Radio 1 Launch CSP: blog tasks

Radio 1 Launch CSP: blog tasks

Work through the following questions to complete your first Radio case study on the launch of BBC Radio 1:

Historical, social and cultural context

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

Before 1967, the radio stations offered by the BBC were 'BBC Radio Home', 'BBC Radio Light' and 'BBC Third'.

2) How was BBC reorganised in September 1967?

BBC was  recognised  by the DJ's from pirated boat radio station to host their shows on Radio 1 and 2  which carried their followers from the pirated radio stations to BBC.

3) What was pirate radio and why was it popular?

It was a radio station that was streamed on the sea which used sound waves of oceans. People loved it because it live streamed 24/7.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

Pirate radio stopped playing in 1967 because of the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act that  officially outlawed pirate radio stations.

5) How did the BBC attract young audiences to Radio 1 after pirate radio stations were closed down?

They employed Tony Blackburn which had a large following of youth that use to listen to his radio station. This followed unto the following of the BBC.

6) What was 'needle time' and why was it a problem for BBC Radio?

In 1967 they could only play five hours of music per day, this was a problem for BBC radio as their target audience wanted this amount of time to be longer.

7) How did BBC Radio 1 offer different content to previous BBC radio stations?

BBC Radio 1 offered different content to previous BBC radio stations as it provided a younger musical taste.

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?

The first presenter for BBC Radio 1 was Tony Blackburn. This made the traditional BBC employees upset as Blackburn was a former pirate radio broadcaster before joining BBC Radio.

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

 Tony Blackburn's first show may have appealed to a younger audience as he did things like competitions and shout outs.

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

Tony Blackburn talked over some of the music and added jingles and other musical effects making it different from other BBC radios.

Audience and industry

1) What was the target audience for BBC Radio 1 in 1967?

The target audience for BBC Radio 1 in 1967 was a more formal, posh and rich audience.

2) Why did Radio 1 initially struggle to attract young listeners?

Radio 1 struggled to attract the younger audience as the radio tended to provide things for younger audiences. The radio stations catered more to older audiences. 

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

• entertainment/diversion - through music and gossip with celebs.
• information/surveillance - about the world around them, such as weather and news updates 
• personal relationships - through the DJ, the audiences can engage with the DJ

4) How is the BBC funded?

 The BBC is funded through the compulsory license fee.

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

The preferred and oppositional reading of BBC Radio 1 in 1967 would have been that it was uncool and boring.