Broadcasting: An Overview

Sean Phelan^*
*Correspondence: Sean Phelan, Department of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University, New Zealand, Email:

Perspective

Electronic transmission of radio and television signals intended for broader public reception, as opposed to private signals addressed to specific listeners, is known as broadcasting. Broadcasting is defined as the systematic delivery of entertainment, information, instructional programming, and other characteristics for simultaneous reception by a dispersed audience with proper receiving hardware in its most basic form. Broadcasts can be audio-only (as in radio) or visual (as in television) or a combination of both. In this view, sound broadcasting began about 1920, but television broadcasting began in the 1930s. With the introduction of cable television in the early 1950s and the use of satellites for transmission in the early 1960s, television reception improved substantially, as did the amount of programmes available [1].

Broadcasting is the broadcast of audio and/or video signals (programmes) to a wide group of people (called "listeners" or "viewers"). This group could be the general public or a sizable segment of the general public. A public address system in a workplace, for example, can broadcast very limited ad hoc "soundbites" to a tiny population within its range, whereas an Internet channel can send text or music worldwide. Broadcasting can be solely aural, as in radio, or visual, as in television, or a combination of both. Broadcasting has evolved in tandem with technological advancements. The term "broadcasting" has traditionally been used to refer to the radio and television businesses. Broadcasting was historically associated with "over the air" radio broadcasts [2].

Broadcasting is a way of sending a message to all recipients at the same time in computer networking, telecommunications, and information theory. Broadcasting can be a high-level programme operation, such as broadcasting in the Message Passing Interface, or a low-level networking operation, such as broadcasting over Ethernet. All-to-all communication is a type of computer communication in which each sender sends messages to all of the recipients in a group. This can be performed via broadcast or multicast in networking. The point-to-point technique, in which each sender communicates with only one receiver, is in contrast.

Broadcasting is a way of sending a message to all recipients at the same time in computer networking, telecommunications, and information theory. Broadcasting can be a high-level programme operation, such as broadcasting in the Message Passing Interface, or a low-level networking operation, such as broadcasting over Ethernet. All-to-all communication is a type of computer communication in which each sender sends messages to all of the recipients in a group. This can be performed via broadcast or multicast in networking. The point-to-point technique, in which each sender communicates with only one receiver, is in contrast.

Early radio engineers in the mid-western United States created the term broadcast to distinguish between electronic broadcasts intended for general public reception and private signals aimed to specific receivers. Broadcasting accounts for a significant portion of the mass media. Radio and cable transmission, as well as both, are used to distribute television and radio programming. Cable enables subscription-based channels and pay-per-view services by coding signals and having decoding equipment in households.

Early radio engineers in the mid-western United States created the term broadcast to distinguish between electronic broadcasts intended for general public reception and private signals aimed to specific receivers. Broadcasting accounts for a significant portion of the mass media. Radio and cable transmission, as well as both, are used to distribute television and radio programming. Cable enables subscription-based channels and pay-per-view services by coding signals and having decoding equipment in households.

A broadcasting institution may simultaneously transmit multiple programmes over multiple channels (frequencies), such as the BBC's BBC One and BBC Two. Two or more groups, on the other hand, may share a channel and use it at different times during the day. Multiplexed programming, which combines numerous channels into a single ensemble, is also possible with digital radio and digital television [3].

History of broadcasting

It's impossible to pinpoint exactly when broadcasting began. The dots and dashes of wireless telegraphy were all that was carried on early radio transmissions. The practise of delivering signals to inform and entertain large groups of people, known as broadcasting, began in the early twentieth century. The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sri Lanka were among the countries that made significant progress in the early twentieth century [4].

Distribution methods

A broadcasting institution may simultaneously transmit multiple programmes over multiple channels (frequencies), such as the BBC's BBC One and BBC Two. Two or more groups, on the other hand, may share a channel and use it at different times during the day. Multiplexed programming, which combines numerous channels into a single ensemble, is also possible with digital radio and digital television.

A broadcast can be disseminated in a variety of ways. It is simply transported through the air chain to the transmitter if it is coming directly from the studio at a single broadcast station. Programming may also be broadcast live or recorded for later transmission through a communications satellite. Simulcasting allows multiple stations to broadcast the same show at the same time.

Physical media, such as analogue or digital videotape, CD, DVD, or other format, may also be used to distribute to stations or networks. When electronic news gathering returns a storey to the station for inclusion on a news programme, these are usually featured in another broadcast.

The phrase "broadcast network" is frequently used to distinguish networks that broadcast an over-the-air television signal that can be received with a television antenna from "networks" that are exclusively aired via cable or satellite television. The programming of such networks is referred to as "broadcast television." ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox are examples of broadcast networks that send content to member stations in the United States [5].

References

1. Carey, James. “Communication as Culture.”  Routledge, New York, London  (1989): 201–30.

Google Scholar, Crossref

2. Kahn, Frank J. “Documents of American Broadcasting, fourth edition”. Prentice-Hall, Inc (1984).
3. Lichty Lawrence W, and Topping Malachi C. “American Broadcasting: A Source Book on the History of Radio and Television.” Hastings House (1975).
4. Peters, John Durham. "Communication as Dissemination." Communication as...Perspectives on Theory. Thousand Oakes, CA.” Sage (2006): 211–222.

Crossref

5. Thompson, J. “The Media and Modernity, in Mackay, H and O'Sullivan, T (eds) The Media Reader: Continuity and Transformation.” Sage, London (1999): 12–27.