The conspicuous changes experienced in the 20th century were a result of the growth in radio technology that significantly influenced how politics, sports, culture, and the economy were driven. These unpredicted alterations became more amplified through the massive consumption and the coming up of media talent that started up shows and events. Such events were broadcasted through the radio to affect behavioural change and stir technological innovation during that period. The radio played a crucial role in both the First World War and the Second World War as it was used as the primary tool for communication. During the era of the Cold War, the radio’s declining glory was positively affected by the rise of television. Nonetheless, even today, the radio persists as the most popular broadcasting media because it was able to easily integrate into family and capture the interest of society. In addition, the cost-effectiveness nature of the radio has made it more widespread among the population. Thus, both the radio and the television were stimulating factors that made the economy grow and have remained consistent even after other innovations, such as the Internet, have been made.
The development of the radio was highest during the 1920s as it was the only medium of broadcasting in use during the period. The radio and the press in general mainly focused on family, politics, and economics, which made up the fundamental issues that affected society at the time. It made many people become users of the radio as it directly affected their lives. However, in the 1950s, the dependence on radio technology heightened as it was based on the technological advancements in a state or the audience interest in either the radio or the mushrooming television technology. Thus, the radio played a critical role especially in the development of the family unit even as it is at present; the radio made inroads as it focused on racial debates, feminism, cold war-era politics, and other factors that affected society.
The radiotelegraph was the first historical wireless communication device. The relationship between technology and communication exists under the influence of science due to their significance concerning ensuring the appearance of radiotelephone and radio broadcasting in Europe and the United States. Discoveries in the field of radio and electricity take place in a framework where science and technology mutually and continually evolve. The influence of radio and communication development comes from natural science. The radio field can be broken down into three interconnected phases. The empirical stage starts with observation and is completed by verification. The wireless telegraph, known as the radiotelegraph, constitutes a medium for communication; this device has been available for a long time. The wireless telegraph operation first public display was in full installation and was held in 1894 by physician O. Lodge without any further development. He did not consider himself to be using the new communication appliance, but rather the detection of electromagnetic waves. Radio communication was transformed with the discovery of the radio wave detector in 1890, which was later improved and named as a coherer.
The next stage was wireless communication – the transmission of human sound instead of codified signals. The first experience happened in 1892 and was performed by N. B. Stubblefield in Murray, Kentucky; in 1906, corresponding technology was demonstrated. Its growth was well notable from the perspective of the coexistence of the radio stations in many countries. Even though wireless telegraphy was available for a long time at this point, broadcasting itself appeared much later. At the beginning of the 1920s, the radio manufacturing industry started doing big business with radios. Consequently, the battle of political interest and economics transformed the sender-receiver relationship in radio communication and marked the beginning of broadcasting.
Since that, more broadcasting experiments have increased dramatically in the United States. In 1909, Herrold began broadcasting gramophone discs from the station’s studio. He slowly started adding the singer’s performance and news once a week. In Europe, their broadcast experiment was slower – the most notable case of wireless broadcasting which had a radio-like type character came from the station OTL, based in the royal tower in Laeken in Belgium. This transmitter was set up by Goldschmidt and Braillard. This set-up was for telephone communication with the colonies. Apart from its initial functions, this station started broadcasting music programs as well in 1913. The creators went as far as broadcasting concerts and nonprofit musical performances. It was like that until the German army entered Brussels a few days after the beginning of the First World War.
Radio broadcasting reached above the result by giving a familiar, interpersonal character to radio communication. One may have already seen that the idea of broadcasting appears only once, and its difference has been recognized about interpersonal forms of electronic communication like radiotelephony. It is, thus, ironic that radio constitutes a mass communication medium mainly via its successful attempts to sideline all weaknesses of one-to-many communication. It seemed like things were finally coming along until World War II broke out. When the United States declared its involvement in the war, all commercial production of television accessories was banned for the remainder of the period of the war. All men had enlisted in the armed forces anyhow, so production would probably not have advanced much further. NBC also cancelled its commercial TV schedule, but television was allowed to continue broadcasting on a very limited basis at some stations, just to keep the folks at home updated on what happens beyond the borders. When the Second World War came to an end, the production of the television resumed and the post-war period marked the last birth of the television.
Numerous families across the globe had saved some money during the war years, and, when the war ended, they were finally ready to buy homes, vehicles, and other luxuries. Within no time, television sets became one of the most esteemed luxuries. Between 1948 and 1948, the American market was filled with such equipment. And, a decade later, in the early 1950s, the golden age of television was marked, and the black and white television was invented. A few years later, there was the introduction of electronic television that used a remote control to operate. Several years down the line, the design and style of television have been revolutionized. During the same period, numerous television shows were created and shown, such as the comedy I Love Lucy.
Barnouw’s edition on television helps to understand better the evolution of television, which, in turn, gives a comprehension of the century people live in currently. As a result, the edition titled Tube of Plenty is an exploration of both the development and the wave of the newest phases of the communication revolution. Numerous changes and transformations have happened since the first Barnouw’s publication on the history of television shaping and being shaped by American society and culture. In particular, Barnouw highlights the deterioration of the three main television networks, the growth and expansion of both the cable and satellite television, special audience channels, such as Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, Music Television, film channels, such as Home Box Office, and the arrival of the VCR’s in the American society. Further, Barnouw includes questions for the new millennium aimed at challenging the readers to examine the current television era and envision its future.
To sum up, both liberal and conservative cultures were able to shape the radio programming culture in different regions, including the United States. The opposing views of these two sides made up the debates that enabled the radio to become a central point in all aspects of people’s lives, such as race, gender, music, family issues, and even sports. It is of significant importance to note that radio presenters were at the forefront of sports development. At the same time, numerous families became heavily dependent on the debate and the radio shows that were mainly made up of the conservative perspective of family as opposed to the carefree view of the liberal families who lived primarily in the urban areas. As a consequence, the preoccupation and development of the radio within the society cannot be limited to the history of Wars or the politics and social development among societies in the mid-twentieth century.
References
American Experience. (2019). The Development of Radio. American Experience | PBS. Web.
Courses, T. G. (2020). From Radio to Television: The History of Electronic Communication. The Great Courses Daily. Web.
The History of Radio [Infographic]. (2019). Infographic, Data Visualization, Maps, Charts, Guides. Web.