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FM – A NEW GENERATION IN BROADCASTING:Low Cost, The Difference

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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
VU
LESSON 18
FM ­ A NEW GENERATION IN BROADCASTING
FM ­ very much heard these days. For long, listeners have been accustomed to hearing
medium wave and short wave points of transmission, or say frequencies at which one can
tune to a radio station of one's choice. With the advancement in programs side of
broadcasting, progress has also been made in the technical side of broadcasting. In fact the
two sides lead each other in the mutual growth of the subject of broadcasting.
FM, frequency modulation, the nomenclature set for new type of transmission, are not long
range radio stations like the old fashioned radio stations many of which are called global
stations due to their large range of beaming across the world.
It should not sound too technical to students of mass communication to understand some
technical aspect of the FM radio broadcasts. Here we may not indulge in understanding how
wave theory and electromagnetic way of sending message affects communication through air,
but it is certainly like a doctor understanding some equipment for better usage, or an architect
perceiving some vital functions of some new software meant for designing and construction of
buildings on modern lines.
Amplitude & Frequency Modulation
In the case of Amplitude Modulation, or the AM broadcast, the sound waves after put along the
electromagnetic waves, are only given a treatment to the amplitude of the wave, and not its
frequency. Measured in volts, the amplitude is the number of times you can amplify a wave to
give it a strength to a desired level.
It is like this;
AM Diagram
A
B
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
VU
FM Diagram
The same wave in the case of FM is treated differently; the number of times it spins have been
increased instead of its height, or amplitude be disturbed.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The AM has been strong and could be transmitted to more distance as compared to FM but
problem with AM is that it interacts more with static charge like coming from the thundering
clouds, or the waves emitting from other sources as a spark plug of a motorbike and the likes.
At times the interference goes to a level that distortion so created does not allow a listener to
hear what is being broadcast. The quality of transmission has to be compromised, sometime,
beyond normal level of tolerance of your target listeners.
On the contrary, the FM way of transmission is less prone to interferences caused by static
charges or electrical sparks. Due to high frequency, its waves show resistance to other waves
and take the original broadcast strongly to end point of its range of transmission which is fairly
less than the one possible with AM mainly because the transmission of the FM is based on the
physics principle of Line-in -Sight. More it rubs with the ground, weaker it becomes as a signal.
So a higher and powerful transmitter will ensure a clear transmission by an FM station from
listeners' point of view.
Low Cost
The cost of setting up an FM radio station is very low as compared to a traditional radio
station. But still, the equipment required includes; transmitter, main studio and two small
studios, control room where most equipment is installed and one continuity studio. A set of
computers loaded with multimedia software, set of headphones and a high quality radio set
should suffice to make things rolling.
The FM Broadcasting Products
In their nature the programs meant for an FM station are only little different from the ones you
can hear from AM station, the fact that an FM station is not heard at a far off place, however,
reduces its utility as a commercial brand broadcasting facility. But local area advertisers are
much inclined to exploit an FM station in their region to publicize their products, and that earns
money for the FMs.
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
VU
The regular programs include talawat, naat, qawwalies, national songs and folk songs. But as
is the practice, film and album songs with a touch of pop and rock are the hot favorites for the
disc jockeys, though a ghazal here and some musical insertion there also continues.
Handling the Broadcast
Well, at the FM stations you need back-to-back programs. The program schedule, which must
be made on weekly basis, should ensure that programs are in hand to ensure continuity. What
is killing for an FM station, is a pause, or pauses of inordinate length. Even a couple of
seconds silence will lead to tuning to other stations and causing a permanent loss of your
build-up audience.
Performing as an anchor-person on FM station is not an ordinary broadcasting attitude. The
talent must be trained enough to understand the exact requirement
of his/her job. The script must be practiced regularly and all property, of speech should be
exploited to keep the interest of your listeners in tact.
The Difference
Though not a rule, the practice is to avoid airing long discussions, talk shows or other serious
natured current affairs programs. Dramas are one entity yet not known widely to the FM
stations. Latest music albums, interactive-talking to listeners through telephone, taking their e-
mails or ordinary mail in between musical programs are the hallmark of their broadcast.
Some FM station Services
As a regular feature a number of FM stations are doing some services, very useful to listeners,
especially who are traveling; weather reports after regular intervals like it is raining at the
highway near Hyderabad, DG Khan, Gujranwala or Shahrah e Karakrum. Currency exchange
rates, PIA flights or some train timings also mark their approach to keep supplying such useful
announcements to the listeners.
