Chapter 4.

Radio as a medium
Learning Objective
() Hìstory of Radio
Abrief understanding of the milestones in Radto Broadcasuing
RadioBroadcasting in India - AIR.
(ü) Characteristics of Radio
Abrief understanding of the characterisrics ofrado such assaudto
medium, wireless medium inexpensive, simple to use, wide reach,
mobility, and live medium.
() Radio Broadcasting
Radio Equipment: Transmitter and receiver; Radio frequenoy: ANM
(Amplitude Modulation) &FM (Erequency Modlatior); Satete
Radio:definition and impact.
(iv) Types of Radio Broadcasting
Abrief understanding of Public, Private and Communioy reuie
broadcasting.
(v) Online and Amateur Radio (HAM Radio)
Definition and impact
 Mass Mediaand Communication - Class 10 - 1Cch

'Radio will die!' People started believing thiswhen TV come in the marker
Did that really happen? Even in this digital age, radio is as exciting as i
was! It has upgraded itself integrating with the new technology. Radio i
not just AM &FM now; it's on your smartphone as a music streaming app.
Radio willalways survive because of its unique format. It's a sound only
mediumn. It takes you to a new world with voices and music and gives Vou
the freedom to 'see' the world the way you want, unlike other media.
the radio
Have you ever thought about what it must have been like before
there
was invented? Have you ever watcheda movie about the days when
was no television but people gathered around the radio for music, news,
and to hear stories? Have you ever wondered how sounds and messages
can travel invisibly through the air to come across perfectly from a small
happen?
receiver? How did someone even figure out how to make that
Let's look back in the history!

History of radio
a
The history of the radio is much older than most of us. What we call
radio today dates back to as far as the early 20th century. Scientists
initially used the term 'radio' to explain electromagnetic radiations
employed in innovations such as radio-telegraphy (this was a means of
transnitting messages in the absence of poles, cables, or wires). Simply
radiocame from a series
put, it was used to mean radiation or radiant. The
of discoveries and inventions in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The firs!
contributor, the one responsible for opening the door to all radio, s
Heinrich Hertz. The German physicist studied radio waves and proved
signals could be transmitted wirelessly. The first inventor of the radio.
however, is a well-debated topic.
Major contributors to Radio:
In 1888 German physicis!
Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894
produced and detected
electromagnetic waves in P
laboratory. His goal was
verify some of the predictio
ha
Heinrich Hertz Nikola Tesla Guglielmo Marconi about these waves that
been made by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell (1831-181onl
What Hertz did not realize at the time is that his discovery not

60
 t and Communication Literacy Counil
Chilären's Media.

verifiedand validated Maxwell's work, but it also made possible the later
invention of radio, television, radar, and other devices that depend on the
production and detection of electromagnetic radiation. You might recall
that radio wave frequencies are stillmeasured in Hertz today.
electrical engineer, inventor,
Karl Ferdinand Braun was a German
physiistand Nobel laureate in physics. Braun contributed significantly to
the 1909
the development of radio and television technology: he shared
contributions to
Nobel Prize in Physics with Guglielmo Marconi "for their
the development of wireless telegraphy".
felt the
In 1894, Guglielmo Marconi
with radio
world could do much more
as
waves than just thinking of them
electromagnetic waves. He combined i
ideas of other
that literature with the
scientists and ended up building the
and i
first set of portable transmitter
could
receiver devices. These devices
locations.
function between distant
His device succeeded in ringing a bell!
from 30 feet away. While Marconi can Sir.Jagadish Chandra Bose was the
be credited for his invention, he bult demonstrated the
many experiments of his! person who firstcapturing radio waves.
On the science behind
predecessor scientists like Braun and Wondering how he is not as well
is because he
James Clerk Maxwell. known as Marconi? This
In November
never patentedhis work.public
presented a
Nikola Tesla, a Serbian immigrant to ! 1895, Bose at Town Hall in
demonstration
the United States. demonstrated a
Calcutta, where he sent an
audiences inSt Louis ! electromagnetic wave across 75 feet,
wireless radioto ring
Marconi's through walls toremotely
the year before I passing explode somegunpowder. I
demonstration. Although Tesla came abellandto fatherofwireless I
the
Bose is known as
telecommunication. He had
invented
trst, Marconi patented his invention
In 1896 while Tesla patented his in Coherer, a radio wave
the Mercury by Guglielmo
1900. One year later, in 1901, receiver that was uscd
operationaltwo
Marconito buildan behind
Marconi transmitted the first signal to sience
way radio.The waveswas first
Cross the Atlantic from Europe to capturing radio WhileMarconi
demonstratedby Bose.invention, Bose
America. for his
was celebrated to many, as he
remainedunknown
You mmight recall that radio wave I
neverpatented
his work.
are still measured in Hertz i
trequencies
61
 Mass Media and Communication
Class 10 - I.C.SE
radio,
today. The first inventor of the The radio is one of the
however, is a well-debated topic.
|
inventions in human most importani
history, changi
Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor I
people's lives. Its relevance grew
during the Second World War
and businessman, often receives credit was used as a powerful wheni
based on his 1894 device capable of propaganda
instrument to control people. The
ringing abell from 30 feet away. On the! totalitarian systems of Europe in
other hand, Nikola Tesla, a Serbian i particular used the radio to convey
immigrant to the United States, I ideas messages in favour of their ideology:
demonstrated wireless radio to
supporting the regime and
messages encouraging civilians to be
audiences in St. Louis the year before loyal to the government.
Marconi's demonstration. Although When Mussolini came to power in
Italy, there was no national radio
Tesla came first, Marconi patented his network so he took advantage of the
invention in 1896 while Tesla patented progression of technology to create
his in 1900. One year later, in 1901, i one, using it for his political purposes
Marconi transmitted the first signal to In 1927 there were barely 40,000
Cross the Atlantic from Europe to radiophonic devices in Italy, but the
situation completely changed in the
America. 1930s after the development of ELAR
(Ente Italiano Audizioni
Radio and World Wars: Radiofoniche). The fascist regime
started to broadcast to obtain people
favour and encouraged the diffusion
Radio technology was stil very young this new device, installing devices in
when WWI took place. Back then, the ! public places. As well as an instrumet
most sophisticated military gadgets to obtain political favour, radios wer
used te
could only manage short-range an essential propaganda tool
relay the Duce's speeches and
communications. Initially the use of Conversations regarding topics suchs
In
radio technology was limited to military i racism, nationalism and power.
used as
and marine communication. After the Italy, radios were also broadcast
entertainment tools that
World War I, radio found its commercial ! sport events. Tie
opera, music and
base with reforms and development, i of using radios
entertaining
idea to deliver
programmes stemmed
reaching out to common people. The pe
ofobtainingUsed
earliest radio transmissions in 1915 were from the attempt not only
by universities to broadcast news. consent. Radios were
regime but byt
Between 1920 and 1945, radio evolved the Duce and the Resistance,
the
partisans duringcommunicate witl
into the first type of electronic illegal radios to regarding weapo
information dissemination system for other partisans
,military'actions

