Radio, International

Within today's media landscape, radio is regarded as a rather old medium. It has made its way into the people's everyday lives almost everywhere in the world. According to the latest edition of the UNESCO Statistical Yearbook, in 1999 an estimated 2.4 billion radio receivers were in use throughout the world. On average, there were 418 radio receivers for every 1,000 people, with clear differences between developing countries (245 radio receivers per 1,000 inhabitants) and industrialized countries (1,061 per 1,000 inhabitants).

Due to different political, economic, and cultural conditions, radio systems differ substantially among countries. At the same time, some common trends can be observed on the international level. One of these trends is that listening to the radio has become a secondary activity that engages listeners throughout the day; in the evening, when most people start to watch television, radio's reach goes down. Another trend, closely connected to the first one, is that music has become the core content of radio. Finally, most radio channels are formatted along strict principles that fix [Page 687]the distribution of word and music, the style of music, the way to address the listeners, and so on. The overall strategy is to provide reliable companionship throughout the day. There are different formats, mainly music dominated (e.g., AC or Adult Contemporary; CHR or Contemporary Hit Radio), but also including dedicated talk radio or culture-oriented channels.

With respect to the organization of radio, most countries have developed dual radio systems including a more or less balanced combination of public service broadcasters (funded by fees, taxes, donations, or advertising) and private broadcasters, including both commercial and noncommercial stations. Commercial radio is funded mainly by advertising revenues and thus follows the strategy of serving as a convenient companion throughout the day. Noncommercial radio includes a wide range of more or less institutionalized stations that are run for idealistic reasons, with the subcategory of so-called community radios being a particularly important part of many countries' radio landscape.

Compared to television, radio is easy to handle on the production side as well as on the recipient's side. Therefore, this medium is ideal for local and regional communication, for the community sector, and for nonprofit initiatives seeking expression on a public forum. Radio is still particularly important as a means of communication and education in developing countries. For example, in Africa, radio is regarded as the most valued, most credible, and most important news medium. More than 90% of the African population listens to the radio. This is due to several reasons. First, radio is highly compatible with the oral cultures in Africa. In providing local music and local language, radio supports identity formation and integration. Furthermore, unlike press media, it requires neither literacy on the part of listeners nor costly distribution systems on the part of broadcasters.

However, radio is not exclusively the medium of the neighborhood. Radio is also a highly international medium. After a long history in which international radio was used as a means of political influence, especially during World War II and the Cold War, today, many countries offer an international service distributed via shortwave or via satellite. Examples include BBC World Service, Radio France International (RFI), Radio Televisao Portuguesa Internacional (RTP), Deutsche Welle, and Voice of America. Such international radio broadcasts have often been—and still are—particularly important whenever dictatorial regimes try to restrict national media diversity. In these situations, national media lose credibility, and radio listeners look for independent information from alternative sources.

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