P3 - Multiplatform Distribution Methods

 Multiplatform Distribution Methods

Radio Distribution

AM

AM (amplitude modulation) Radio is a signal which carries sound through medium or longer waves at greater distances. This means it can reach further places and doesn't need to be just local, as well as it also being cheaper in general. However, because of the variety of wave lengths, the quality for AM radio is not as good as its FM counterpart. Therefor, AM radio is commonly used for talk shows and sports commentary as its clearer to hear vocals over music. This type for distribution is commonly used in the BBC's radio production, as it can reach all across the UK and further.

FM

FM (frequency modulation) Radio is a signal which carries sound through high fidelity, meaning the quality is very good. This also means this type is primarily used for playing music as it has less static or popping than AM. This is because of the high frequency waves it transmits which uses lots of energy. However, unlike AM, its also more expensive to produce and can only reach so far in distance until it becomes static. This is why it is use for city or town exclusive radio shows, such as Doncaster Radio and GB News Radio. 

Pirate Radio

Pirate Radio lives by its name in which it's transmitted without a license and often via seas. It's a thin line between legal and illegal when it comes to pirate radio as it depends on what station its being transmitted on, if that station is licensed and if signals cross national boundaries. Although they are not as popular as they used to be, thanks to the expansion of the internet, there are still pirate radio shows that run today, such as Supreme FM and UK Roots, which are probably radio stations you have never heard of because of how niche they are. However, the traditional way of transmitting radio from outer sea is no longer used as it is more costly and unnecessary than distributing it online for free/

Terrestrial Digital Radio (DAB)

DAB broadcasts radio signals through networks of terrestrial transmitters without the frequencies AM and FM use, which means there is no interference. This works by combining MPEG (DVD/audio-visual technology) and COFDM (wideband digital communication technology) to transmit radio signals that are broken into digits and fragments. They're transmitted in pieces so there's a low chance of the signal being lost. Radio stations like Heart and Capital Radio use DAB because it is cheap to operate and easy to expand across the UK rather than a regional area.

Satellite

Signals that are broadcasted nationwide across a wide geographical area than terrestrial digital radio and primarily used for vehicle radio. This radio method is the most effective but often requires subscriptions and commercial fees because of how expansive and expensive it is to operate. SiriusXM is the most popular satellite radio station, located in America, expanding across the states and reaching over 34 million in subscribers. This helps make profit off a radio station and expand further than regional, which is why it is the most common choice for a radio company.

Income

• Advertisements- Advertising companies pay to have their adverts on the radio which can be between 10-60 seconds. One 30 second ad played throughout the week can cost between £250 - £1000, depending on when and how much it's advertised.
  
  
• Income from calls and messages- This is when radio stations encourage their listeners to call or message them in order to win something in a competition or, in rare cases, give their opinion on something in a talk show. Although they're only small fee's just having £2 to call or message with 100,000 listeners doin such can make a great income.
  
  
• Competitions: The competitions themselves also give radio companies income as they can be sponsored events where they don't need to put as much money into the cash draw. The most common radio competition would be Hallam FM's Make me A Winner event which has a high number of listeners but an even higher reward.

Scheduling

• Morning and drive time airings often sound more upbeat and energetic to keep the audience attentive and awake.
• Daytime and evening airings are more calm and general as the time is more relaxed and less enthusiastic.
• Overnight airings are completely calm and quiet, due to how quiet the nighttime is.

Scheduling is also dependent on when and how many advertisements are played at a time. These are usually done during music or chat breaks to prepare for the next segment of content. Said segments also have specific timings whether its for the most popular time people listen to the radio or for special events such as celebrity hosts or exclusive albums.

Content

It's important to consider what the radio show is about. It could be anything including music, news, chats/dialogue, phone-ins, weather, and dramatizations. This content can also depend on what type of audience you want to attract. If you want a more lively, young audience, having more music or chats would be better in order to be entertaining. If you want an older,  formal audience, having informative content like news and weather will be effective.

BBC 3

My chosen radio station, BBC 3, distributes its content via FM, DAB, internet and BBC Sounds. FM and DAB are used for broadcasting to radio devices such as a car radio or radio player, which allows people to listen to it while away from home. However, BBC also uses the internet and BBC Sounds to distribute its music, using WIFI to share content. BBC Sounds is its own app that hosts BBC 3 content to listen to both live and on demand, as well as a variety of other BBC radio stations and podcasts.