Radio Industry Research

 What is podcasting? 

Podcasting is an episodic series of spoken word digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening. 

Podcasting is different from traditional radio blog broadcasts for the audience and producers for many reasons, for example ;

Radio:

•You would have to stick to a schedule as you're only on for a set amount of time per day

•Have to communicate the schedule to your audience so they can listen to the full broadcast

•May need to reintroduce yourself and the topic being discussed or if the audience tune in halfway through 

Podcasts:

•Audiences are able to listen to it whenever they want, as they can start at the beginning and start and stop the podcast when they want to

 •The audiences have a lot more control when it comes to what topics of the podcast they 

want to listen to and when they listen.

Radio:

•Radio producers have to be comfortable accepting past mistakes or moving onto the next subject, as there isn't much room for mistakes or hesitations during live shows

•You can't edit any mistakes out afterwards, as it's live

•You have the time restriction of how long the radio show is scheduled for - can't go overtime

Podcasts:

•Have the ability to re-record or edit out any errors or technical difficulties 

•no restriction of time which allows for more freedom to do what you want to do in the podcast as you have as much time as you need

•Also you can include all of your chosen topic - doesn't have to be cut down

Radio: 

•Radio broadcasts don't last as long because one it’s no longer live you can’t listen to it again.

• It has a smaller window for opportunity because you have to listen at that certain time.

Podcast:

•Have a bigger window for opportunity and exposure as listeners are able to view the podcast whenever they want 

•A podcast will be online forever, so the audience can watch it long after they’ve recorded. 

Commercial Radio :

• A Commercial Broadcaster is a radio station that produces money through the use of advertising.
• The advertising is released by companies that use radio stations as a good medium in order to get their message across
• Examples include Classic FM and Absolute Radio, as they both generate their money through advertising  

Public Service Broadcaster:

• The term refers to broadcasting that is intended for the public's benefit rather than just their commercial interests 
• Includes Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Live and 6 Music
• The BBC is the most know public service broadcaster in the Uk.
• Public service broadcasting doesn't include any advertisements, as they are all funded by license fees, which are paid by the public. 

The BBC

Purpose, Mission and Values:

• The BBC's mission statement is "to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain" - The statement stresses on the difference it makes in society while fulfilling it's objectives. 
• The vision statement is "to be the most creative organisation in the world" - the BBC isn't happy just dominating the UK
• One of the missions that the BBC has is to have a Global Reach
• The BBC's values are: 
• Trust is the foundation of the BBC. We're independent, impartial and honest
• We put audiences at the heart of everything we do
• We respect each other and celebrate our diversity 
• We take pride in delivering quality and value for money 
• The Purpose of the  BBC 
1. To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them
2. To support learning for people of all ages
3. To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom's nations and regions. 
4. To reflect the United Kingdom, it's cultures and values to the world 

BBC Broadcasts: Locally, Nationally, Globally:

Local Services:

• BBC offer listeners BBC Local Radio, which operates at 39 stations across England, offering speech based services for news, information and debates, which has a strong emphasis on interactivity 

National Services:

• The BBC broadcast their different channels nationally across the UK, and includes the Welsh, Scottish and Irish versions of some one their main channels, for example BBC One Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Same as their Radio stations, for example BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and Cymru 2 (made for people that speak Welsh in wales)
• They offer these services so that their products can reach a wider range of people

Global News Services:

• BBC world services is an international multimedia broadcaster, which delivers a wide range of language and regional services on radio, TV and online 
• Reaches a weekly audience of around 279 million people around the world
• Operates in more than 40 languages

Content and Style of BBC Radio 4

• Broadcasts a wide range of spoken word genres such as news , drama, comedy , science and comedy
• The target audience for BBC Radio for are people aged 34-54 and the average aged listener is 54 years old
• Out of all the genres they mainly seem to broadcast the news and sports coverage on the radio broadcast
• Example: Woman's hour - talk about important women's topics 
• Example:  Always includes the news at certain points throughout the day - keeps their viewers up to date with current affairs