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Table of Contents:
  1. BROADCASTING:Historical Facts about Radio, Wireless and Radio
  2. CLASSIFICATION OF PROGRAMS:NEWS, Language, Sensationalizing
  3. CURRENT AFFAIRS:Talk Shows, Discussions, Seminars, Live Shows
  4. OUTDOOR BROADCASTING I:VIP Movement, Suddenly Assigned Events
  5. OUTDOOR BROADCASTING II:Pakistan Day March Past, General Elections
  6. CURTAIN RAISER:Political, Financial, Sports, Academics
  7. RADIO FEATURE:Personality Features, Features on Events
  8. MUSICAL PROGRAMS:Classical Music, Light and Film Music, Folk Music
  9. RADIO DOCUMENTARY:Narrative, Dramatized, Imagination, Close to places
  10. DISC JOCKEY:Women in Focus, Daily/ Weekly Division, Making Titles
  11. VOICE IN BROADCASTING:Speech, Accent, Loudness, Stress
  12. NOISE:Physical, Medium itself, Problem at sender’s end, Semantics
  13. STUDIO:Drama Studio, Studios for Talk Shows/ Discussions, Music Studios,
  14. RADIO DRAMA I:Stage Dramas, Early Radio Dramas, Ethics, Classification
  15. RADIO DRAMA II:Selection of director, The Playwrights, Script, Voices
  16. ADVERTISEMENT – INCOME GENERATION:Similarities, More Analysis
  17. ADVERTISERS’ APPROACH:Dramatized, Dialogue based, News
  18. FM – A NEW GENERATION IN BROADCASTING:Low Cost, The Difference
  19. MICROPHONE TO TRANSMITTER:Amplifiers, Modulator, Transmitter
  20. WRITING SCRIPT FOR RADIO BROADCAST:NEWS Script, Interviews
  21. INTERACTIVE BROADCASTING:On-line, E-mails, Interview, Views in News
  22. REVISION:CURRENT AFFAIRS, RADIO FEATURE, MUSICAL PROGRAMS
  23. HISTORY OF TELEVISION:Early History, The Black & White Images, Color Television
  24. PAKISTAN TELEVISION (PTV):The Excitement, Timing, Live Broadcast
  25. BROADCASTING LAWS:Laws in the 19th century, Press Council of Pakistan
  26. REPLICAS OF RADIO BROADCAST:The Staff, News Reading, Programming
  27. NEW SCRIPT WRITING AND DIRECTION TECHNIQUES:TV Script
  28. SETS:Permanent Sets, Hot & Cover Sets, Special Sets, Economical
  29. CAMERA SHOTS – THE VISUAL LANGUAGE:Angle Shots, Movement shots
  30. LIGHTS IN VISUAL BROADCASTING:Light Temperature, Light and Distance
  31. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR:NEWS and Interviews, Dramas and Music
  32. BROADCASTING AND MEDIA IMPERIALISM:The truth in the debate
  33. ENVIRONMENT OF TV BROADCAST:Optical Illusions, POV, Depth of Field
  34. BUDGET:First Part, Second Part, Third Part, The Sponsors
  35. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF DIFFERENT RADIO AND TV FORMATS:TV NEWS
  36. CURRENT AFFAIRS – FROM RADIO TO TV:Seminars, Interviews
  37. PRE-PRODUCTION:Brain Storming, Scripting a new program, Approval
  38. PRODUCTION & POST-PRODUCTION:Booking Shifts, Rehearsals
  39. TV ADVERTISEMENTS – MONEY WITH ENTERTAINMENT:Early Phase, Getting Spots
  40. ENIGMA OF MORE CHANNELS:The Investment, Fresh Ideas, Closure of channels
  41. ANCHORPERSON:Appearance and Confidence, Job Opportunities
  42. COMPARISON BETWEEN RADIO AND TV BROADCAST:The Difference, Script
  43. TERRESTRIAL TO SATELLITE TO CABLE TV:Cable Network, CD Channels
  44. CAREER IN BROADCASTING:Production, Direction, Lighting Director, Script Writer
  45. REVISION (LESSON 23 TO 44):Broadcasting Laws, PEMRA, Budget