BBC Radio 1 essay

How is the BBC Radio One breakfast show reaching its audience?

The BBC Radio One Breakfast show reaches its audience mostly through the radio while people are commuting to work in the car. There is also the option of reaching people through mobile phones and computers, as it can be played in the background while other activities are being completed. There is a mobile app, which allows people to access the radio live, as long as there is Wi-Fi or previous, pre-recorded versions can be played in case of lack of Wi-Fi. The DJ is also usually active on social media, allowing the audience to find out more about the show. A change of DJ has also largely influenced the number of listeners tuning in to listen to the show. More than 230,000 extra listeners have been tuning in to the Radio 1 breakfast show since Greg James took over from Nick Grimshaw in August. Whereas Grimshaw had an image of a party man, who was close to multiple celebrities, Greg James is more educated in his conversations, making him more interesting to his audience.

How is the BBC Radio Breakfast show targeting its audience?

The Radio One Breakfast show uses DJs to relate and interest the audience. The current DJ, Greg James is entraining to young adults, such as a diverse group of university students and older high school students, who use the show to keep updated on the news and the most recent music. The show is also fundamentally British which means it tries to promote British artists and has a patriotic following. It is PLC, meaning that it’s funded by the public and does not have any adverts or government monetary support, allowing it to provide the public with good, accurate information, as opposed to other radio station which might have an obligation to report from a certain perspective. The fact that it is publically funded also means that there aren’t any advertisements, which would appeal to the audience, because constant ads between parts of the show get frustrating and having a constant, uninterrupted steam of information and music suggests a lack of propaganda or bias.

The Radio One Breakfast show also targets its audience though social media. The current DJ, Greg James is relatively prominent on twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, which allows the younger people to be reached more easily. Social Media allows the audience to find out about the person they listen to every morning.

How is the Radio Breakfast Show encouraging audience interaction?

The Radio One Breakfast show encourages audience interaction through quizzes and games organised by the DJ, such as “pass the pastry” which allow people to call in to answer questions as well as being able to call in to speak to the DJ which creates a sense of intimacy between the audience and the Show. Prizes such as tickets to the Super Bowl or tickets to a concert also play a major role in the encouragement of audience interaction with the DJ.

Interaction with the audience can also be encouraged through Social Media, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc. It gives people the ability to feel closer to the DJ as a normal person, rather than a celebrity. It also gives them a common interest to talk about when texting or calling into the show which makes the rest of the audience feel more engaged and interested in the Show.