A Historical Perspective of Radio - Essay Example

?Does radio have a future? A historical perspective. Introduction One of the human inventions that have shrunk our world is, indeed, the radio. The radio was among the first of human inventions that turn our world into a global village. Although the U.S. Patent Office awarded Guglielmo Marconi the patent for the invention of the radio, other prominent scientists and inventors such as James Clerk Maxwell, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, Nikola Tesla, Adolf Slaby, Georg von Arco, and Reginald Fessenden contributed immensely to the early development of radio (Encyclop?diaBritannica, 2011). The forerunner of modern day radio is the wireless telegraphy, a system of communication that does not carry audio. On Christmas Eve in 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first successful transmission of audio over airwave (O'Neal, 2008). The next decade saw several radio experimenters building their own radio receivers and by the evening of November 2, 1920, Westinghouse has launched KDKA as the first commercially licensed radio station (Encyclop?diaBritannica, 2011). From 1920 onward phenomenal successes were made in radio technology and broadcasting through research activities in Europe, North America, and Asia. The phenomenal success in the art and science of radio has greatly influenced human activities ranging from politics, economics, culture, and religion (NationalMuseumofAmericanHistory, 1933; BBC, 1940; Saul, 2009). However, recent advances in science and technology offers the same if not better means of communications that the radio offers. For instance, the internet offers better and more glamorous means of advertisement and communicating then the radio. With the presence of these technologies, one could not help but ask: does the radio have a future? The article seeks to answer this question from a historical perspective. History of the radio The radio has come a long way. Its journey to its present status differs in different societies. Different rules and regulations govern radio broadcasting in different countries. Even it development differs. Thus the history of radio and radio broadcasting will be explored under different countries. Radio and radio broadcasting in the United States Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian working in the United States, developed the first known radio program in the United States. With the use of Alexanderson’s Alternator in his experimental station at Brant Rock, Mass., on Christmas Eve, 1906 he succeeded in transmitting the first radio program over several hundred miles. Many experimental stations subsequently sprang up following the relaxation of the military restriction of radio at the end of World War I. Most of these early radio stations were operated by individuals who pursued radio broadcasting as a hobby. As the number of people who want to hear music from the “air” increased, the demand for radio receivers suitable for operation by the layman increased. This increase justified the establishment of stations for the sole purpose of broadcasting entertainment and information programs. On the evening of November 2, 1920, the first commercially licensed radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh went on air with a broadcast of the returns of the Harding/Cox presidential election. Following the success of the KDKA broadcast and the musical programs that were presented on air, several radio stations were established. Indeed, by the end of 1921, a total of eight radio stations were operating the United States. The sales of radio receiving sets and component parts for use in home construction of such set boomed between 1921 and 1922. A phenomenal increase in the number of radio stations follows with 564 radio stations licensed by Nov. 1, 1922. In 1922, long-distance wire telephone lines were used to connect a radio station in New York City with one in Chicago to facilitate the broadcasting of the description of a gridiron football game. This innovation introduced a new idea, radio networking, into radio broadcasting. In 1926 the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) purchased WEAF in New York and, using it as the originating station, established a permanent network of radio stations to which it distributed daily programs. The NBC’s Red Network offered commercially sponsored entertainment and music programming while the Blue Network featured non-sponsored broadcasts, especially news and cultural programs. By 1928, two other national networks, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS), were operating in the United States. By the mid 1930s, CBS “was of nationwide importance with a web of telephone lines connecting almost 100 master control rooms across the country making a total of 97 affiliated stations in all” (Sperber, 1986). By 1943, four major national radio networks: two owned by NBC, one owned by CBS, and one owned by Mutual Broadcasting System, were operating the United States. The