Radio 1 Launch CSP

 Historical, social and cultural context

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

Radio stations offered by BBC before 1967 were: BBC Radio Light, BBC Home and BBC Third.

2) How was BBC radio reorganised in September 1967? What were the new stations that launched? The BBC launched Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4.

3) What was pirate radio and why was it popular? Pirate Radio was a radio that played more than 5 hrs of music and it was gaining popularity as it didn't follow the restrictions.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967? Because the law prohibited it: the Marine Broadcasting Offence Act outlawed Pirate Radio station.

5) How did the BBC attract young audiences to Radio 1 after pirate radio stations were closed down? As they employed people from Pirate Radio stations and had them work at Radio 1 which attracted the Pirate Radio audience to Radio 1.

6) What was 'needle time' and why was it a problem for BBC Radio? The needle time was a law introduced to radio where you could only play music 5 hrs a day, this rule was placed to protect record companies who were worried they wouldn't sell record if radio played 24 hrs.

7) How did BBC Radio 1 offer different content to previous BBC radio stations? BBC Radio 1 offered different content by following their remit statement of inform, educate and entertain and by having a different content.

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 presenter was Tony Blackburn. The Radio 1 DJs caused upset initially at traditional BBC as they were formal and posh.

9) Listen to excerpts from the Tony Blackburn's first 1967 broadcast - how might it have appealed to young listeners? As he radiated positive energy and was friendly. Plus he presented music in fun and unique way.

10) What conventions did Tony Blackburn's radio show borrow from pirate radio - which made it very different to previous BBC radio content? Tony Blackburn's Radio show borrowed Pirate Radios idea by presenting in an energetic and fun way and he got the DJs that worked at Pirate Radio stations in his radio show. 

Audience and industry

1) What was the target audience for BBC Radio 1 in 1967? Young people (teenagers)

2) Why did Radio 1 initially struggle to attract young listeners? Radio 1 initially struggled to attract young listeners because it was very formal and posh and sounded like a speech.

3) What audience pleasures did Radio 1 offer listeners in 1967? (Use Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory). The audience pleasures that Radio 1 offered listeners in 1967 were diversion/ entertainment as the radio kept the audience busy from their daily problems and were able to escape their daily lives for a few moments. Vicarious pleasure might also be seen as the audience may feel a physical thrill from different popular music being listened to.  

4) How is the BBC funded? BBC is funded through a license fee.

5) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would the preferred and oppositional reading have been of BBC Radio 1 in 1967?  The preferred reading would be be that the audience of pirate radio would start listening to BBC and young people would think BBC is cool and awesome whilst the oppositional reading would be that a young audience would think BBC is boring, out of date and for old people.