The Radio.

 The Radio. 

Radio is a communication device that the uses electricity to transmit voice across space. The radio has been the first device to allow for mass communication. Radio can transmit messages all around the world instantly, and the messages can be received in any part of the globe. 

In 1898 Guglielmo Marconi, a 24-year-old Italian, began the world's first commercial radio service. For citizens of the United States, radio—and later television—not only introduced an abundance of entertainment and information, it also raised many legal questions surrounding its implementation and regulation. In radio's earliest days, stations all broadcast at the same frequency; this situation posed problems because although some stations agreed to share their time, others attempted to broadcast stronger signals over those of their competitors. Problems continued even when stations began to broadcast on separate frequencies. Because broadcasting requires use of the airwaves for the transmission of its signals, and because the airwaves can carry only a limited number of signals, it soon became apparent that some form of regulation was necessary.

 In 1927, the Radio Act (47 U.S.C.A § 81 et seq.) became law and the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) was created to police the broadcasting industry. Two important tenets of broadcasting were introduced by the law. The first was that stations must broadcast "in the public interest, convenience, or necessity." The second was that the people, not the radio stations, owned the airwaves. In its efforts to see that the airwaves were used in the appropriate manner, government regulation faced obstacles as it attempted to ensure suitable government-funded programming, appropriate programming for children, and equal access to broadcasting for minorities.

 Additional challenges were created by changing technology as CABLE TELEVISION went underground and satellite television took to outer space. Marconi got the Nobel Prize for in the year 1909 for invention. In Sri Lanka, the first experimental broadcast was started on 22nd February 1924 at the building of Young men’s Christian association ( YMCA ). 

 After a few months of experiments, on 27th June 1924 , the radio broadcast was inaugurated in Ceylon by the then Governer Sir William Henry Manning. However there is a strong opinion that it was inaugurated on 1925 Dec.16th, by the then Governer Sir Hugh Clifford. The Post Master General in his report of 1924 was very definite on the fact the inauguration was done in 1924.Even though, the then Radio Ceylon and now SLBC still goes on the fact that their Birthday is on 25th of December 1925. Accordingly, SLBC celebrates it’s 85th birthday this year-2009. 

The history of radio in Sri Lanka can be traced to 1925 when Colombo Radio was established. While the service was taken over by the British Military during World War Two, it was subsequently returned to the Government of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Until the 1980s, the radio industry was a government monopoly under the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation Act No. 37 of 1966. There are many positive effects that radio has on cultures throughout the world. One of these involves the preservation of native languages. Example for media that were originally in the English language have been replaced with more traditional forms of media such as storytelling. These changes have caused there to be a shift in the language of the youth in these native languages for communication. The radio has also allowed indigenous languages to expand to other countries such as unites states and Canada over the past twenty years.

 The audience of a radio broadcast that is essential in the standardization of a languages. Radio is also has an influence on development. Ways in which a country becomes more developed as a result of radio includes of more westernized culture. For example modernization of a nation may become promoted. Radio also has an effect on the educational development of a rural society. For example the radio can educate people particularly women about various health risks and factors. Fictional radio soap operas are capable of educating its audience about various issues regarding sexual and reproductive health along with child and parent relational ships. According to a study analyses by DR.Mary Meyers 85% of the people who listened to a program similar to this one were able to implement changes in their lies based on the knowledge that they gained form the radio show.

I mean in future radio will go entirely digital. The structure of the radio industry was built around a technology that’s a century old. Radio can and will chuck all that technology – towers and transmitters – in favor of sending content over the internet, at huge costs savings and unimagined efficiencies. 

The merging of radio, TV and news under single operators. What separated newspapers, television and radio all these years were their different technologies. With digital, they now share one technology, one platform, and we already see them moving into each other’s turf, such as newspapers posting video. Radio stations can also post video on their websites, and they can expand their news to compete with both newspapers and local TV. TV can broadcast audio, challenging radio, and expand its news coverage, challenging the local newspaper. Local papers can expand into audio and promote morning and evening newscasts.

 An opportunity for radio to grab a larger share of consumers’ time and attention. The mobile phone has freed Americans to be anywhere while still staying in touch. But it has also freed us from the couch and the TV set in terms of where we can access media. TV is a couch medium; radio is a mobile medium. You can be in your car, walking down the street, riding in a train or on a plane, and enjoy radio. The more mobile our society gets, the greater the opportunity for radio to become the medium of choice. Media people marvel over the strength of outdoor ad spending at a time when other media outlets are soaring. Out-of-home is bene ting from society’s increasing mobility. Radio stands to as well.

 Radio is no longer a luxury. It has become a necessity. Even remote villages we find radio. Radios are available in difference sizes. Radio is not limited to communication of news only. It is a medium now for many things. The radio is indispensable in flying airplanes and sailing ships. Radio is a necessary in modern wars, for the police to maintain law and order and the spread of culture. Radio get knowledge and entertainment.

MAPT/19/B1/26