Radio 1 Launch CSP

 Historical, social and cultural contexts

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

BBC Radio Home (1939-1967)

BBC Radio Light (1945-1967)

BBC Third (1946-1970)

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

On 30 September 1967, the Light Programme was split into Radio 1 offering continuous "Popular" music and Radio 2 for more 'Easy Listening'.

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

Pirate radio stations were unlicensed broadcasters often offshore on ships that played popular music that young people liked at the time. This wasn't available for BBC thus being the reason the popularity of pirate radios

4) Why did pirate radio stop broadcasting in 1967?

The 1967 Marine Broadcasting Offences Act officially outlawed pirate radio stations. The Government had closed the legal loophole that allowed these stations to broadcast and these had a British audience of 10 to 15 million.

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

Many of the pirate station DJs were employed by BBC Radio 1, thus bringing many of the their loyal listeners with them. 

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

Needle Time was a restriction where you could only play five hours of music per day. Pirate stations did not have these restrictions imposed on them because the law was difficult to apply offshore

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

On 30 September 1967, the Light Programme was split into Radio 1 offering continuous "Popular" music and Radio 2 for more 'Easy Listening'.

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?

the first presenter for BBC Radio 1 was Tony Blackburn and many of the pirate station DJs were then employed by BBC Radio 1

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

There were changing attitudes to music and youth culture in the early 1960s.  ‘Pop’ music was becoming more popular and attitudes in young people were becoming more relaxed. This led to the growth of ‘pirate’ radio stations who could produce these shows for young people.

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

Whilst Radio 1 tried to copy the pirate radio’s style, it didn’t quite do it effectively initially as it broadcast simultaneously with Radio 2 – so it had to have a more formal style than the pirate broadcasters. Some young people didn’t respond positively to this.

Audience and industry

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

The Radio 1 target audience in 1967 was young people who were listening to pirate radio.

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

It was not seen as ‘cool’ by many young people as the BBC stood for traditional, conservative values.

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

In 1967 it offered young listeners pop music, engaging DJ style, broadcasting and a sense of fun.

4) How is the BBC funded?

the BBC is funded through the compulsory licence fee (£159 now; it was around £4 a year in the 1960s). As everybody pays, then everybody should receive content suitable for their needs.

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

The preferred readings for BBC Radio 1 in 1967 would have been that the young people who were listening to the radio probably thought that the BBC Radio 1 offered continuous "Popular" music  which was probably seen as ‘cool’ by many young people. Whereas the oppositional readings would have been that It was not seen as ‘cool’ by many young people as the BBC stood for traditional, conservative values.