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Public-service radio


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history of radio broadcasting

...that it often became part of the cultural background—always present, though not always noticed. As mentioned above, commercially supported service had become the norm, even in countries where public-service radio long held sway. (There remained exceptions, of course, especially in states with strongman governments—e.g., Iraq, North Korea, Libya—that still used radio primarily...
...potential required that it become a monopoly service provided by government, growing out of their experience with existing state telegraph and telephone services. Rather than entertainment, such public-service systems would focus on cultural broadcasts, education, public affairs, and the like. In such countries, government policy was often established before any stations were allowed on the...
...legislation in 1932 created the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, which, with important changes in structure, became simply the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) four years later. This public-service network was supported by a small tax on radio receivers, following the model set in Britain and the rest of Europe. The CBC built new transmitters, and by World War II it was reaching...
Radio developed in other European countries on somewhat parallel lines—usually government-operated or government-supported public-service operations with a limited number of stations and an even more limited choice of programs. Again, the emphasis was on high-quality culture, education, and music, often with a strongly nationalistic tone. Most European countries operated a relative...
...states established their own radio stations. Programs for rural areas and schools were initiated. In 1935 the government took a decisive step by inviting the BBC to help lay the foundations for a public-service broadcasting service with the primary goal of providing information and education. Senior BBC producer Lionel Fielden spent five years in India as controller of broadcasting, creating...
...some attempting further to popularize the radio service. Between the BBC’s separate radio and television services, tension was palpable as they competed for funds and personnel. Other European public-service broadcasters faced similar tensions because of the voracious appetite of television for both money and programs.
...radio affiliates declined by slightly more than half, and network drama and variety programs (which had shifted to television or left the air) were replaced by music-driven local programming. Public-service-oriented radio systems changed more gradually, their mission continuing into television; because of its high cost, however, public-service television grew slowly, thus extending the...
Despite (or perhaps because of) their high-quality programming, Europe’s monopolized public-service radio systems provided little popular music and no opportunity for broadcast advertisers. In 1958 the first “pirate” (unlicensed) broadcasters appeared, using transmitters built into small ships moored beyond territorial limits. The first, Radio Murcur, began service off Denmark in...
...networks collectively were serving more than twice as many affiliates as the single network had enjoyed earlier. Even more dramatic was the arrival two years later of the first American national public-service radio network.
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