The Radio Industry

 The Radio Industry

Radio could potential come up in Component 1 section B

Radio involves:

• - Industry
• - Audience

• Radio is often consumed as a passive experience. Radio still has a significant reach. Defining radio is difficult. Technically, radio would refer to broadcast radio, broadcast over radio waves to a national, international or local audience. 
• Digital radio or DAB uses digital technology to broadcast live radio
• A radio show that is pre-recorded and then digital distributed is referred to as a podcast.
• Narrowcasting is communicating to a niche audience. 

Radio still exists for a variety of different reasons:

• - Escapism
• - Information
• - Ability to target niche audiences
• - Commercial and promotional reasons
• - Spreading beliefs or ideologies

It is an evolving media product, it very different from broadcast within 1922.

Late Night women's hour is broadcasted on BBC Radio 4, it is broadcasted once a week (no it's not), typically at night. It is now presented by Lauren Lavern, consisting of a female panel. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based at Broadcasting House in London. The BBC is primarily funded through the TV licence, which must legally be paid by UK citizens who watch live broadcasts on BBC and some other channels.

The TV licencing model is extremely rare, and mainly used in the UK and a few other European countries. BBC radio is therefore funded by the TV licences, meaning that BBC radio is subsidised by licence payers.

Radio one - Mainstream music focused, for a younger to early middle aged audience

Radio two - extremely broad range of music focused shows

Radio three - classical music with some weird stuff, 

Radio four - talk focus, targeting an older middle aged audience

Radio five - sport chat

Radio six - Alternative music

The BBC is a PBS organisation, it exists not to ensure financial success but to fulfil the needs

of a diverse and specialised audience

The BBC's remit is too inform, entertain and educate.

PBS exists to fulfil the needs of a diverse and specialised

audience over financial gain.

Media exists for educational purposes.

To share different opinions and ideologies.

For entertainment purposes - modern life is boring and needs entertainment

How does late night women's hour meet the needs of its audiences.

Pluralistic approach - Multiple ones of then

- Relatable topics

Audience

• Previous presenter Lauren Laverne is a moderately controversial choice, with a history of making controversial statements. Sort of
• Sophisticated mode of address indicates an educated, middle-class female audience with broadly left-wing political leanings
• Invites audiences to agree with the dominant ideology of the programme and to sympathise with the middle class panellist. Arguably lacks a diverse range of voices
• Constructs a range of conformist and subversive representations of women for its middle class female target audience
• Through identification and its niche subject matter, allows BBC to construct and to target a cult audience

Industry

• A spin off from the long running Woman’s Hour, which was started in the early 1940’s.
• Broadcast once a month at 11pm, though is available for streaming long after, maximising audience potential
• Allows BBC to fulfil its remit for providing diverse and pluralistic entertainment shows
• The BBC’s status as a PBS provider allows it to take chances on niche shows like LNWH that other broadcasters would not be able to
• Generally conforms to IPSO guidelines, and is largely not controversial aside from occasional use of strong language

Home, domestic topics appealing to women such as IKEA, and references to typical women's activities (crafting)

Light jokes comedy aspects - Hygge

Relatable to working class/middle class audience '60 quid'

The topics are not strictly based around female

experiences. Though topics like ‘extreme breastfeeding’

are female-centric, other discussions

about grief, male/female friendships and

modern slavery offer a female perspective on

issues that would also interest male listeners.

Mode of address is relaxed and informal: Lauren Laverne- soft tone & accent, ‘ya in’, ‘cosy’. Humour, conversational tone.
Intellectual language “antithesis of IKEA”, “cultural value” discussion of balance between home and work, “enterprise and capitalism,” “industrialisation,” “white Anglo-Saxon protestant men” – suggestion that it appeals to a more academic/sophisticated audience ‘curating’, ‘democratic’, ‘accoutrement’
Direct address to women: ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘you’ repeated.
Research fellow in the school of social science at Cardiff University – Academic.
Podcaster Helen – social/youth?
Chef/author – domestic
Discussion of the digital cultural and the intimate home life – e.g. sharing on Instagram – attracting the younger audience.
“Craft vs Commerce vs Drudgery” – discussion about things that helped women in the home e.g. frozen food.  Craftsmanship a way of connecting with things women have lost with the development of feminism.

