Radio: Launch of Radio 1 CSP case study

Radio: Launch of Radio 1 CSP case study

Historical, social and cultural contexts

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

Originally the BBC had two radio programmes. The Home Service and The Light Programme.

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

BBC Radio was completely reorganised in 1967 and it was decided that one channel would be speech-based, one for serious music and drama, and one for lighter music, including most popular music and a few talk-based shows.

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

The station broadcast from a ship anchored three and a half miles off the coast of Felixstowe and was the first alternative to mainstream radio at the time - playing mainly alternative Pop and Rock.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

When it burst, it really burst, and it did scare the government. And so, in August 1967 came the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act

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

They put more music ad started to do more informal things.

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

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.

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

They borrow lots of features from pirate radio. 

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 opened Radio 1 on 30 September 1967 at 7.00am, with Robin Scott, then Controller Radio 1, standing over him!

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

They wanted a mix of established DJs and, predominantly, younger ones.

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

The distortion and hiss sometimes over the music like the are in the middle of the sea.

Audience and industry

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

The target audience for BBC Radio 1 were teenagers and young adults who stopped listening the "Pirat Radio" because it was banned.

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

It wasn't seen as "cool" because 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).

The simultaneous launch of Radio 1 was an attempt to create a brand new pop music service to replace the outlawed pirate radio stations.

4) How is the BBC funded?

The station operate under the conditions of the Royal Charter and don't carry adverts because they are 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?