P3: Describe the multi-platform distribution methods
Here I have researched the key radio distribution methods:
- Amplitude modulation (AM) - AM transmission is the oldest radio distribution method, as it was the first method developed for radio transmissions. AM transmissions are still used today, but they are very susceptible to interference from outside noise, and have no way of filtering out this noise. As such the popularity of AM in radio quickly declined when alternatives such as FM and DAB were introduced. nowadays AM transmissions are only really used for speech based content such as news, sports etc. as the noise interference doesn't matter as much here.
- Frequency modulation (FM) - FM transmissions came about in around the 1940s and gave established AM broadcasters some serious competition, leading in AM radio to decline in popularity. FM is capable of producing "High-fidelity" sound quality which is much greater than what AM radio could normally provide. As such, FM was the distribution method used for most music broadcasts over the radio.
- Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) - Digital Audio Broadcasting is a popular digital radio broadcasting method. This method allows for more radio services to be offered using the same bandwidth as AM. This effectively gives listeners a greater range of choice in terms of the shows that they want to listen to. DAB achieves this while also allowing for users to listen to FM stations. DAB stations have more signal issues, with reception quality degrading rapidly when signal strength is low.
- Internet radio - Internet radio is a distribution method which allows stations to be broadcast through the internet, through mediums such as websites and apps. This is an increasingly popular distribution method due to the increased popularity of smartphones and 4G, so consumers spend the majority of their time connected to the internet. This is effective as it reaches this audience well, and provides a wide range of potential radio content broadcasted clearly so long as users have a stable internet connection.