Radio 1 Launch CSP

 Historical, social and cultural contexts

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

BBC Light (radio 1 & 2)

BBC Home (radio 4)

BBC Third (radio 3)

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

Radio 1 ( BBC Light)

Radio 2 (BBC Light)

Radio 3 (BBC Third)

Radio 4 (BBC Home)

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

Pirate radio was done in international waters to they didn't have a "needle time" and could play music all day

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

Because they were operating with unofficial licenses so it was illegal and there was and the 1967 Marine Broadcasting act outlawed these stations 

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

They hired the famous DJs from the pirate station and got rid of needle time so they could play music all day 

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

Needle time: You could only play 5 hours of music a day because they were worried that if they played music longer people would not buy their records

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

It tried to copy the pirate stations

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 and this would've upset the traditional BBC as pirate stations like Caroline were their competition

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

Emphasises the fact that music would be playing 24/7 which is what young people wanted from the BBC

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

They had gotten rid of a needle time and were playing pop music constantly

Audience and industry

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

The young people that were listening to pirate radio stations (15-29)

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

They didn't like the fact that they didn't play music all the time unlike the pirate radio stations 

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

Diversion, they escape from the real world by listening to music

Personal identity, they might really like the genre of music 

Personal relationships, they might like the presenters

4) How is the BBC funded?

Through a compulsory TV license

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

preferred would be that it is aimed towards young people who like listening to music 

oppositional would be that it was very formal and posh which young people didn't like and that there was not enough music 

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Look at this BBC Radio 1 timeline from its launch in 1967 to today. What do you notice has changed in BBC radio over those 50+ years?

Female presenters

Live shows

FM

Read this Guardian interview with the second DJ to broadcast on BBC Radio 1. How does he describe the 1960s and his move to the BBC?

He was told he was too old for radio 1

The BBC is a public service broadcaster. What does this mean and why is it an important part of the history of BBC Radio 1?

It means that they are not bias