the masses. enemy movement, muchmor

and
civilian conditions rolein th'
crucial
Before the dawn of the Second World Radios playedla they.helyed
communication
Resistance among partisans
because
War, radio had become a commnon means ahent
Step
of entertainment and information. As be one.
allowing themto
with every other aspect of the the Nazi soldiers.

62
 source
stations,to formed public
National an countries
Government States timeAsad
government end,digital
unveiled
thatthat
means as discovery
of
the
radio NBC stations form 1920 United matter an
any
became - European
System.to British
in under to
on for NBC initiatives
Corporation The a came awastechnology.
grip looked independent only
Radio establishments.
into Broadcasting The Otherdirectly America. 1980s It
system
communications.
firm was
programs.
authorities privatisation. radio
a T forming the some of it thetransceiver
had new took Broadcasting corporation.
Voice 1970s,
As advanced
Council govemment of Colombia
government
networks,
autonomous
born. 63
theiras andset the the
Literay WWII high. broadcasters
citizens than
- was radiowireless
more
of Other in
many
connecting
the rather service VoA'
British service
national
established radio
research
Commurication
the in - established a to
Company.
-CBS Europe, as withwithin
digital birth
propaganda
industry,
censoring servicespublic
spirits
its
of Radio radio
were
set
up New in and
events
sports In the raised by
radio
stations
to others ongoing
the
With up
to news, were
Chicago later network BBC of give
processing
Pittsburgh, and came
and entertainment Private performances.
ofnumberwhichrun Broadcasting broadcasting andGovernment
era to
1920s years up autonomous
set
the
Ali going NBC
Media to series
of
of first amateurs; Britain the
and broadcast Abidi
led thekeep stations music mostly another Control Defore SIgnal
Children's which First York Was
three 450
The in the In
 Mass Media and Communication - Class 10
-ICSE
Radio in India
Radio broadcasting in India began as a private venture in 1923 and 1924,
when three radio clubs were established in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras
caried out L
(nowChennai). Several experiments of broadcasting were program
the help of transmitters. In August 1921, aspecial
musicwith
them was broadcasted from the Times of India building Bombay, which
was tuned into by Sir George Lloyd, governor at Pune.
The Radio Club started the broadcast in India in June 1923. The dail
broadcasts of 2 to 3 hours consisted mainly of music and talks. These
stations had toclose down in 1927 for lack of sufficient financial support
It was followed by the setting up a Broadcasting Service that began
broadcasting in India in July 1927 on an experimental basis at Bombay
and a month later at Calcutta under an agreement between the
Government of India and
a private company called
the Indian Broadcasting
Company Ltd. Faced with
widespread public
outcry against the closure
of the IBC, the
Government acquired its
assets and constituted the
Indian Broadcasting
Service under the
Department of Labour
and Industries. Since
then, broadcasting in
India has remained under
Government control.
In 1936, a radio station was commissioned in Delhi. In the same year, the
Indian Broadcasting Service was renamed All India Radio (AIR) and a neW
signature tune was added. The Delhi station became the nucleus 0.
broadcasting at the national level. AIl India Radio has come a long way
since June 1936. After Independence, the broadcast scenario ha
dramatically changed with 198 broadcasting centres, including 74 loca
radio stations, covering more than 97.3 per cent of the countrys
population.

