Radio, A Survivor, from Life in the USA: The Complete Guide for Immigrants and Americans

Life in the USA is a complete guide to American life for immigrants and Americans. All materials on this site Copyright © Elliot Essman 2007. All rights reserved.    Home    Back    Next

Life in the USA
American Culture
Radio

A Survivor
A quick death for radio was predicted once television began to grow, but radio has survived and even prospered. There is a long term trend, however, toward more talk and less music on radio. Radio in the United States is broadcast in two bands, amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). The FM signal is weak but of a better sound quality, suitable for music or stereo broadcasting. AM stations, which are both more powerful and much more numerous, are now almost entirely news and talk format. Just as with television, the national broadcast networks have affiliations with local stations around the country, though usually the only national programs are news and some interview shows.

Satellite radio is a relatively new phenomenon. Subscribers can access the signals from their homes or cars anywhere in the United States. In return for a monthly or annual fee, most satellite music stations have no commercials.

Commercial-free public radio stations are either listener supported or run by cities and universities. National Public Radio provides many news and information programs on a nationwide basis to its affiliated non-commercial stations.


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