History of International Broadcasting

by James Wood

The first volume of History of International Broadcasting (1992) traced the history of radio broadcasting, chiefly on the short waves, from its earliest origins to its role as an instrument of foreign policy in World War II and into the cold war. This volume documents the role of the West's international broadcasters - such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the BBC World Service - in using propaganda and other information to assist in bringing about the collapse of Soviet communism and the end of the cold war. It also analyses the new uses to which broadcasting infrastructures are being put, as well as new developments reflecting changes in world politics and culture. Much attention is therefore devoted to broadcasting to and within Asia and the Arabic-Islamic Middle East region, where some of the greatest new investments are being made. The emergence of new activities, such as re-broadcasting of Western services using the powerful transmitters once used by the Soviets for jamming these very stations, are described. Equally, over the past few decades there has been an entirely new market in the growth of powerful religious broadcasters on the international frequency bands. The book is supplemented with tables, statistics and analysis of many of the world's international broadcasters, in the light of new tran mission technologies. There is also study of the major transmitter manufacturing industry and its companies, among which there has been much movement in the way acquisitions and collaborative ventures. The book concludes with a look at emerging technologies such as digital broadcasting and the long-term future of international broadcasting in the shortwave bands.

292 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1992

About the author

James Douglas Graham Wood is an English literary critic, essayist and novelist. He is currently Professor of the Practice of Literary Criticism at Harvard University (a part-time position) and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine.
Wood advocates an aesthetic approach to literature, rather than more ideologically-driven trends in academic literary criticism.
Wood is noted for coining the genre term hysterical realism, which he uses to denote the contemporary conception of the "big, ambitious novel" that pursues vitality "at all costs." Hysterical realism describes novels that are characterized by chronic length, manic characters, frenzied action, and frequent digressions on topics secondary to the story.

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book begins with the earliest broadcast companies worldwide including an experimental transmission from the U.S. to Europe. Ham radio was a very popular hobby for enthusiasts, some of whom became broadcast pioneers. The launch of the BBC system is interesting in its development as a private enterprise and quickly taken over by the British government. Programming was geared toward the upper crust of society. Announcers spoke in King’s English. Radio Luxembourg beamed its signal to the U.K. with a wide variety of programming for the masses.
The book primarily covers the development of short wave radio, an important communication tool for European countries. At first, radio stations created programs to reflect the culture of their countries. During world wars, shortwave radio was the primary way to broadcast propaganda within their countries and to the rest of the world with broadcasts provided in multiple languages. Radio was an important part of military strategy. Some stations were jammed and others seized by enemy countries.
Shortwave radio continued to build in the 70’s. There’s always a war somewhere.
Much space is given to the detailed technological advances over the years. The book was written in 1992, well before the internet provided access to more detailed cultural education and of course, a wider audience for propaganda. I’ve had a portable short wave radio for many years. Not as powerful as a dedicated roof antenna set. I live in an area that does not get many shortwave signals apart from U.S. Christian stations. I’ll have to check it again soon.