64
Children's Media and Communication Literacy Council

AllIndia Radio (AIR)

AlJ India Radio(AIR), officially known
since 1956 as Akashvani ("Voice from
the Sky"), is the national public radio
broadcaster of India and is a division
established in
of Prasar Bharati. It was
Prasar
1936. It is the sister service of
Bharati's Doordarshan, an Indian
television broadcaster.

in the world, and one of the

All India Radio is the largest radio network
broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of the number of
largest socio-economic and cultural
languages broadcast and the spectrum of
comprises 420 stations located
diversity it serves. AIR's home service
the country, reaching nearly 92% of the country's area and 99.19%
across languages and
in 23
of the total population. AIR originates programming
179 dialects.

broadcasts daily with 57

The External Services Division of All India Radio 108
transmissions with almost 72 hours or programming covering over The
Indian.
countries in 27 languages, of which 15 are foreign and 12
Dari, French,
foreign languages are: Arabic, Baluchi, Burmese, Chinese, Tibetan and
Indonesian, Persian, Pushtu, Russian, Sinhala, Swahili, Thai,
English (General Overseas Service). The Indian languages are Bengali,
Nepali,
Gujarati, Marathi, Konkani, Kashmiri, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam,Services
Punjabi, Saraiki, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The External
Division of AIR is a link between India and rest of the world, especially in
countries with Indian immigrants. It broadcasts the Indian perspective on
way
national and international importance, and demonstrates the Indian
of life through the programs.
Radio.
Vividh Bharati is one of the best-known services of All India
Commercially, it is the most accessible AIR network and is popular in
Mumbai and other large cities. Vividh Bharati offers a wide range of
programs including news, film music, short plays, music and comedy. It
operates on different medium wave-band as well as FM frequencies in each
city. AIR FM Gold & AIR FM Rainbow are also the mnost popular radio
services of All India radio in metro cities.

65
 Mass Mediaa and
Communication- Class 10
Major events in the history of Al India Radio:
-1.C.S.
December 1938 - 64,480 licenses for receiving sets were
kncal sct
approved. At the same time, the networking Delhi station
began relaying to Bombay on Wednesday and Bombay
began relaying Delhi on Saturday.
World War - 27 news bulletins a day from Delhi in
English, Hindustani, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati,
Marathi, and Pusto language were broadcasted.
Department of Information and Broadcasting was set up
in the year 1941.
AIR moved under it in the year 1943.
Partition: 14-15th August midnight 1947.
During partition, there were 9 stations of AIR.
6 in India - Delhi, Calcutta,
Tiruchi
Bombay, Madras, Lucknow,
3 in Pakistan - Lahore,
Peshawar, Dacca
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Mahatma Gandhi's
was broadcasted on November 12,1947 on AIR. speech
The newS service and extermal services were
1948. separated in
By 1950, Akashwani broadcasted abroad in 11 languages for 116 hours a
week.

India's first radio station was inaugurated

in Mumbai on July 23, 1927

INDIA'S FIRST 3,000

the number
of licensed radio
RADIO
Broadcast1ng began
STATION Owners then

with programmes by the

Radio Club of Mumbai

It was later taken Over by

Indian State Broadcasting
Service which became
Akashvani on June 8, 1936

Akashvan
Currently has 414
stations in India

66
Children's Media and Communication Literacy Council

Characteristics of the radio

Radio is widely used as a mass medium and it has a great potentiality in
dissemination of information. This is a very evocative nedium. Radio is a
sound medium. But through its creative programs, it makes an individual
to think, and to design a picture in his mind. Radio actually uses our
imagination power to draW pictures. Radio is a very trustworthy medium,
especially when it comes to news. Listeners tend to accept much of what
they hear on the radio. Today, even in 21st century, people are illiterate
and poor in India. Radio provides opportunity for people who cannot
access television and cannot read to stay up-to-date on the news and
trends.

