(P3) Multi-Platform Distribution Methods

This report is to determine the ways that a chosen radio station is distributed, and how it impacts the station and it's audience.

Radio stations are distributed in many different ways around the United Kingdom. The most popular was to distribute radio consist of mainly DAB and FM Radio, which both are used by the major radio stations across the UK.

FM Radio - 

FM Radio stands for Frequency Modulation Radio, and was established on the 2nd May 1955 when the BBC started an Fm broadcasting service called the Light Programme. FM Radio uses frequencies from 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz. This type of distribution is used by choosing radio frequencies, and certain frequency numbers will play certain radios. This was popular as it was used predominantly in cars and other types of transport.

DAB Radio - 

Digital Audio Broadcasting is also very popular in the UK. This is broadcasted through a binary stream of ones and zeros. This means that it is much more reliable than the likes of FM radio and Am radio, and loses connection far less easily. This is good as it means that people are more likely to listen using Dab when driving, as they want to be able to maintain connection reliably. This means that most radio stations across the Uk that have only been around for a few years will use DAB, as it is a more modern and useful means of broadcasting radio. Radio stations such as Radio X use DAB radio to broadcast their programs, however this means that people with FM receivers in their cars, and not DAB receivers cannot connect to these radio stations, which limits their audience.

AM Radio -

AM Radio stands for Amplitude Modulation Radio. This is the oldest method of broadcasting radio in the UK, and initially started in the 1920's. AM radio will use both medium wavelength and long wavelength radio to broadcast content. AM radio is broadcasted in Mono. This means that there is only one audio file being played out, as opposed to a more modern dual output, which is known as stereo. This is very dated, and is barely used at all anymore. The radio is broadcasted from frequencies between 540 KHz to 1610 KHz. Later in the century, this was almost completely replaced with FM radio.

Internet Distribution -

Nitro FM is distributed around the UK, but mainly towards the people that are at the venue. The station is streamed online and on YouTube throughout the events, and it is predominantly streamed on FM radio (Frequency Modulation), which can be passed through houses and cars, and most importantly radios on sight in tents and caravans. 

This means that a vast range of people can listen to the radio through their homes, portable radios and cars. This is great as it means that people who like Santa pod but have missed a certain event can catch up on the event live. This also means that they can earn more money from advertisements played, which can fund further money into both the events and bettering the radio station.

Freeview TV, Sky TV and Virgin TV - 

This type of radio distribution is when the radio is streamed directly to your TV, dependent on your provider. This is a much less popular streaming and distribution type, as people are a lot less likely to stream music and radio from their TV as they are from their phones and computers. This means that the listener count is much lower for TV radio streaming, but it does have some listeners as they like to have it on in the background whilst they do things around the house.

Nitro FM - 

My chosen radio station Nitro FM streams their radio show on FM at 96.2. However they also stream on YouTube so that means that there is two places that you can find the station. This is good as it means that people can listen to the radio station wherever they are. Nitro Fm choose to stream on these services as they are easily accessible as long as you have either an FM receiver which is in most cars, or an internet connection to listen on YouTube.

They also upload older segments onto sound-cloud occasionally. This means that people can listen to the older shows if they want to. All of the shows are also uploaded to YouTube following a video livestream.