The History of Radio

The History of Radio The 1800s: Earliest Broadcasting Maxwell (Theorized the existence of electromagnetic waves as “luminous ether.”) Bell (Transmitting sounds by telegraph in 1877.) Hertz (Invented the “spark-gap detector” which verified the existence of electromagnetic waves.) Marconi (Invented radio in 1895. First radio company in London, 1897.)

The History of Radio 1900-1930: The Industry Gets Started Who Was First? (KDKA in 1920). RCA’s Risk (Sarnoff, NBC, 1922 World Series). CBS’s Move (New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Symphony orchestras join with the Columbia Phonograph Company). William S. Paley (the “Tiffany Network”).

The History of Radio Communications Act of 1934: Federal law bringing most telecommunications under oversight of one agency and board of commissioners.

The History of Radio 1930-1945: Pivotal Historical Period Great Depression in 1929, with more one-third of the work force jobless a growing number of Americans tuned in their radios for relief and psychological support. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” http://www.history.com/audio/fdrs-fireside-chat-on-dust-bowl#fdrs-fireside-chat-on-dust-bowl

The History of Radio 1930-1945: Pivotal Historical Period War of the Worlds “Actor Orson Wells narrated a 1938 Halloween tale of Martians landing in New Jersey, based on H.G. Welles’ War of the Worlds. The show’s disclaimer failed to register with Americans already primed for disaster on the eve of world war.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0K4ApWl4g

The History of Radio 1945-1960: The “Golden” Age AM Radio – Still Thriving 78 and 33 1/3 RPM Records Transistors Make Radios Smaller Formats – Rotating Blocks to “Top 40”

The History of Radio 1960-1980: Radio’s Transformation FM Increases Popularity April 1961: FCC approval of Zenith-GE standards for FM broadcasting. The FCC mandates that stations needed to generate new content for FM bands.

The History of Radio 1960-1980: Radio’s Transformation Public Radio Act of 1967 “After the adoption of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, the FCC licensed more than 1,500 radio stations as “noncommercial educational”…. Many of these stations would receive federal money distributed through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – a fact that annoyed commercial broadcasters envious of such subsidies.”

The History of Radio 1980-Present: Radio Challenges Talk Radio A Chance to Talk Back Personalities Relaxed Rules on Ownership 1980 Deregulation More Stations per Owner Localism and Profits Satellite Radio

1987 Repeal Fairness Doctrine A requirement that stations provide equal time to all parties regarding important public issues and equal access to airtime for all candidates of public office. As a result: Extremely partisan radio and television programming. Narrowcasting Media Segmentation

The History of Radio The Digital Future Radio Digital Broadcasts Internet Streaming