Uses of radio:

Radio sets are cheaper and can DID YOuKNOW?

be made easily available in
schools, public libraries and What is Mann Ki Baat'?
villages.
Radio is a sound medium. MANN KI
Hence it can be used to educate
blind and illiterate people. BAAT
Radio Can offer various
categories of programs, songs, Prime Minister of India, Narendra
interviews, news and talk Modi shares his thoughts, discusses
shows for its listeners. crucial issues with the people across
the country through Mann Ki Baat
Extremely low cost of radio has programme on All India Radio.
made it a
convenient and 'Mann KiBaat' is said to be one of
practical medium for use in the main sources for AIR to generate
programmes for learning and revenues. Ad slots on AIR (for a
distance learning in colleges general show) are sold for Rs 500
and universities. 1500/10seconds, but a l0-second
ad slot for Mann Ki Baat cost Rs 2
Radio is used for military and lakh. Team Modi listens to calls and
marine communication.
Soldiers also use radio during messages coming from allacross the
the timne of war to nation and selects afew as the main
know the topic for each episode.
news updates.
Many people use radio only for entertainment. They like to know the
latest songs, music albums and they participate in various contests.
67
 Mass Media and Communication - Class
10 -
1.C.S.E
Characteristics of Radio:

Compared to all other media radio is a very simple medium to use. It

needs simple technology, less equipment and it is easy to use.
It is a wireless and portable
medium. You can carry the
medium along with you
wherever you go. You can
DID YOu KNOW ?
listen to it while traveling,
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
driving anywhere on land or started Azad Hind Radio"
under the sea.
Compared to other media,
radio is considered as the
quickest and fastest medium.
It can report events almost
instantly as they are
happening, whereas print
media takes time to report:
Production of cost of radio
programmes is less than
television. Also, setting up of
radio station is inexpensive
compared to other media.
Radio Jockeys can establish a
link with listener with live Azad Hind Radio' was a propaganda
conversation. radio service that was started under
Radio reaches remote area the leadership of NetajiSubhash
and signals have no
Chandra Bose in Germany in 1942 to
geographical boundaries. encourage Indians to fight for
Radio is a sound medium. freedom. Though initially based in
But through its Germany, its headquarters were
Creative shifted to Singapore, later to Rangoon.
prograns, it makes an The station broadcasted weekly news
individual to think, and to bulletins in English, Hindi, Tamil,
design a picture in his mind. Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Pashto and
Radio actually uses Our Urdu, the languages spoken by most
imagination power to draw i potential volunteers for the Indian
pictures. It's Theatre of the Legion in Germany and the Indian
Mind! National Army in southeast Asia.

68
Cildren's Media and Communication Literacy Council

Radio Broadcasting
Hos might think "radio" is a gadget you listen to, but it also
means
something else. Radio means sending energy with waves. In other words,
sa method of transmitting electrical energy from one place to
another
without using any kind of direct, wired connection. That's why it's often
called wireless. The equipment that sends out a radio wave is known as a
transmitter; the radio wave sent by a transmitter whizzes through the
air--maybe from one side of the world to the other-and completes its
journey when it reaches a second piece of equipment called a receiver.
When you extend the antenna (aerial) on a radio receiver, it snatches some
of the electromagnetic energy passing by. Tune the radio into a station and
an electronic circuit inside the radio selects only the program you want
from all those that are broadcasting.

How does this happen? The electromagnetic energy,which is a mixtureof

electricity and magnetism, travels past you in waves like those on the
surface of the ocean. These are called radio waves. Like ocean waves, radio
waves have a certain speed, length, and frequency. The speed is simply
how fast the wave travels between two places. The wavelength is the
distance between one crest (wave peak) and the next, while the frequency
is the number of waves that arrive each
Transniting and receiring radio wares
second. Frequency is measured with a
unit called hertz, so if seven waves
arrive in a second, we call that seven
hertz (7 Hz). If you've ever watched
Ocean waves rolling in to the beach,
you'l know they travel with a speed of
maybe one meter (three feet) per
Second or so. The wavelength of ocean
Waves tends to be tens of meters Or
teet, and the frequency is about one
Transmiter Radio racever
Wave every few seconds.

BeyOur radio sits on a bookshelf trying to catch waves coming into

your home, it's a bit like you standing by the beach watching the breakers
rollingWaves,
in. Radio waves are much faster, longer, and more frequent than
however. Their wavelength is typically hundreds of meters
B
so that's the distance between one wave crest and the next. But their

frequency can be in the millions of hertz-so millions of these waves

69
 Mass Media and Communication - Class 10 - 1.C.S.E
arrive each second. If the waves are hundreds of meters long, how Can
It's simple. Radio waves travel
millions of them arrive so often?
unbelievably fast-at the speed of light (300,000 km or 186,000 miles per
second).

Radio equipment

If you visit a radio station, you will find lots gadgets and audio
broadcasting equipment connected to each other. Some you can see inside
the studio and some are outside in open. There are experienced engineers
to look after the entire working. Let's explore a few key pieces 01
equipment needed fora radio broadcast.
Transmitter
The transmitter is the key component to any radio broadcast. It take
your broadcast signal, encodes it, and transmits as radio waves that can
picked up by any receiver. There are several different types of Radio
Transmitters available. There are large FM/AM Transmitters for ful po
Radio Stations and there are medium to low power FM/AM Transmitter
70
Children's Media and Communication Literacy Council

Receiver
The receiver picks up the encoded broadcast signal,
for you to hear it. Basically it's your radio set! decodes it, and allows

Antenna
The antenna sends and receives radio
signals.
Transnission Lines
Transmission lines transport your signal locally, fromone
from the FM Transmitter up the tower location
another. For example: to
to the FM
Antenna. These lines are usually in
the form of coaxial cables.

