John Reith, who had been the founding managing director of the commercial company, became the first Director-General. He expounded firm principles of centralised, all-encompassing radio broadcasting, stressing programming standards and moral tone. These he set out in his 1924 autobiography, Broadcast Over Britain, influencing modern ideas of public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom. To this day, the BBC aims to follow the Reithian directive to "inform, educate and entertain".[5]
Competition from overseas stations
Although no other broadcasting organisation was licensed in the UK until 1973, commercial competition soon opened up from overseas. The English language service of
Empire and the world
To provide a different service from the domestic audience the Corporation started the BBC Empire Service on short wave in 1932, originally in English but it soon provided programmes in other languages. At the start of the Second World War it was renamed The Overseas Service and is now known as the BBC World Service.[7]
Commercial radio influence
Beginning in March 1964,
The British government reacted by passing the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967, which virtually wiped out all of the pirate stations at midnight on 14 August 1967, by banning any British citizen from working for a pirate station. Only Radio Caroline survived, and continues to broadcast today, though the last original offshore broadcast was in 1989.
One of the stations, Radio London (also known as "Big L"), was so successful that the BBC was told to copy it as best they could. This led to a complete overhaul by Frank Gillard, the BBC's director of radio output, creating the four analogue channels that still form the basis of its broadcasting today. The creator of Radio 1 told the press that his family had been fans of Radio London.
The BBC hired many out-of-work broadcasting staff who had come from the former offshore stations.
, so that "Wonderful Radio London" became "Wonderful Radio One on BBC".The BBC's more popular stations have encountered pressure from the commercial sector.[10] John Myers, who had developed commercial brands such as Century Radio and Real Radio, was asked in the first quarter of 2011 to conduct a review into the efficiencies of Radios 1, 2, 1Xtra and 6 Music. His role, according to Andrew Harrison, the chief executive of RadioCentre, was "to identify both areas of best practice and possible savings."[10]
BBC analogue networks
On 30 September 1967:
- BBC Radio 1 was launched as a pop music station, initially on a part-time basis.
- The BBC Light Programme (launched 29 July 1945) was renamed BBC Radio 2 and broadcast easy listening music, folk, jazz, light entertainment and sport.
- The evening BBC Third Programme (launched 29 September 1946) and daytime BBC Music Programme (launched 22 March 1965) were merged under the heading of BBC Radio 3, although the Third Programme kept its separate title until 3 April 1970.
- The BBC Home Service (launched 1 September 1939) became BBC Radio 4.
- BBC Radio 5 was launched on 27 August 1990 as a home for sport and educational and children's programming, but was replaced by BBC Radio 5 Live, a dedicated news and sport network, on 28 March 1994.
2002 digital radio networks
With the increased rollout of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) between 1995 and 2002, BBC Radio launched several new digital-only stations BBC 1Xtra, BBC 6 Music and BBC 7 in 2002 on 16 August, 11 March and 15 December respectively – the first for "new black British music", the second as a source of performance-based "alternative" music, the latter specialising in archive classic comedy shows, drama and children's programmes. BBC Asian Network joined the national DAB network on 28 October 2002. The stations had "Radio" added to their names in 2008. In 2011, BBC Radio 7 was renamed BBC Radio 4 Extra and the service was more closely aligned with Radio 4.
2020s spin-off stations
At the start of the 2020s, two Radio 1 spin-offs were launched on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 1 Dance in October 2020, followed by BBC Radio 1 Relax in April 2021.
In February 2024, the corporation announced plans to launch three new spin-offs, pending public consultation and regulatory approval: one from Radio 1 for “music from the 2000s and 2010s, catering to the appetite from young audiences for recent nostalgia”; one from Radio 2, with “‘a distinctive take on pop nostalgia’ from the 50s, 60s and 70s”; and one from Radio 3 for “calming classical music”. In addition, Radio 1 Dance would launch on DAB expanded programming.[11]
Stations
National (UK-wide)
The BBC today runs national domestic radio stations, six of which are available in analogue formats (via FM or AM), while other have a purely digital format – they can be received via
- BBC Radio 1 – youth-orientated music, including talk, comedy and alternative music, plus news, original in-house live music sessions, original live music concerts and music documentaries. Available on 97–99 FM and on digital platforms.
Slogan: The biggest new pop & all day vibes
- BBC Radio 1 Dance – a dance music-oriented 'stream' consisting of repeated and simulcast programming from Radio 1. Available only on BBC Sounds.
Slogan: The biggest current, future and classic dance vibes
- BBC Radio 1 Relax – a chillout music and mindfulness-orientated 'stream' consisting of repeated and simulcast programming from Radio 1 and 1Xtra, available only on BBC Sounds.
Slogan: The ultimate vibes to unwind
- urban music, plus news, original in-house live music sessions, original live music concerts and music documentaries. The service simulcasts Radio 1 from 21:00 to 23:00 on Saturdays. Available only on digital platforms
Slogan: Amplifying black music and culture
- adult-orientated music, along with talk, comedy and alternative music, plus news, original in-house live music sessions, original live music concerts and music documentaries. Available on 88–91 FM and on digital platforms.
