P3: Multi-platform Distribution Methods

P3: Multi-platform Distribution Methods- Capital FM

Once again I have used Capital FM as my example since I listened to their radio station frequently at one point in time. In this report, I will evaluate the different media platforms we can use to listen to Capital FM.

 As said in the name, Capital FM uses the FM radio frequency and DAB frequencies. FM (Frequency Modulation) means that Capital FM's radio frequency might not be available in certain areas if you are too far away for the frequency to reach you. This was invented in 1933 by Edwin Armstrong; these radio waves can easily cut out which isn't very ideal if you are driving away from the radio waves. Capital is a commercial radio station with local stations such as Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool, Brighton, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Coventry, Cymru. More regional stations are Capital South Wales, South Coast, Scotland, North West and North Wales, North West, East Midlands. Capital also has a radio station in the capital city of London. They play modern pop music, usually hit songs that have just released for their thousands of listeners. Some of the radio waves Capital use are DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). These waves use binary code and the signals can be sent out lots of times although this can lower the quallity.

 

 

 

 

 

Capital also have their own website. On their website you can read celebrity, TV and music news articles. You can also enter their competitions to be in the draw for a cash prize; these are usually sponsored/endorsed by a company or brand. Capital are known to host music events. you can see what these are and buy tickets. Podcasts and videos are also on their website. Furthermore, you can listen to their radio stations through their website. Global company is the conglomerate company that owns Capital, so you will need to create an account so you can listen to Capital on their website and the Global App. You can also listen to the Capital radio stations on the Global Player app; you can download this on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. You can see the same content as you would on the website, but because it can be used on our phones, laptops (most things with an app store) the radio is easily portable with us. The app also allows us to download music and podcasts to listen to offline. You can use the radio app on your phone if you have wired earphones/headphones to listen to Capital which is 105.8MHz. You can also listen to Capital FM on the TV on the freeview channel 724. Since they use voice recognition, you can speak to your smart speakers such as Alexa and Google Home and ask them to play Capital radio for you. 

Captial offers all these different ways (Global Play app, website etc) to listen to their radio station. They do this to expand their listener base and reach more people in their young target audience. They have adapted to our modern world; everyone has a phone so listeners may wish to listen to Capital on their Global Player app instead. Capital has brached out to include digital ways to listen to their radio so they keep up with our modern, digital world since the ways we listen to radio now have changed. In the past, having a radio was the only way to listen to radio stations but the internet has changed how we listen to radio stations.

 

Reference Links:

 https://www.capitalfm.com/how-to-listen/getting-started/

https://www.capitalfm.com/digital/ 

https://www.globalplayer.com/live/capital/uk/

 Global Player App (I have this in my phone)