Stereotypical

Gender performativity

Reception theory 

Demographic - a group of people/audience

Hegemony

Lexis

Intertextuality 

Modes of address

Ideology

Semiotics (proairetic, hermeneutic)

Genre

Power and profit 

Representation

Feminist theory

Cultivation theory - where a media product reinforces / grows an ideology over time

Relatable topics

• Use of stereotypical conversation, including reference to cooking, housework, family and parental stuff.
• Cultivates a stereotypical ideology

Discussion of crafting - sowing, knitting, jewelry etc conforms to a stereotypical representation of women

The lexis of the presenters is gossipy and detailed. Discussion of how these issues affect women, with men very rarely referred to in this episode. A highly atypical and specific mode of address, Many shows and media products target men as a default, for example MOTD or pretty much any sports broadcast. Therefore LNWH allows the BBC to pursue plurality.

Listening contexts - a passive listening experience. Many audiences will listen to Listen to LNWH while cooking, working, housework, driving.

This episode can fit around a flexible lifestyle, and provides the audience with escapism.

Radio is regulated by Ofcom, they are the same group who also regulate television, and online media. It is partly self regulated.

The use of the heavy stereotyping allows the audience to know what to expect.

The show is not challenging to a middle age middle class audience.

Late night women's hour presents a middle class lifestyle. In selling the audience a luxurious lifestyle 'the world is on fire'

The BBC is watched 3 times as more as Netflix in the UK

Echo Chamber - Where you surround yourself with people who hold the same beliefs as you.

The BBC will have to fulfil the need of their audiences

The history of women's hour:

-Originally presented by Alan Ivimey, the programme was created to encourage women to rebuild home life after the war

- First broadcasted in 1946, and aired on BBC's light programme at 2 pm intended to fit around women's chores and collecting kids from school

-It was then moved to BBC4 in 1973

- Segments include ' How to hang your husband's suit'

- The show was labelled as 'misogynistic' and 'patronising' after 2 men replaced a female tech expert due to feature in a slot about the lack of women speakers at technology conferences

- On New year's Eve 2004, the show became 'man's hour'

Woman's hour was created by a man, Mans hour was created by a woman

Women's Hour

Started immediately after the end of world war 2. Historical context: many women actually found more freedom during WW2, and then suddenly had this freedom, for example job opportunities taken away. Potentially the show took advantage of the new found taste for freedom, and may have given contemporary audiences a sense of guidance and purpose after losing this freedom. Early in it’s run, Woman’s Hour focused on a series of stereotypical stories including ‘how to cook whale meat’ and ‘how to hang your husband’s suit’ 

A criticism that could be made about LNWH is that the topic of conversation is superficial, and not intellectual challenging. Therefore, an oppositional reading to the Home episode is that it does not further challenge it’s audience, and even reinforces stereotypical perspectives through it’s coverage of stereotypical themes.

However, LNWH DOES make reference to other cultures, politics and other issues.

Title of the second episode: Vaginas/Pockets

COVER WORK:

Exploring BBC Sounds:

BBC Radio 4 Brief Information:

- BBC radio 4 is a British radio station owned and operated by the BBC

- It is the second most popular British domestic radio station and recorded its highest audience of 11 million listeners in May 2011

- It broadcasts a wide range of spoken word programs, like news, drama, comedy, science, and history

- BBC Radio 4’s target audience is considered to be educated and informed adults, who focus on a mature and discerning audience

- The radio’s target audience are adults aged 35 and above, with a particular focus on those 55 and above.

Programmes broadcasted on BBC Radio 4:

- The world at one - 

• The World at One appeals to its target audience by providing in-depth coverage and analysis of national and international news as well as interviews with key figures from politics further interesting and engaging audiences
• The programme is known for its impartial and objective reporting, which is considered to be a key appeal to its target audience of educated and informed adults.
• It frequently features interviews with high-profile figures, such as politicians, business leaders, and experts in various fields, which appeals to its target audience's interest in hearing from key decision-makers and thought leaders.

