The order the radio stations run depend on the Radio institution practices for example Capital FM on Monday mornings offer very casual and mainstream music such as, pop, R’n’B, Indie, this is done because usually on a Monday morning people are on their way to work and they want something relaxing as they may be tired from waking up early or they may be driving so they don’t want anything to disturb them or make them lose concentration. Although at around the time people are going to work in the mornings (9am+) a radio breakfast show may be on the Radio station, this is done to attract the audience in as if they tune in, in the morning it is likely they will stay on the same radio station throughout the day.
Public service broadcasters such as the BBC are paid money from the government. This is done through a license fee such as a TV license that the public have to pay in order to fund public service broadcasters. The government does this to help support and keep running the BBC as it offers a number of educational and helpful programs that many other channels don’t provide or offer. These programs are on offer on TV and on Radio; this is why Radio 4 offers many educational and informative programs such as, current affairs news, cultural topics, political debates etc… Radio 4’s main purpose is to educate.
Commercial broadcasters are not owned by any companies and are not funded by the government through licensed fees; they rely on commercials to fund them through advertisement. Advertisers pay commercial broadcasters to play their adverts therefore commercial broadcasters have 3 to 4 minute breaks every 15 minutes of a program to show the commercial advertisements.
Commercial broadcasters target to entertain the audience rather than educate. Therefore having a radio station like Capital FM offer Gossip, competition, music, celebrity news etc…
The radio industry makes money in two ways, either through license fees paid by the public or commercial advertising, although there are other ways the radio industry can generate income, such as, competition, a listener may dial in the radio company, the radio company can then charge them a fixed rate per minute, or through advertising in posters, programs or magazines.
The advantages of a major media corporation can have from ownership of a radio station can be to gain new audiences, for example teenagers or working men/women, who listen to radio stations can then get involved and listen to their radio station which can then lead in them being interested in the companies other products. The media company can also earn more money whilst keeping their audiences happy and entertained; this can be done through phone ins, competitions, winnings, vox props, etc…
The advantages the government can have from ownership of a radio station is that they can earn money through license fees which could then help raise money for other useful causes for example, a program dedicated to death people, where sign language would be used to help young death children learn, or maybe even hospitals and schools. The government also has the advantage of news updates available to the public very quickly, as public service broadcasters have news programs if there is an urgent message it can be read through the radio as well as television.
