HISTORY OF RADIO Timeline

S 1873
T
A When James Clerk Maxwell a Scottish physicist showed mathematically that electromagnetic
R waves could travel through air and soon after Nicola Tesla used his findings to demonstrate the
T sending and receiving radio frequency energy in 1892

1895 1899
Guglielmo Marconi an Italian inventor who He flashed the first wireless signal across the
built the first wireless transmitter which is English Channel, and two years later received
capable of sending and receiving up to one the letter "S," which was telegraphed from
and a half miles and apparently had his first England to Newfoundland (now part of
radio signal in Italy. Canada). This was the first successful
transatlantic radiotelegraph message.

1912
1915
The first transpacific radiotelegraph
service was established, linking San Speech was first transmitted by radio
Francisco with Hawaii. across the continent from New York
City to San Francisco and across the
Atlantic Ocean

1920
1934 1922
 The first radio news broadcast
Built the first Radio broadcasting 1936
The formation of (BBC) British
found its way onto the air under the
Building and the early commercial
call sign Broadcasting Company by Jhon
radio8MK.
through these systems focused
Aired
Reiththe first televised
on providing news with small bits of
entertainment to audiences, but that programs
changed with the formation of the
Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS).
1927 1932

Commercial radiotelephony service Built the first Radio broadcasting Building

in March 15 and the test transmissions
linking North America and Europe was
have been alternating between Logie
opened Bairds 224 lines and Marconi’s 405 line 6
1954

1945 Portable Transistor Radio Sony

introduced their first portable
radio and then a better version
such as music/entertainment in 1957 that was truly a “pocket
radio”

Early 1960’s
Late 1960’s 1968
“Pirate radio stations” Broadcasting
1965 had evolved beyond basic AM
Radio from offshore ships – not illegal
Land
becausebase
theypirate stations
were in took
international
and FM bands to digital radio, which to the air
converted sound intoAntenna
a seriessystem
of digits waters. Seton
upmedium wave
to meet the demandat
The first Master FM weekends, such which
for pop rock music as Radio Free
was not
(hence digital),
 in the word wasrather than designed
invented, the
traditional electrical signals London
catered for the legal BBC radio
to allow individual FM stations to Caroline broadcast from a ship off
broadcast simultaneously from one Essex coast in 1967. By 1967 10
source, was erected on the Empire pirate radio station were broadcasting
State Building in New York City. to an estimated daily audience of 10
to 15 million.
1967 1968

Radio 1 is launched, BBC Light Land base pirate stations took

Program becomes Radio 2, BBC third to the air on medium wave at
Program becomes radio 3 Home weekends, such as Radio Free
Service becomes Radio 4, First local London
BBC radio station in Leicester.

2010
1973
Radio stations go 40 – 267.
Independent Local radio Independent Radio audience
stations begin broadcasting over takes BBC radio for the 1st
BBC loses its monopoly time Mercia sound, Devon air,
Radio Saxon, etc.

1996 – 2001
1999
Over 50 Commercial and BBC
Digital Audio Broadcasting DAB services were available in
(DAB) radio is launched London and over 31 million
(Commercial DAB receivers people in UK now own a DAB
began to be sold radio
S 1873
T When James Clerk Maxwell a Scottish physicist showed mathematically that electromagnetic waves
A
R could travel through air and soon after Nicola Tesla used his findings to demonstrate the sending and
T receiving radio frequency energy in 1892

1895 1899
He flashed the first wireless signal across the
Guglielmo Marconi an Italian inventor who English Channel, and two years later received
built the first wireless transmitter which is the letter "S," which was telegraphed from
capable of sending and receiving up to one England to Newfoundland (now part of
and a half miles and apparently had his first Canada). This was the first successful
radio signal in Italy. transatlantic radiotelegraph message.

1912 1915

The first transpacific radiotelegraph service Speech was first transmitted by radio across
was established, linking San Francisco with the continent from New York City to San
Hawaii. Francisco and across the Atlantic Ocean

1920 1922

 The first radio news broadcast found its way The formation of (BBC) British Broadcasting
onto the air under the call sign 8MK. Company by Jhon Reith

1932
1927
Built the first Radio broadcasting Building in
Commercial radiotelephony service linking March 15 and the test transmissions have
North America and Europe was opened been alternating between Logie Bairds 224
lines and Marconi’s 405 line 6