Outline of radio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to radio:

Radio � transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with

frequencies below those of visible light.[1] Electromagnetic radiation travels by
means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the
vacuum of space. Information is carried by systematically changing (modulating)
some property of the radiated waves, such as amplitude, frequency, phase, or pulse
width. When radio waves pass an electrical conductor, the oscillating fields induce
an alternating current in the conductor. This can be detected and transformed into
sound or other signals that carry information.

Advertising

Commercial broadcasting is primarily based on the practice of airing radio

advertisements and television advertisements for profit. This is in contrast to
public broadcasting, which receives government subsidies and tries to avoid paid
advertising interrupting the show. During pledge drives they will interrupt shows
to ask for donations.

In the United States, non-commercial educational (NCE) television and radio exists
in the form of community radio; however, premium cable services such as HBO and
Showtime generally operate solely on subscriber fees and do not sell advertising.
This is also the case for the portions of the two major satellite radio systems
that are produced in-house (mainly music programming).

Radio broadcasting originally began without paid commercials. As time went on,
however, advertisements seemed less objectionable to both the public and government
regulators and became more common. While commercial broadcasting was unexpected in
radio, in television it was planned due to commercial radio's success. Television
began with commercial sponsorship and later transformed to paid commercial time.
When problems arose over patents and corporate marketing strategies, regulatory
decisions were made by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to control
commercial broadcasting.[1]