- The Book Club: - A programme that discusses books and authors, and features interviews with authors.

• The Book Club, a BBC Radio 4 programme, targets its audience by featuring discussions of books and authors, and interviews with authors. The programme is designed to appeal to the interests of its target audience of educated and informed adults who have an interest in literature and reading.
• It features a variety of different books, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, which is intended to appeal to a wide range of interests and tastes within the target audience. 
• The programme also features interviews with authors, which provides listeners with an opportunity to learn more about the books and the authors behind them, and also allows them to gain insights into the creative process and the inspiration behind the works.
• It also features guests discussing their favourite books, which can give listeners recommendations for books to read and also allows them to gain an insight into what others in the target audience are reading

- Woman's Hour - A long-running programme that focuses on issues that are of particular relevance to women.

• The programme covers a wide range of topics including health, work, family, politics, and culture and is designed to appeal to the interests and concerns of its target audience of adult women.
• It features a mix of interviews, discussions, and reports on various issues that affect women, including those related to health, career, and family. It also features guests that include experts, activists, and policymakers, who provide insight and analysis on the issues being discussed.
• The programme also features personal stories and interviews with women from diverse backgrounds, which helps to give listeners a sense of the different experiences and perspectives of women, and also helps to create a sense of community among listeners

The kitchen cabinet: A food-related programme that features celebrity chefs, food writers and critics, and offers cookery tips and recipe suggestions.

• The programme is designed to appeal to the interests of its target audience of food enthusiasts and home cooks.
• It features a mix of cookery tips, recipe suggestions, and information on food-related topics such as food history, production and sourcing. The guests on the programme are often well-known chefs, food writers and critics who share their knowledge and experiences with the listeners
• The Kitchen Cabinet also features segments where the host and guests cook a dish live on the show and provide step-by-step instructions, which allows listeners to learn new recipes and cooking techniques. This format appeals to the target audience's interest in learning new recipes and experimenting with new flavors and techniques in their own kitchens.
• The programme also features a mix of classic and contemporary recipes, which is designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes and preferences within the target audience

How do BBC Sounds appeal to an audience:

• Thumbnails: The app uses thumbnails, or preview images, to suggest programme content to users. These images are carefully selected to be representative of the content and to appeal to the interests of the target audience.
• Lexis: The app uses a simple and clear lexis to ensure that the content is easily accessible to all users, regardless of their level of education or language proficiency.
• Images: The app uses a combination of images and text to enhance the user experience and make it more visually engaging. The images are carefully selected to be representative of the content and to appeal to the interests of the target audience
• Font: The app uses a clean and easy-to-read font that is designed to be legible on all devices and screens.
• Colour: The app uses a colour scheme that is easy on the eyes and designed to be accessible to users with colour vision deficiencies.
• Hyperlinks: The app uses hyperlinks to allow users to easily access content and navigate through the app. These links are carefully placed and labeled to ensure that they are easy to find and use.
• Accessibility: The app is designed to be accessible to users of all ages and abilities, with features such as easy navigation, clear and simple lexis, and a range of accessibility options.

• Engagement: By providing a range of features to help users find and enjoy the content they are interested in. These features include personalized recommendations based on the user's listening history, a search function, and curated playlists, which allow users to easily discover new content. They can have a personalised listening experience by creating their own playlists and saving their favourite programs, which helps to meet the needs of users with specific interests
• Plurality: Audiences can listen to live radio, catch-up on missed programs, and access exclusive content, which helps to meet the needs of users who want to listen to live or missed shows.

COVER WORK 19/1/23

Differences between BBC iPlayer and Netflix?

