Radio 1 Launch

 Historical, social and cultural contexts

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

  

   Radio home, radio light, BBC Third

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

   

    Radio home was replaced by Radio 4, broadcasting education and news, mainly speech based.

    BBC Radio Light was replaced by radio 1 and 2 , broadcasting entertainment such as comedy,drama and music

    BBC Third was replaced by Radio 3 broadcasting intellectual arts-based talk and classical music.

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

   They were radio channels that were not legally registered , they were popular because they would play pop music all day which interested teens.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

    The 1967 Marine broadcasting Act was put in place, officially shutting down these stations. 

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

   They popular radio presenters that were on those pirate radios were recruited to work for  BBC Radio 1.

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

  

   Needle time was when  the  Musicians' Union and Phonographic Performance Limited (a music licensing company) restricted the amount of recorded music that could be transmitted by the BBC during the course of any 24-hour period. This meant they could only play 5 hours of music a day.

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

    When BBC Radio renamed their stations they offered different musical content at all of them which was very different to their previous stations.

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. The new Radio 1 DJs caused such upset because they came from pirate radio stations and brought they're own style which was cultivated in pirate radio stations  to BBC Radio.

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

   The fact that they played pop music all day appealed to teenagers

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?

   The target audience were 15-29 year olds

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

   They struggle because they pursued a traditional British image which young people were uninterested in and which they found "uncool". 

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

    Diversion/Entertainment, Information/Surveillence, Personal relationship and Personal identity 

4) How is the BBC funded?

  The BBC was funded by the licence fee.

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 is "cool" and full of range however it's oppositional reading is "uncool" and too patriotic.l 

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Look at this BBC Radio 1 timeline from its launch in 1967 to today. What do you notice has changed in BBC radio over those 50+ years? Over those past 50+years the station became more popular and took tours it also had it's first female radio host in 1969 making it more modern for young people.

Read this Guardian interview with the second DJ to broadcast on BBC Radio 1. How does he describe the 1960s and his move to the BBC?

   He described his move to the BBC as quite strict , with no diversity or creative control however he describes the 1960s as buzzing with youth culture.

The BBC is a public service broadcaster. What does this mean and why is it an important part of the history of BBC Radio 1?

 

  A public service broadcaster refers to broadcasting which is intended for the public's pleasure rather than for money. This is an important part of  BBC  Radio 1 because it's whole purpose is to Inform,Educate and Entertain nothing more nothing less.