The document discusses different types of radio ownership and stations in the UK, including national stations like BBC Radio 1-5, regional stations covering multi-county areas like BBC Scotland and BBC Radio Wales, local stations for towns and cities, community stations, digital radio (DAB), internet radio, and satellite radio. It also mentions some of the main radio competitors on the Isle of Wight, such as the BBC as a national broadcaster, and regional commercial stations like Capital and Wave105.

1. Ownership of the UK radio
industry.

2. The different type of radio you will need
to know about.
• National Radio: Serving the whole of the UK, national stations include BBC Radios 1-5,
Absolute Radio, Classic FM and talkSPORT.
• Regional Stations: There are currently 17 of these in the UK, covering multi-county areas,
including BBC Scotland, BBC Radio Wales, Capital and Kiss (East Anglia)
• Local Radio: There are 40 BBC local radio stations, and over 250 commercial stations
(known as ILR – Independent Local Radio stations). This number includes town-sized stations
(once known as Incremental stations).
• Community Radio: A growing number of “Not for profit” radio stations (Over 100 in 2008),
that started following the Government’s Access radio pilot scheme.
• DAB Digital Radio: Digital Audio Broadcasting, is the new type of radio service available in
the UK. DAB offers a range of extra channels not available on FM. You’ll need a special DAB
radio to receive Digital Radio – there are a range of DAB radios now available, including
kitchen radios, hi-fi tuners, in-car radios and battery-powered portable devices. For more on
DAB radio.
• Internet Radio: There are several Internet radio stations out there, and a high number of UK
stations broadcast on the Internet… the Internet has worldwide coverage. You can also run
your own.
• Satellite Radio: Stations broadcasting on satellite, including Sky.

3. Some of the main radio competitors on
the Isle of Wight.
The BBC, this was the first radio
station to ever exist in the UK and is
known as a national radio. Unlike
their competitors Capital which is
know as a regional radio station as it
has different station for different parts
of the country (e.g. capital south
coast).
Another well known and widely
played radio station that people listen
to on the island is Wave105, this is a
regional commercial radio station
which is different to the BBC as
Wave105 not only has music, talking
shows, etc. but also has adverts in
order to get the funding to stay on air.

4. BBC Radio
The BBC is officially publically
owned, and was given a ten-year
royal charter in 2006 that defines its
purposes and allows it to act
somewhat autonomously, free from
commercial and government
influence. With the day-to-day
management is handled by the
board of management, headed by
the director general; its members are
appointed by the board of governors.

5. Local radios owned by
national companies
Many radios that you would
consider to be ‘local’ radio
stations are sometimes
actually owned by big
‘national’ companies.
An example of this would be
local stations such as capital
south coast and capital
London are owned by the
same national corporation.