Historical, social and cultural contexts and audience, industry

1) What radio stations were offered by the BBC before 1967?

home service and the light programme

2) How was BBC radio reorganised in September 1967? What were the new stations that launched?
On 30 September 1967, the BBC split the Light Programme into separate pop music and entertainment stations, becoming Radio 1 and Radio 2 respectively.

3) What was pirate radio and why was it popular?
There was a growing demand for rock and pop music at the time, which was not being fulfilled by BBC Radio services. As a result, music enthusiasts and entrepreneurs decided to create their own pirate radios in order to satisfy the needs of the people.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?
Pirate radio met with increasing opposition, especially from the authorities in the form of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It had claimed since the 1970s that pirate radio caused interference to licensed broadcasters and could interfere with frequencies used by emergency services.

5) How did the BBC attract young audiences to Radio 1 after pirate radio stations were closed down?
By employing many of the people who worked at pirate stations so that they could get many loyal listeners from them to listen to there radio.

6) What was 'needle time' and why was it a problem for BBC Radio?
Nobody believes this today, but there was a ration called 'needle time' which meant, although we were doing a two hour programme, we were only allowed to play eight records each week. All the rest had to be our own recordings, or done live in the studio

7) How did BBC Radio 1 offer different content to previous BBC radio stations?
Radio 1 was launched as a pop music station. Radio 2 broadcaster easy listening music.

8) Who was the first presenter for BBC Radio 1 and why did these new Radio 1 DJs cause upset initially at the traditional BBC?


9) Listen to excerpts from the Tony Blackburn's first 1967 broadcast - how might it have appealed to young listeners?


10) What conventions did Tony Blackburn's radio show borrow from pirate radio - which made it very different to previous BBC radio content?


Audience and industry

1) What was the target audience for BBC Radio 1 in 1967?
It was launched in 1967 to meet the demand for music generated by pirate radio stations, when the average age of the UK population was 27. The BBC claims that it targets the 15–29 age group

2) Why did Radio 1 initially struggle to attract young listeners?
It was not seen as 'cool' by many young people as the BBC stood for traditional, conservative values.

3) What audience pleasures did Radio 1 offer listeners in 1967? (Use Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory).


4) How is the BBC funded?
 principally funded by the BBC licence fee, with some grants from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

5) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would the preferred and oppositional readings have been for BBC Radio 1 in 1967?

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