Radio 1 Launch CSP

 Historical, social and cultural contexts

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

Radio light - Offered music, entertainment and comedy

Radio Home - Offered education and news

Radio third- Offered intellectual arts

2) How was BBC radio reorganised in September 1967? What were the new stations that launched?

Radio Light became Radio 1 and Radio 2

Radio Home became Radio 4

Radio Third became Radio 3

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

Pirate radio is radio that hasn't been regulated. It was very popular as pirate radios would play pop music all day for teenagers as BBC Radio 1 and 2 didn't provide it.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

It eventually became illegal so private radio broadcasters had to stop.

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

They started to introduce pop music on Radio 1 which intrigued younger audiences as they used pirate radio stations for pop music.

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

Needle time was a rule that only allowed radio stations to play 5 hours of music every day. This was a problem for BBC radio as it made them lose lots of their young audience as they couldn't listen to pop music whenever they wanted to.
 
7) How did BBC Radio 1 offer different content to previous BBC radio stations?

BBC Radio 1 offered comedy, entertainment and music while the other BBC radio stations offered news and education. 

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?

Tony Blackburn. New Radio 1 DJs were initially upset at the traditional BBC as they were not given as much freedom as they had on pirate radios. This is because on pirate radios DJs would give free CDs and could control the amount of music they play and the amount they played.

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

It might've appealed to young listeners as they have built a relationship with Tony Blackburn from pirate radio. It also appealed to young listeners as Tony Blackburn also jokes around a bit and presents pop music to the young listeners and the other types of music available.

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

He introduced the audience to what they had planned for them and he brought that along with him when he joined Radio 1. This would keep the listeners intrigued and looking forward to what was coming up. This was difficult for pervious BBC radio content as they couldn't make the audience intrigued with their content.

Audience and industry

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

Young people

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

Because they didn't have pop music within their radio stations and many young people were listening to pirate radio,

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

Diversion/Entertainment - Radio 1 offers listeners music that wasn't previously available on Radio 1 but only on pirate radios.

Personal relationships - After pirate radio got banned many of their presenters were hired by Radio 1 which also bought more listeners.

4) How is the BBC funded?

The BBC was funded by their licence fee. People had to pay £4 a year compared to today where you have to pay £159.

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

The preferred reading for BBC Radio 1 in 1967 might've been to attract the young audience with famous music and music that many people will enjoy. Furthermore, the preferred reading for BBC Radio 1 might also be that the presenters are amazing and good.

The oppositional reading for BBC Radio 1 in 1967 might've been that the music they put on their radio is not as good as music on pirate radios. This is because pirate radio would put on music that Radio 1 can't put on their radio as it would go against OFFCOM's conditions. Another oppositional reading for BBC Radio 1 is that the listeners might think that their presenters are not as good as the pirate radio's presenters.