Digital technology and its growth- impact on radio as a form of tec. in itself and how outside tec. developments have impacted on the industry

Ownership- commercial community radio ownership and impact on content & the BBC’s funding and how the nature of the organisation impacts on the content of programmes, types of programmes and their distribution

Regulation- processes and the impact of that on content, distribution etc.

Global- the fact that the BBC is global in its reach and how that has an impact

Niche audience- A niche audience is a segment of a brand's main audience that has very specific needs and interests

Mainstream audience- refer collectively to the various large mass news media that influence many people and both reflect and shape prevailing currents of thought, trending

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TECH AND RADIO?

• How being technologically convergent is valuable to audiences

• How tech changes have impacted radio and podcasting

• Relative benefits/challenges

• How they’ve used tech to market and distribute radio both domestically and globally

KW: technological convergence, platform, audio quality, accessibility, on demand, consumer, global reach, competition, prosumerism, oligopoly, diversification

How radio might’ve developed since the 1920s due to technological advancements?

Radio Station growth- more stations can exist digitally than with the old analogue system, bringing more choice to consumers and more revenue for the industry

DAB- Digital audio broadcasting; brought better audio quality than analogue- less likely to be affected by weather, aeroplanes etc

• easier to use by consumers – display easier to see, auto programme searches rather than manual, song names shown etc. ​

• able to access more easily outside of region 

• the BBC Sounds skill also lets you rewind live radio.

More prosumerism (consumers producing) – radio no longer the domain of those with a radio station. Anyone can make a podcast with Adobe Audition etc. Laptop and in-phone mic can enable this

Podcasting -​

-most trusted medium by young people​

-huge growth over the pandemic – greater range of programmes for different groups of people and a great information source (Uses and Gratifications – information/education)

How radio might’ve benefitted from technology, when it comes to distribution & how audiences might benefit from technology too

Podcasting​

-diversification from just radio (good for creative industries)​; video podcasting, diverse of topics e.g. true crime

-producers/creators can get their message to a broader audience and more opportunities for minority voices to have their say (as opposed to in mainstream media) – helps BBC meet its goals of increased inclusion​

-appeals to audience as huge range of content and ‘on demand’ to suit them​

-broadened appeal of radio to new & global audiences – In 2020 18% weekly reach among UK adults, rising to 22% among 15-24 year-olds and 27% among 25-34 year-olds​

-people can download podcasts for offline listening via the My Sounds button with the BBC e.g. when going on a plane journey.​

-cheap tec. enables prosumerism – anyone can make podcasts e.g. Adobe Audition – not just traditional media organisations

-the BBC Sounds skill also lets you rewind live radio.

Most radio stations have accompanying websites/apps/social media to aid marketing and distribution –​

 e.g BBC Sounds app*  (see notes)​

-BBC website​

-social media links and immersive, interactive opportunities (HYHGP on X )​

-the industry can data gather on audiences 

DAB + downloading -  brings greater accessibility in areas where analogue signal is poor i.e. better signal than AM/FM –radio via the Internet is better in that it can transcend regions​

-downloading/’live’ streaming is even better quality than say old FM radio

Accessibility ​

– tec. convergence means audiences can access radio on different devices, not just ‘on a radio’ e.g. on a phone or website via BBC Sounds app/site or on a TV and at any time + archive material should they wish. They can also watch YouTube videos of extracts of HYHGP.​

-Alexa/Apple’s Siri – introduced new audiences to radio stations e.g. “Alexa, play me some music”  ​

TASK: Extension Question

Can you see potential advantages/disadvantages facing BBC radio/podcasting, in relation to digital technology and development?

DIS:

• Fake news/ information/ AI

• Restrictions and guidelines

• Piracy

• Competition

EXAMPLES OF EXAM QUESTIONS

How has the growth of digital technology impacted regulation of radio and podcasting?

How have audience interactions with media changed with the emergence of technology since the early 1900s?

13/06

Digital technology

Ownership

Global

Regulation

REGULATION