Radio 1 Launch CSP: blog tasks

 Historical, social and cultural contexts

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

BBC Radio Home (1939-1967) which broadcasted educational programmes, BBC Radio Light (1945-1967) light entertainment, BBC Third (1946-1970) art based talks.

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

Radio 1 was launched which was aimed at teenagers or the youth.

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

It was rebellious and illegal which seemed "cool" for teenagers and they did not have needle time so they played pop music frequently.

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

It stopped as a law was passed that there couldn't be any ships in the English channel that broadcasted radio channels.

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

They played the same music pirate radio used to play.

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

It was how many hours a day radio could play music.

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

They played pop music which appealed to a younger audience.

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 was the new BBC Radio 1 presenter which upset traditional bbc as he was less formal.

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

He played pop music and talked more casually and more informally.

10) How was Tony Blackburn's radio show more like pirate radio rather than traditional BBC radio content?

He was more casual and instead of older, traditional music BBC 1 played pop music.

Audience and industry

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

Teenagers, and the youth.

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

They thought that Tony Blackburn had "sold out".

3) What audience pleasures did Radio 1 offer listeners in 1967? (Use Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory).

Surveillance as it told the listeners about upcoming music and trends in pop music.

4) How is the BBC funded?

The licence fee which was four pounds.

5) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would the preferred and oppositional readings have been for BBC Radio 1 in 1967? 

The preferred reading was that teenagers thought that BBC Radio 1 was cool however the opposite reading they got was that Tong Blackburn had "sold out" meaning he had become part of a major company.