Microphone
A microphone captures sounds
from the studio everything that is
spoken by the RJ and sends it to
the mixer to travel further.

Mixer
A mixer allows the operator to
combine multiple audio signals and
control various aspects of how they
sound, induding level and
equalization.

Speakers
Monitor speakers will be required
to hear the contents of your
broadcast.
Audio Player
Radio stations use computers to
play the music and other audio files
with the help of specialised
software.

71
 Mass Media and Com1nunication - Class 10
I.CS.E.
Process of Radio Broadcasting/ Broadcasting Chain
RECENER
Frequency
Tuning
ynes Qu but broadeas

Transducer
oscillator Reproduced
sOund
(mitophone) AM- Amplitude Modulavon Decoder
destro nyhing tht
not thé desred oduation

original Audio Amplifier

voum teetsd
sound
FM- Reguency Modulabon Transducerl
(speaker) |
Encoder Electrical output

Microphone - Transmitter- Radio Frequency (AM/FM) - Receiver (Radio Set)

Radio Frequency
You must have heard about "AM radio"
TUNING
and "FM radio," "VHF" and "UHF"
television, "short wave radio" and so on.
Have you ever wondered what all of
those different names really mean?
What's the difference between them?

Aradio wave is an electromagnetic wave propagated by an antenna. Radio

waves have different frequencies, and by tuning a radio receiver to a
specific frequency you can pick up a specific signal. When you listen to a
radio station and the Radio Jockey says, "You are listening to 93.5 RED FM!"
what the Radio Jockey means is that you are listening to a radio station
broadcasting an FM radio signal at a frequency of 93.5 megahertz.
Megahertz means "millions of cycles per second," so "93.5 megahertz
means that the transmitter at the radio station is oscillating at a frequency
of 93,500,000cycles per second. Your FM (frequency modulated) radio can
tune in to that specific frequency and give you clear reception of that
station. All FM radio stations transmit in a band of fregquencies between
88 megahertz and 108 megahertz. This band of the radio spectrum is used
for no other purpose but FM radio broadcasts. In the same way, AM radio
is confined to a band from 535 kilohertz to 1,700 kilohertz (kilo meaning
"thousands," so 535,000 to 1,700,000 cycdes per second). So anmeans
AM
(amplitude modulated) radio station that says, "This is AM 680"
that the radio station is broadcasting an AM radio signal at 680 kilohertz.
72
Caildren's Media and Communication Literacy Council

Analog radio - AM and FM

Ocean waves carry energy by making
the water move up and down. In AMI54 60 70
much the same way, radio waves
carry energy as an invisible, up-and FM 88 90 92 94
down mnovement of electricity and
signals from huge transmitter antennas,magnetism. This carries program
which are connected to the radio
station, to the smaller antenna on your radio set. A
program is
by adding it to a radio wave called a carrier. This transmitted
called modulation. Sometimes a radio program is added to process is
the carrier in
such a way that the program signal causes fluctuations in the
carrier's
frequency. This is called frequency modulation (FM).
sending a radio signal is to make the peaks of the carrierAnother way of
wave bigger or
Smaller. Since the size of a wave is called its amplitude, this
process is
known as amplitude modulation (AM). Frequency modulation is how FM
radio is broadcast; amplitude modulation is the technique used by AM
radio stations.

What's the difference between AM and FM?

Let's look at an example. Suppose

Signal
I'm on a rowboat in the ocean
pretending to be a radio transmitter
and you're on the shore pretending
to be a radio receiver. Let's say I
AM
want to send a distress signal to you.
I could rock the boat up and down
quickly in the water to send big
FM
waves to you. If there are already
waves traveling past my boat, from
the distant ocean to the shore, my movements are going to make those
existing waves much bigger. In other words, I will be using the waves
passing by as a carrier to send my signal and, because I'l be changing the
height of the waves, I'Il be transmitting my signal by amplitude
modulation. Alternatively, instead of moving my boat up and down, I
ould put my hand in the water and move it quickly back and forth. Now
I make the waves travel more often--increasing their frequency. So, in
this case, my signal will travel to you by frequency modulation.

73
 Mass Media and Communication - Class 10
L.CSE
Sending information by changing the shapes of waves is an example t
an analog process. This means the information you are trying to send:
represented by a direct physical change (the water moving up and down
back and forth more quickly).
The trouble with AM FM Broadcasting
AM Broadcasting
and FM is that the
It requires smaller transmission It requires larger bandwidth.
program signal bandwidth
becomes part of the It can be operated in low, medium It needs to be operted in very high
and high frequency bands. high frequency bands.
wave that carries it. t has wider coverage. Ib range is restricted to 50 km.
So, if something The demodulation is simple. The process of demodulation i
complex.
happens to the wave The stereophonic transmission is In this, stereophonlc transmission
en-route, part of the not possible. possible.
The system has poor noiselt has an mproved noise performance
signal is likely to get performance.
lost. And if it gets
lost, there's no way to get it back again. Imagine I'm sending my distres
signal from the boat to the shore and a speedboat races in between. The
waves it creates will quickly overwhelm the ones I've made and obliterate
the message I'm trying to send. That's why analog radios can sound
rackly, especially if you're listening in a car. Digital radio can help to solve
that problem by sending radio broadcasts in a coded, numeric format so
that interference doesn't disrupt the signal in the same way.

