Radio waves

 

The BBC broadcasts on five national and 39 local radio stations. Each of the BBC radio stations specialises in a particular type of programme: Radio 1 specialises in rock music; Radio 2 in popular music and light entertainment; Radio 3 in classical music; Radio 4 in current affairs, and drama; Radio 5 in sport and current affairs. Local radio stations put on programmes which interest people who live in that area.

 

Most people listen to the radio in the morning. They like background music while getting ready to go to school or driving to work. Radio 1 is still the most popular radio station with an average of 9.76 million listeners. It used to have many more listeners, but is now not so popular because of competition from 150 new commercial radio stations. Very few young people listen to any of the BBC radio stations: the top three radio stations for 15- and 18-year-olds are all commercial.

 

Which do you prefer, radio or TV? Why?

 

Michael Vaughan-Rees, Geraldine Sweeney, Picot Cassidy: In Britain. 21st Century Edition, Cornelsen Verlag, 2000, page 57