- BBC iPlayer offers a range of both live and on-demand programmes such as the news, dramas, kids shows, Netflix offers just on-demand programmes for a wide audience to consume containing series, films, and documentaties

- The BBC iPlayer is a commercial service (not for profit) that is publically funded through the TV license, which is mandatory for all audiences who watch TV in the UK to pay. Netflix however, is funded through a subscription fee that varies between each user. Netflix is more driven for profit than the BBC. You olnly have to pay this fee if you choose to sign up to Netflix

WHAT WAYS DO THE BBC CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT THE ONLY REASON FOR MEDIA PRODUCTS IS TO MAKE MONEY?

In a number of ways, it may be argued that the BBC challenges the notion that all media products exist to make money.  The BBC is not driven by profit and is instead obligated to serve the public interest because it is a publicly-funded broadcaster. This implies that the BBC is free to create and transmit material that might not be profitable but is thought to be crucial for the general public to have access to. Contrastingly, commercial media companies may give more weight to content that is more likely to bring in money than news that is of general interest because they are motivated by the need to make money.

• A BBC show (radio or TV) that has been complained about by audiences for depicting drug use Some viewers complained that the show glamorized drug use and crime,
• A BBC show (radio or TV) that has been complained about by audiences for depicting sex An example of a BBC show that has been complained about by audiences for depicting sex is "Killing Eve." The show, which originally aired in 2018, is a British black comedy-drama series, it's known for its frank and graphic depiction of sexual content and violence. Some viewers complained that the sexual content was gratuitous, while others praised the series for its strong female characters and unconventional storytelling.
• A BBC show (radio or TV) that has been complained about by audiences for depicting violence Line of duty a crime drama gained criticism from its use of depicted violence and graphic imagery.
• Criticisms and controversies surrounding the BBC itself Accusations of bias in news reporting: Some viewers and politicians have accused the BBC of having a left-wing bias, while others have accused it of having a right-wing bias. Representation and diversity: The BBC has been criticized for not having enough representation of different perspectives
• A story in a tabloid newspaper that criticises the BBC
• Criticisms about BBC Radio 4 Lack of diversity and representation: Critics have accused BBC Radio 4 of not having enough representation of different perspectives, especially from marginalized communities, in its programming and staff.

1. Who produced LNWH? The show is produced by the BBC Radio 4 team
2. When did LNWH start broadcasting? "Late Night Woman's Hour" started broadcasting in 2017 as a spin-off of the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme "Woman's Hour" which has been airing since 1946
3. Give three ways in which LNWH is distributed to it's audiences. "Late Night Woman's Hour" is primarily distributed to its audience via BBC Radio 4, the show can be listened to live on the radio at the time of broadcast, or on the BBC Sounds app or website after the broadcast. The show can also be listened to again on BBC iPlayer Radio for a limited time after the initial broadcast
4. Who is the target audience for LNWH? Adult, middle class women
5. How would you describe the production values for this show? high 
6. How can audiences use digitally convergent media to access LNWH? Its available for consumption on a range of different digital devices like phones, TV, laptop, radio etc.
7. Who regulates the radio industry? Ofcom
8. In what ways could an episode of LNWH harm or offend it's audience? Through the use of adult topics that are typically 'taboo' to be spoken about, and the lack of involvement of men, the show is called 'late night women's hour' might offend male audiences
9. What measures are put in place to stop younger people from listening to this show? Late broadcasting hour, the show is premiered at 10/11 pm past watershed, will typically prevent younger audiences from listening.
10. How is LNWH an example of media plurality? Plurality of voices 
11. How successful is LNWH from a global perspective? Not very successful
12. How can audiences use or take pleasure from an episode of LNWH?  Through the use of relatable topic, Discussion of crafting - sowing, knitting, jewelry etc conforms to a stereotypical representation of women  Informal casual and relaxed  mode of address. The lexis of the presenters is gossipy and detailed. Discussion of how these issues affect women, with men very rarely referred to in this episode.
13. Is the BBC vertically or horizontally integrated? They are both Horizontally and vertically integrated because have their content distributed across other forms of media, for example radio
14. How does the BBC make money, and how is this different to Netflix? They make their money through the TV licence, Netflix makes their money through a subscription fee
15. What is one obligation the BBC has that Netflix does not have? News