Satellite radio
Satellite radio is the radio in which the audio information is transmitted in
digital form and decoded at the radio receiver. Signals are transmitted via
one or more satellites. It covers a much wider geographical area than
terrestrial FM radio stations.

Satellite radios are subscription based. Subscribers usually have to pay tees
On a
monthly basis similar to your DTH TV service. Compared to
terrestrial radios, satellite radio is a reliable technology available at a
significantly lower price, with
variety of attractive programming
options.
Sirius XM Radio is a popular
international satellite radio based
in USA, having more than 120 (SirlusKm)
74
Children's Media and Communication Literay Council

channels dedicated to music, news, sports, wealth and talk shows. Unlike
terrestrial radio, the signal stays tuned no matter where one travels within
the USA.

Another popular Satellite radio brand has been

WorldSpace Radio, which provides service to
over 170,000subscribers in eastern, southern
and northern Africa, the Middle East, and WORLDSPACE
much of Asia. In India, WorldSpace had gone
on air in 2000 with the subscription-based
service gaining a committed fan base slowly
and steadily. Towards the end of 2010, it shut
down because of the financial difficulties. It
ita
was a popular service of that time having 4.5
lakh customers in India. A. R. Rehman was the
brand ambassador of WorldSpace India.

Types of radio broadcasting

Public and private radio broadcasting
Government owned stations (Part of Al India Radio Network)
A public serving
broadcaster is owned
RANBOW Vividh Bharti and financed by the
àEt H AIR Samvadita AJR Asmita
government. A
Private radio stations

92.7 BIC FM
(911 FM
Radio City RED private serving
broadcaster on the
AADIOOHIRC, FM 93.5
other hand is
privately owned and has to finance the functioning through
advertisements.
Ihe aim of public broadcasting stations is to serve the people to educate
and entertain people.
Aprivate broadcaster is owned by Private companies and is majorly
manced through advertisements. They are not financed by the
8Vernment. They can broadcast much of what they want, within the legal
framework and means of course. Private broadcasters have more of afree
reign on their operations, but also have to make enough money on

75
 Commuunication Class
Mass Mediu und 10 1.CSE
advertisements topay for the station.
Aprivate broadcaster is a commercial
station, which wants to draw the
( DIp YOu KNOW?
biggest audience, which will promote
and Which is the first private PM
their advertisements more
radio started in India?
therefore adding more profit for the
station. How well private FM BOLE TOH
broadcaster does, willdetermine how
much the company will grow. Racio City
The government-owned network
AJAGRAN INITIATIVE
Akashvani Radio City is India's first private
All India Radio (AIR) - local i
EM radio station and was started
provides both national and on 3 July 2001 in Bengaluru.
programmes in Hindi, English,
and
Commercial
the regional languages. Radio started in 1967 with Vividh Bharati. Thera
radioservices by AIl India farmers needing agro
are special broadcasts for special audiences, such as
and other agriculture-related information.
cimatic, plant protection, are mainly broadcast, and
News, features, and entertainment programmes neighbouring countries and
the target audiences include the listeners in
the large overseas Indian community.
stations in more than
There are more than 369 operational private radio India-owned Al
Government of
101 ities and towns across India. The
India Radio has about 450 FM stations.

Public Broadcaster Private Broadcaster

Owned and financed by the Privately owned and has tofinance

governmnent the functioning through
aim is to serve the people; advertisements.
broadcast to educate and entertain Aim is to earn profit
Can broadcast News can broadcast much of what they
More number of stations across the want, within the legal framework
nation/ wider reach Not allowed to broadcast News
Eg. AIR FM Gold, AIR FM Rainbow, Comparatively less number of
Other channels by Akashvani (All India stations /limited reach
Radio) Eg. Radio Mirchi, Big FM, Radio U

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Children's Media and Communication Literacy Council

Community Radio Station (CRS)

Community radio is a radio service
offering a third model of radio
broadcasting in addition to
commercial and public
broadcasting.

Community radio is a short-range (5-10 km radius), not-for-profit radio

station or channel that caters for the information needs of people living in
aparticular locality, in the languages and formats that are most adapted to
the local context. This radio station can help is promoting
shows, public fete etc.
campaigns,

RADI?
SHARDA

90.4 FM Radio

MICAVAANI
Tamara Bol, Tamari Vaani!