Slogan: The World's biggest stars on the UK's most listened to radio station / This is Radio 2, on the BBC Sounds app, on your smart speaker and on 88 to 91 FM (intro to the news bulletins)
- classical, jazz, world music), plus news, original in-house live music sessions, original live music concerts and music documentaries. Available on 90–93 FM and digital platforms.
Slogan: Adventures in classical
- BBC Radio 4 – news, current affairs, arts, history, original in-house drama, original in-house first-run comedy, science, books and religious programming. The service closes down and simulcasts the BBC World Service from 01:00 to 05:20 daily. Available between 92–95 and 103–105 FM, 198 LW, various medium wave frequencies and on digital platforms.
Slogan: Inquisitive speech radio to make sense of your world
- BBC Radio 4 Extra – classic comedy, drama, books, science fiction, fantasy and children's programmes. Originally named BBC Radio 7. Available only on digital platforms.
Slogan: Journey into the Radio 4 archive
- BBC Radio 5 Live – news, sports and talk programmes, available on 693 and 909 kHz MW and digital frequencies. Also simulcast on BBC local radio station frequencies during overnight hours. Launched in 1994 as a replacement for the original Radio 5.
Slogan: The voice of the UK - breaking news & live sport
- BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra – a sister station to Radio 5 Live for additional coverage of sporting events. Available only on digital platforms.
Slogan: More live sport. Pure live sport.
- BBC Radio 6 Music – an eclectic mix of alternative genres including rock, funk, punk and reggae (and most non-special interest genres), plus news, original in-house live music sessions, original live music concerts and music documentaries. Available only on digital platforms.
Slogan: Music beyond the mainstream
- South Asian community in the UK (primarily a digital radio station, but available in parts of the Midlands on medium wave)
Slogan: Celebrating British Asian life, culture and music
Nations, regions and local stations
The BBC also operates radio stations for three UK nations: Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. These stations focus on local issues to a greater extent than their UK-wide counterparts, organising live phone-in debates about these issues, as well as lighter talk shows with music from different decades of the 20th and 21st centuries. Compared to the majority of the UK's commercially funded radio stations, which generally broadcast little beyond contemporary popular music, the BBC's "national regional" stations offer a more diverse range of programming.
- BBC Radio Wales: A variety of programming in Wales.
- BBC Radio Cymru: Programming in Welsh language, with opt-out station BBC Radio Cymru 2.
- BBC Radio Scotland: A variety of programming in Scotland, with its Orkney and Shetland opt-outs.
- BBC Radio nan Gàidheal: Programming in Scottish Gaelic language.
- BBC Radio Ulster: A variety of programming in Northern Ireland, with opt-out station BBC Radio Foyle.
Local services
There are forty BBC Local Radio services across England and the Channel Islands, often catering to individual counties, cities, or wider regions.[12]
World Service
BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster,[13][14] broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays. It is politically independent (by mandate of the Agreement providing details of the topics outlined in the BBC Charter), non-profit, and commercial-free. The English language service had always had a UK listenership on LW and therefore DAB Services allowed, by this popular demand, it to be now available 24/7 for this audience in better quality reception.
Slogan: | The World's Radio Station |
Broadcasting
BBC Radio services are broadcast on various
They are also available on digital television in the UK, and archived programs are available for seven days after broadcast on the BBC website; many shows are available as podcasts.
International syndication
The BBC also syndicates radio and podcast content to radio stations and other broadcasting services around the globe, through its BBC Radio International business, which is part of BBC Studios. Programmes regularly syndicated by BBC Radio International include: In Concert (live rock music recordings from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, including an archive dating back to 1971); interviews, live sessions and music shows; classical music (including performances from the BBC Proms); spoken word (music documentaries, dramas, readings, features and comedies, mainly from BBC Radio 4) and channels, including BBC Radio 1.
BBC Radio International also provides many services internationally including in-flight entertainment, subscription, and satellite services. BBC Radio International is partnered with Sirius Satellite Radio and British Airways as well as many other local radio stations.
Programmes
Throughout its history the BBC has produced many radio programmes. Particularly significant, influential, popular or long-lasting programmes include:
- Any Questions? (1948–present): Topical debate series.
- The Archers (1950–present): Long running rural soap opera. Currently[when?] the most listened to programme on Radio 4 and on the BBC's online radio service.
- Children's Hour (1922–1964): Long running slot for children's programmes.
- Desert Island Discs (1942–present): Interview programme in which the guest chooses the eight pieces of music they would take with them to a desert island. The longest running music radio programme in British history.
- Friday Night Is Music Night (1953–present): Long running live music show, covering a wide range of music tastes.
- Gardeners' Question Time (1947–present): Gardening programme in which gardening experts give advice and answer listeners' questions.
