Terrestrial radio broadcasts include music, speech, drama, and commercial programming sent from stations either live or recorded for public listening. Recorded radio allows audiences to replay or download audiovisual content. Live radio has no delay and includes talk formats like call-in shows. Digital audio broadcasting converts analogue audio to a digital signal for transmission. Non-broadcast products include podcasts that can be downloaded as series, in-store radio customized for retail promotion, and internal radio streamed online for on-demand listening.
Terrestrial Radio Formats and Digital Audio Broadcasting Explained
1. Broadcast Products
Terrestrial Radio:
The programmes are sent to the radio from the station so the public can hear.
Forms: drama and commentary, commercials, music and speech programming, recorded,
live.
Recorded Radio:
The audience can watch the recorded version of the original piece or download it. The
recorded piece has sound and visual images.
Live Radio:
There is no delay. People speak anonymously about their lives/opinions.
Music Radio:
A radio format where music is the main broadcast content.
Speech Programming Radio:
Talk shows, conversations with people from the audience.
Commercial Radio:
When a working budget is developed by selling radio commercials. This is how stations earn
money and pay for their expenses.
Commentary Radio:
Listeners are not able to see what is happening, e.g, football, horse racing, tennis etc. So the
commentator is relied on. The commentator explains what’s happening and who is winning
etc.
Radio drama:
Performance which is on the radio or published on audio media which is exaggerated and
acoustic for example a CD or a tape. There is no visual content, sound effects or music.
Digital Audio Broadcasting:
Also known as high-definition radio and digital radio, audio broadcasting is when an
analogue audio is converted into a digital signal in then it is transmitted in the AM or FM
frequency range on a known channel.
Non-Broadcast Products
Podcasts:
A digital audio file which is available on the internet. It can be downloaded onto a computer
or a media player. People can download it manually, it is available as series.
2. In store radio:
An internal radio station can be customised; it is played out loud at workplace or a retail
store. This promotes brands and products.
Internal radio:
Audio service which is heard on the internet. This involves streaming media which allows
listeners to have a continuous stream; it cannot be paused or replayed. You can listen to it
whenever you want (on demand).