VVSHNU AUDIO VIsUAL ACADE:

90.3 FMM
wishnt HUMGIRI K AWAAZ
VASUNDHARA
90.4 FN
VAHINI Vishnu TVy
BARAMATI
Advantages: As community radio is usually run by volunteers using low
cost technology, it tends to be easy to obtain free or inexpensive air time.
lt offers an opportunity for contributions by people whose voice is not
much heard on national radio - e.g. "ordinary" itizens - which can be
hughly empowering.Community radio reaches a large populace, as listeners
tend to be interested in local issues. It is also an excellent way to
communicate with those whose speak in other regional languages.
Kadio Sharda,Radio Madhuban, Radio Vishwas and Asanjo Radio #WeKids
an Do It are some examples of community radios.

77
 Mass Media and Communication - Class

Community stations serve geographic communities and communities of

10-I.CSE.
interest. They broadcast content that is popular and relevant to a local
specific audience but is often overlooked by commercial or mass-
broadcasters. Community radio stations are operated, owned,-media nd
influenced by the communities they serve. They are generally non-prof
and provide a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, ad
communities to tell their own stories, to share experiences and, in
media-rich world, to become creators and contributorsof media.

In many parts of the world, community radio acts as a vehicle for the
community and voluntary sector, civil society, agencies, NGOs and citizeng
to work in partnership to further community development aims, in
addition to broadcasting. There is legally defined comnmunity radio (as
distinct broadcasting sector) in many countries, such as France, Argentina,
South Africa, Australia and Ireland. Much of the legislation has included
phrases such as "social benefit",
"social objectives" and "social gain"
as part of the definition.
DID YouKNOW?
Modern community radio stations !
serve their listeners by offering a India's first transgender
variety of content that is not radio jockey
necessarily provided by the larger
commercial radio stations. I Rodlo Acte
Community radio outlets may carry i
news and information programming
geared toward the local areaI
(particularly immigrant or minority
groups who are poorly served by
major media outlets). Specialized i
musical shows are also often a
feature of many community radio
stations. Community and pirate
stations (in areas where they are Priyanka is India's first
tolerated) can be valuable assets for transgender radio jockey and hosts
a region. a programme titled Yaaru Ivaru?
(Who's this person?) on Radio
Community radio is expected to Active CR 90.4 acommunity radto
focus On issues relating to based in Bengaluru.
education, health, environment,

78
hildren's Media and Communication Literacy Counci!

agriculture, rural and community development. The contents related to

ocial,cultural and local issues and the format, subject, presentation and
language reflecting the local flavour and fragrance. This is a very low cost
hroadcasting platform and is affordable for people.
Online radio
Internet radio (also web radio, net
music
radio, streaming radio, e-radio,
online radio) is a digital audio
service transmitted via the Play Music Saavn Amazon Mu..
Internet. Broadcasting on the
Internet is usually referred to as
webcasting since it is not
transmitted broadly through
wireless means. Spotify YT Music Wynk Music
Internet Radio that can draw on
vast troves of mnusic from around
the world and customize them to a
listener's personal tastes, is Apple Music Hungama Gaana
growing. According to Edison
Media Research, Internet media listenership in US has risen up to 33
million per week. Some music devices allow internet radio to stream on
speakers or some software allows mobile phones to access internet radio.
Internet Radio is a broadcasting service transmitted via internet. Not
every internet 'radio station' has a corresponding traditional radio station.
Many internet radio stations are completely independent from traditional
(terrestrial) radio stations and broadcast only on the internet.Referred to
as 'webcasting, not transmitted broadly through wireless mearns but it is
delivered on the World Wide Web. It presents listeners over a continuous
stream of audio on which they have n0 control. Because the radio signal is
relayed over the internet, it is possible to access stations from anywhere in
the world for e.g. you can listen to an Australian radio station from
Europe or America. Some of the internet radio services offer news, sports,
talk back and various genres of music (Audio Streaming Technology).
Ihere are some small numbers of web radio programmes that allow users
to rate the songs they are listening to. This allows user's music listening
choice to be correlated against those of other users, as with programmes.

