Radio operator format

A format radio operator is a whole of elements of programming or rules of antenna making it possible a Radio station to target a more or less precise audience. There exist thus stations of information, musical, Community, sets of themes or overall general practitioner.

The format says general practitioner is logically oldest. One tries to address oneself to the greatest number, without seeking to segment his audience. The stations all were almost general practitioners before the Second world war. However, as of before 1940, certain stations specialize. Let us quote here for the example the colonial Poste French which emits since Paris bound for the colonies. It is already a form of format.

Competition between radio and television makes rage as of the Années 1950 in North America. The Télévision is logically initially general practitioner, causing a specialization of the radios which segment the audience then. One finds this same phenomenon during the two last decades of the 20th century in Europe. It should be noted that televisions followed the example of the radios by creating they also formats when these last multiplied. North America logically seems a kind of laboratory as regards radio operator format. If Europe were rather creative as regards radio operator programs between the two wars, the formats find with the the United States and the Canada a ground of predilection because of the great number of stations. When Europe rocked in the radio operator formatting, they were American consultants who came initiated Europeans.

The French institute of measurement of audiences Médiamétrie gathers the stations in four great groups: general practitioner, musical, set of themes and local. One could add to this quartet the Community radios, but these last are not really with the honor in the surveys of audience in France.

General practitioner: this format consists in raking broad as regards audience. It is necessary to be addressed to the greatest number. The great French stations (Europe 1, RTL, France Inter) remain on this format since the years 1950. One can note variations between these stations, but overall the basic idea remains the same one: to address itself to all.

Local: the local stations are sometimes taxed with the nickname of " minis-généraliste". It true that one finds many features of the stations general practitioners, but is applied to a restricted territory.

Community: one can announce three great groups of Community radios. Religious radios, geographical radios of communities and them those of communities sociétales (the homosexual ones or ecologists, for example).

Set of themes: One gathers in this category the nonmusical or Community stations which propose to a format not general practitioner. Radios of information or those of debates, mainly.

Musical: Undoubtedly most complex of the categories suggested by Médiamétrie. There exists indeed more than one about fifty different musical formats, Classical music with the Jazz, while passing by the Rock, the Rap, or the World music, to limit itself to some very general examples. Thus, the rock'n'roll is declined in a crowd of rather different formats like the Classic rock'n'roll and its alter ego the Modern rock'n'roll.

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