American Broadcasting Company is an offshoot of NBC’s second network. The radio broadcasting in the United States in the 1920s ended the print monopoly over the media, opening the era of the electronic media. Indeed, radio broadcasting became popular following the possibilities of making profit in the production and sale of radio receiving equipments and the fame attained by broadcasting stations as an advertising medium. Indeed, some of the programs were sponsored by advertisers while others were supported by the radio stations through the time set aside for public-service features. Advertising remains the principal means of support for broadcasting in the United States. Though the entertainment programs of these radio stations were the most listened to, on-the-spot reports of events were also popular throughout the Great Depression of the 1930 and the World War. In the early 1930s, the radio networks had limited access to the wires due to pressure from the printed media. Indeed, the radio networks were offered only a limited number of core stories on the condition that they are broadcast after 9:30 am by which time the newspapers had had their day. Recognizing the huge potential in the radio industry, Trans Radio Press, a news agency, sprang up to offer radio networks an unlimited access to its wires. The radio networks also establish teams of correspondent to provide on-the-spot news. Following the invention of the television after the World War II, the visual images of the television becomes the predominant means of electronic communication of entertainment and news, threatening to replace radio due to its limited the audio-only feature. Radio stations responded by interspersing entertainment programs with news and features. Radio got another boost during the 1950s as automobile manufacturers incorporated car radios as standard car accessories enabling American to enjoy the entertainment programs and listen to the news as they rode in their cars. Though the television was glamorous in its entertainment and news program due to the visual images, radio remains popular through the 1970s even up till now. Radio broadcasting witness a major technical change in the 1970s and 1980s following the introduction of FM radio with its better audio quality compared with the conventional AM. Technological advances that led to the invention of portable radios aided the popularity of these FM radio stations, which became popular for their music programs. The AM radios became more of “news radios”. The improvements in satellite communications, the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine and the introduction of the Telecommunication Act of 1996 led to increase popularity of news radio in the 1980s through the 1990s. By 1998, there were 4,793 AM stations, 5,662 FM stations as well as 1,460 public radio stations in the United States (Falk, 2010). Also growing in popularity is the satellite radios. These radios served a much wider geographical region than the terrestrial FM radio stations since they are relayed by one or more satellites. Sirius XM Radio currently monopolizes the technology. Though limited to the home, cable radios are also widespread with Music Choice as market leader. Internet radio that offers the advantage of allowing listeners to customize the music that interest them is becoming popular. Internet radios are much easier to set up and do not require subscription. Radio Broadcasting in United Kingdom The initiative for broadcasting was taken after the World War I by commercial firms who regard broadcasting as a means of point-to-point communication as against the United States where the broadcasting was taken as hobby. The first successful broadcast of a human voice from a transmitter in 1919 from Ireland across the Atlantic led to the erection of a six-kilowatt transmitter at Chelmsford, Esssex. From the Chelmsford transmitter, two daily half-hour programs of speech and music including a well-broadcast by the opera singer Dame Nellie Melba were broadcast from 1919 to 1920. However, the Chelmsford station was shut down due to fear of interference with essential communications of the army and to prevent the commercialization of radio. The Post Office ruled that experimental broadcasting must be individually monitored. By March 1921 the Post Office has issued about 4,000 receiving licenses and 150 amateur transmitting licenses. Growing interest led to the formation of 63 societies from these amateurs, which subsequently petition for regular broadcast. Upon granting their request, the Marconi Company was formed and authorized to broadcast about 15 minute in a week. The first of these authorized broadcasts took place on February 14, 1922 from a hut at Writtle, close to Chelmsford. An experimental station was authorized at the Marconi House in London and went on air on May 11 1922. Other stations were soon authorized. Following the successful demonstration of the commercial possibilities of the radio in the United States, the Post Office took