79
 Mass Mediaand Communication - Class 10 -1.CSF

Mare Than 200 Hindi Radios First Internet Radio: 'Internet talk radio' Wae
developed by Carl Malamud in 1993 with pre.
recorded information in Texas. The author of 8
books discovered internet radio for putting US
JIO
securities database online. The first online radio
city was for screen printing industry people and
cty featured interviews, story, tips, songs, etc. and was
started by Bill Hood in 1983. In 1994, the Voice of
America became the first broadcast news
organization to offer programs on the internet. In
1995, full time internet radio station - Radio HK was
developed by Norman Hajjar and Kaufman in California. Most on-air
stations broadcast the same ads on internet radio players. In March 1996
Virgin Radio London - became the first European radio station to
broadcast its full
ST OF LADIO CTY
program live on the
PELI
internet. It broadcasted VAATO
its FM signal, live from LWE
GURU
the Source,
simultaneously on the
internet 24 hours a day.
Many UK national, regional and local stations "stream" their output over
their website and can therefore be heard all over the world. Internet radio
is particularly useful for niche interest programming, audio dips On
demand and for services not local to where you live. Radio over the
internet is growing. There are thousands of radio stations all over the
world available to be heard, although sometimes you have to pay to listen.
Amateur Radio (HAM)
Amateur radio is a community of people that use radio transmitters and
receivers to communicate with other Amateur radio operators. If you were
to ask a dozen different amateurs what ham radio meant to them chances
are you would get 12 different answers. Amateur radio operators are often
called ham radio operators or simply "hams" and frequently, the public 5
more familiar with this term than with the legal term Radio Amateur.
Amateur (HAM) Radio is a hobby but often one that makes a difference
especially in emergency or disaster situations. It is an activity of sel
learning, inter-communication and technical investigation 'carried on
between Amateur Radio operators. Amateurs talk to local friends over the
80
Children's Media and Communication Literacy Council

VUZRG

radio waves using a hand-held transceiver, communicating digitally with

packet radio to exchange personal messages or vital information in an
energency, talking to other hams anywhere in the world, or engaging in
contests with other Radio Amateurs over the airwaves. There are over a
lakh of people all over the world who pursue this activity in their free time.
What do Hams do?

Communication - Hams can talk to other hams in literally any part of the
globe using HF radios.
Emergency and other volunteer services - Hams help during natural
disasters like floods, landslides, earthquakes, cyclones, accidents (rail /
road / air), tornadoes etc. Whenever "normal" communications go out due
to any situation, hams are ready to use their radios to provide emergency
communication services to their masses.

Technical experimenting - Hams range from technicians to engineers,

the
teachers to scientists, and students to retirees. For many of them,
is just a
attraction to the hobby is to build their own equipment whether itinterface
or an
Simple antenna, something as complex as a transmitter,
between their radio and a computer.
Alnost
Contesting - Contesting is often called the "sport" of ham radio.
on. Hams
all the time there is some form of amateur radio contest going
most contacts in a
get on the air and compete to see who can make the
limited period of time.

81
 Mass Media and Communication - Class
10
-1.CS.E
India has an enthusiastic community of hams. Bengaluru, the
radio capital of India, has about 5,000 amateur radio operators, amateur
with
enthusiasts taking to the platform in the last five years. Among1,200
the
famous hams in India are Amitabh Bachchan (VU2AMY), late Prim.
Minister Rajiv Gandhi (VU2RG) and Kamal Hassan (VU2HAS).
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (UA1LO), late NASA astronaut Legendary
Chawla (KDSESI), and Hollywood actor Marlon Brando (FO5GJ) wavs Kalpana
also part of the global cdub of ham operators.

SAREX project has evolved into Amateur Radio on the International

Space Station (ARISS), which maintains a ham radio station on the ISS
that astronauts can use to chat with radio (and space) enthusiasts back
here on the blue marble.

Becoming a Ham operator

Amateur Radio Operators have to qualify in an examination conducted by
Ministry of Communications, Government of India and obtain a license
for operating / possessing a Radio Station. Any individual above the age ot
12 is permitted to appear for Amateur Station Operator License
Examination and no Educational qualification is prescribed. It takes jus
two months (say two hours a day training) to become eligible for t
examination. The licenses are issued by Wireless Planning & Co-ordinat
Wing of DOT, Govt. of India. Every licernsed Radio Amateur is given a c
sign that is used to identify you and your location of license. Each counu"
that has Amateur Radio status is allocated a range of call signs bythe

82
Children's Media and Communication Literacy Council

International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Amateur Radio

in India are given by the Licenses
Ministry of
Wireless Planning & Coordination wing of
Communications, Govt. of India
and enjoy a far more
privileges of radio operation than Commercial Broadcast
do. With these privileges come radio operators
of an amateur radio station. responsibilities and rules for the operation
Specifically, there are a few things that hams
are not allowed to do: Hams are not
allowed to do anything with their
radios that makes them money in way. Ham radio is a hobby. Ham radio
operator cannot `broadcast' to the public. This means that ham radio
transmissions are meant to be received by other ham radio operators.
While a short-wave radio will allow you to listen to the ham
radio bands,
what you hear are hamns talking to other hams and not music or
other
radio programs of 'general' interest. Within these (and other) guidelines,
however, hams are empowered to do just about everything that
government and private radio stations are allowed to do.

To understand the key concepts of Radio ina video,

log on to www.cmclcouncil.org

Points to remember
Characteristics of Radio: audio medium, wireless medium,
inexpensive, simple touse, wide reach, mobility, and live medium.
peripherals
Radio Equipment: Transmitter, receiver and other
Radio frequency: AM (Amplitude Modulation) &FM (Frequency
Modulation)
Types of Radio Broadcasting:
Public Radio
Private Radio
Community Radio broadcasting.
Online Radio
Amateur Radio(HAM Radio)

83