- The Goon Show (1951–1960): Highly influential comedy series with elements of surrealism.
- Hancock's Half Hour (1954–1960): Influential comedy series which transferred to television.
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978–1980 and 2004–2005): Comedy science fiction serial by Douglas Adams.
- I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–present): Comedy series parodying the radio panel game format.
- It's That Man Again (1939–1949): Comedy series popular during and after World War II.
- Journey into Space (1953–1958): Science fiction series which was the last UK radio programme to achieve a higher audience than television.
- panel gamewhere the contestants must attempt to speak for one minute without repetition, hesitation or deviation.
- Letter from America (1946–2004): Commentary on American news and events by Alistair Cooke. The longest-running speech radio programme in history.
- The News Quiz (1977–present): Topical comedy show
- The Reith Lectures(1948–present): Annual series of lectures given by leading figures of the day.
- gay slang polari.
- Sports Report (1948–present): Saturday sports round-up including the classified football results.
- Test Match Special (1957–present): Live cricket coverage.
- Today programme(1957–present): Early morning news and current affairs programme.
- Top Gear/The John Peel Show (1965–2004): Pioneering and influential alternative music programme. Originally fronted by Brian Matthew as a live music show, which featured unique performances by many top names such as The Beatles, The Who and Jimi Hendrix. Changed name to simply The John Peel Show in the early 1970s
- Woman's Hour (1946–present): Long running magazine programme for women.
- Workers' Playtime (1941–1964): Lunchtime variety show.
- The World at One (1965–present): Lunchtime news show.
Expenditure
The following expenditure figures are from 2012/13 and show the expenditure of each service they are obliged to provide:[15]
Service | 2012/13 Total Cost (£million) |
Comparison with 2011/12 (£million) |
---|---|---|
BBC Radio 1 | 54.2 | + 3.6 |
BBC Radio 1Xtra | 11.8 | + 0.7 |
BBC Radio 2 | 62.1 | + 1.6 |
BBC Radio 3 | 54.3 | + 1.8 |
BBC Radio 4 | 122.1 | + 6.2 |
BBC Radio 4 Extra | 7.2 | – 1 |
BBC Radio 5 Live | 76 | + 6.7 |
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra | 5.6 | + 0.3 |
BBC Radio 6 Music | 11.5 | – 0.2 |
BBC Asian Network | 13 | 0 |
BBC Local Radio | 152.5 | + 6 |
BBC Radio Scotland | 32.7 | + 0.6 |
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal | 6.3 | + 0.3 |
BBC Radio Wales | 18.8 | + 1.1 |
BBC Radio Cymru | 17.6 | + 1.7 |
BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle | 23.8 | 0 |
Total | 669.5 | + 29.4 |
Directors
Appointed | Director |
---|---|
1963 | Frank Gillard |
1970 | Ian Trethowan |
1976 | Howard Newby |
1978 | Aubrey Singer |
1982 | Richard Francis |
1986 | Brian Wenham |
1987 | David Hatch |
1993 | Liz Forgan |
1996 | Matthew Bannister |
1999 | Jenny Abramsky |
2008 | Tim Davie |
2013 | Helen Boaden |
2016 | James Purnell |
See also
- BBC portal
- BBC Radio Drama Company
- BBC Radio Drama
- BBC Television, BBC domestic television services.
- British Broadcasting Company
- Timeline of the BBC, for an overview of BBC history.
- List of BBC Radio programmes adapted for television
- NPR, the closest American correspondent.
- CBC Radio, the Canadian correspondent.
- List of songs banned by the BBC
References
- ^ "BBC Management Structure". 26 July 2013. BBC. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ BBC Audio & Music Archived 23 July 2012 at archive.today, Retrieved 18 November 2010
- ^ "BBC - About Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "BBC National Radio" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
- ^ "No need to change BBC's mission to 'inform, educate and entertain'". UK Parliament. 31 October 2016. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ AND THE WORLD LISTENED The Biography of Captain Leonard F. Plugge – A Pioneer of Commercial Radio. Kelly Publications 2007. Author: Keith Wallis
- ^ History Archived 22 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC World Service
- ^ "The Offshore Radio Revolution in Britain 1964–2004". H2G2. 31 August 2004. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
- ^ Imogen Carter (27 September 2007). "The day we woke up to pop music on Radio 1". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
- ^ a b Andrews, Amanda (28 November 2010). "BBC enlists commercial sector help to shake up radio". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ McIntosh, Steven (7 February 2024). "Radio 2 spin-off among four new stations planned by BBC". BBC News Online. BBC News.
- British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the originalon 3 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "Microsoft Word - The Work of the BBC World Service 2008-09 HC 334 FINAL.doc" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "World s largest international broadcaster visits city". Coal Valley News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "BBC Full Financial Statements 2012/13" (PDF). BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2012/13. BBC. 2013. pp. 8–9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
Further reading
- Donovan, Paul (1991). The Radio Companion. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-586-09012-6.