the initiative in fostering cooperation between manufacturing companies and the end result of the cooperation was the British Broadcasting Company, Ltd, which was established in October 18, 1922. The company’s source of income came from half of the 10-shilling license fee for receivers and 10 percent royalty on sales of receiving sets and equipment (Encyclop?diaBritannica, 2011). Subsequently, provincial stations were set up and all stations were to broadcast “news, information, concert, lectures, educational matter, speeches, weather reports, theatrical entertainment” (Encyclop?diaBritannica, 2011). Given that radio developed in the United Kingdom in an orderly manner than elsewhere “such problems and issues of broadcasting as control of finance, broadcasting of controversy, relations with government, network organization, and public-service broadcasting became apparent, and solutions were sought in the United Kingdom earlier than elsewhere” (Encyclop?diaBritannica, 2011). Following the expiration of the transmitting license in 1926 and the recommendation of a parliamentary committee in 1927, the British Broadcasting Company was liquidated and a public corporation, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), took its place. The BBC was controlled by a Board of Governors that was appointed and answerable to Parliament. The BBC concept of public-service broadcasting under its chief executive and director general, Lord John Reith, prevailed in Britain and influenced broadcasting in many other countries. Prior to the establishment of Independent Television Authority (ITA) in 1954, the monopoly of broadcasting was enjoyed by BBC. By late 1960, experimentation with local radio was carried out by BBC with the resultant expansion of the number of local stations in early 1970s. The Independent Broadcasting Authority, which was formed from the ITA, was charged with the responsibility of selling advertising time, establishing and regulating independent radio and television stations. In 1973, the first land-based commercial radio was established by London's LBC and Capital Radio. Following the promulgation of the Broadcasting Act 1990 in UK law, two licensing authorities namely the Radio Authority and the Independent Television Commission were established to facilitate the licensing of non-BBC broadcast services, especially short-term broadcasting. Radio Broadcasting in Other Countries Regular broadcasting commenced in The Hague, The Netherland, long before the broadcasting started in the United States. This broadcasting ran from November 1919 until 1924. Experimental amateur stations in Denmark went on air in 1921 and in 1925 the Official Broadcasting System was established. In 1922 the Soviet Union started regular transmissions in Moscow while same year France began broadcasting from the Eiffel Tower. Radio stations were established in various parts of Europe by the end 1923 such as in Belgium, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Spain and by 1924 broadcasting had commenced in Finland and Italy. In 1925, Japan, Poland, Mexico, and Norway joined the league of broadcasting stations. In 1920, regular broadcasting began in Canada from Montreal while Australia and New Zealand started broadcasting in 1921. Control-related issues cropped up in most of these countries. In some countries free market was encouraged and the radio stations were given free rein but subject to government department licensing and to the agreement on the frequencies of broadcasting. For instance, in France, there was strict government while in Germany and Japan, encouragement for cooperation was given by the governments. Denmark, Sweden and several Commonwealth countries adopted the British system. In Canada, private stations were well established long before the establishment of the Canadian Broadcasting Commission in 1932. Prior to the declaration of state monopoly in 1923, the Administration of Posts and Telegraphs handled early broadcasts in France until World War II. State monopoly notwithstanding, some private stations were granted licenses, including Radio Normandy, which broadcast to the United Kingdom. These private commercial stations continued broadcasting under government control until end of the World War II, “when their licenses were withdrawn and radio became a complete state monopoly, independent of the Administration of Posts and Telegraphs but answerable to the government” (Encyclop?diaBritannica, 2011). In Germany it was more of partnership between government and private companies. While all technical equipments were owned and controlled by the Ministry of Posts, the private companies operated programs in various cities. However in 1932, the Reich Broadcasting Company acquired controlling interests in these companies and all were nationalized. Future of the Radio The radio is a powerful medium that has been use by politicians to wage war and to make peace. The radio has the capacity to shape human history and it has done it in time past and can still do. In