3: What media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Radio Stations are usually owned by a bigger conglomerate aside from independent radio stations. These include four major conglomerates that distribute and exhibit radio broadcasts.

The BBC own 59 radio stations nationally and regionally. These include BBC Radio 1 to 7 and a BBC Asian Network.

Ulster TV Radio who own more local radio stations such as Talksport, Central Radio, Juice FM and Wire FM.

Bauer own more rock orientated stations such as Q, Rock FM and Kerrang. (These radio stations are spread across other media institutions as well, such as 'Kerrang' music magazine and TV channel.

And The Guardian Media Group PLC own Real Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio brands.

In comparison, WISH fm plays locally to Wigan and St. Helens. It isn't owned by a larger company and therefore classed as a Local, independent radio station. This means they can produce all their own content and don't have to achieve a specific sound or representation of a company.

Whilst making the project we were aware that our radio broadcasts would have to be a part of a bigger distributor, in order to afford funding and exhibition. Conglomerates such as the BBC also provide funding for local radio stations, in the northwest the BBC own BBC Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire. This may mean broadcasts would have to be tweaked to suit the BBC's agenda.

Here are some radio viewing figures showing the benefits of having a larger conglomerate to distribute and exhibit.

From the table we can see the hours listened to each radio station in total are clearly higher in the more well known BBC distributed stations.