fact, the radio was the medium used by the Nazi regime in Germany to spread and sow the dangerous seeds of hatred, and death in East Europe. Furthermore, the radio plays a significant role in the Rwandan genocide. Indeed, ‘the Rwandan radio station Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) called for a “final war” to “exterminate the cockroaches”. Using the eerily poetic code word, “Cut the tall trees” it launched the massacre of 800,000 Rwandan Tutsi’ (Vaughan, 2008). On the other hand, politicians have use to radio bring messages of hope to the public during times of difficulties. For instance, President Franklin D. Roosevelt through his radio program of “fireside chats” brought messages of hope to the American public throughout the Great Depression and the World War II. Similarly, the 14-year-old Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, comforted children that were evacuated from cities during the World War II in this words: “We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well” (BBC, 1940) in her first radio broadcast during the BBC's Children's Hour. The radio still has the capacity of shaping the future of humanity either for the worse or the better depending on how political, business, or religious leaders, choose to use it. The radio is currently under attacked from multiple fronts due to advances in the media technologies. The continuous growth of online advertizing has dealt a blow to the radio industry. Revenues from the radio continue to fall following growth in internet advertizing. Related to this is the lack of interest of the young generation in the radio due to more glamorous technologies such as Smartphone, social networking websites, cell phones that keep them busy. The above notwithstanding, the radio is still a popular medium of communication especially in developing countries as well as in developed countries. It is reported that 230 million people listen to the radio for at least one hour or more in a day (Saul, 2009). This figure should not be surprising given that automobile radios still occupy a predominant place in the life of North Americans, Europeans and most people across the world. Indeed, automobile radios will continue to be of great importance to Americans as these devices makes them lively as they drive in the road. There are also advances in the radio technology that will lead to increase use of the radio. For instance, there is a growth in internet radio as technologies such as Wi-Fi and Wi-Max makes it possible to get internet radios installed in automobiles. In fact, automobile producers such as Chrystler, General Motors, Saab, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz offer the option of factory installed internet receivers. As at 2009, about 78 million people were listening to internet radio. Given the above, the future of the radio industry is bright and the same time cloudy depending on how the key players in the industry decided to play the game. Indeed, the radio is a source of enjoyable background noise in workplaces and in automobile and so there is bright prospect in the regard. However, unless creativity, hard work and innovation is use to vitalize the industry it is bound to face a cloudy future. One possible solution to secure the future of the radio is through digitization of broadcasting. Indeed, “the future of radio broadcasting is probably digital” (Falk, 2010). Works Cited BBC. (1940, October 13). A message from Princess Elizabeth to the Nation's children. Retrieved May 14, 2011, from British Broadcasting Corporation Archive. Children's Hour Princess Elizabeth : http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/princesselizabeth/6600.shtml?all=1&id=6600 Encyclop?diaBritannica. (2011, May 13). Broadcasting. Retrieved May 13, 2011, from Encyclop?dia Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/80543/broadcasting Encyclop?diaBritannica. (2011, May 14). Radio. Retrieved May 14, 2011, from Encyclop?dia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1262240/radio Falk, M. (2010). The future of radio broadcasting in Europe. Identified needs, opportunities and possible ways forward. Sweden: Radio Spectrum Policy Group. NationalMuseumofAmericanHistory. (1933, March 12). The Great Depression and the World War II. Retrieved May 14, 2011, from National Museum of American History. Kenneth E. Behring Center: http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/small_exhibition.cfm?key=1267&exkey=143&pagekey=246 O'Neal, J. E. (2008, December 23). Fessenden — The Next Chapter . Retrieved May 12, 2011, from RadioWorld: http://www.rwonline.com/article/fessenden-%E2%80%94-the-next-chapter/273 Saul, B. (2009, January 8). The Future of Radio. Retrieved May 14, 2011, from GLC Research: http://www.glgroup.com/News/The-Future-of-Radio-31310.html?cb=1 Sperber, A. M. (1986). Murrow: his life and times. New York: Freundlich Books,. Vaughan, D. (2008). Battle for the Airwaves. Radio and the 1938 Munich Crisis. California: Cook Communications & Radioservis. Read More