There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast network commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way radio type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery services. Cell Phones are able to send and receive simultaneously by using two different frequencies at the same time. Many of the same components and much of the same basic technology applies to all three.
The Two-way type of radio network shares many of the same technologies and components as the Broadcast type radio network but is generally set up with fixed broadcast points (transmitters) with co-located receivers and mobile receivers/transmitters or Transceivers. In this way both the fixed and mobile radio units can communicate with each other over broad geographic regions ranging in size from small single cities to entire states/provinces or countries. There are many ways in which multiple fixed transmit/receive sites can be interconnected to achieve the range of coverage required by the jurisdiction or authority implementing the system: conventional wireless links in numerous frequency bands, fibre-optic links, or micro-wave links. In all of these cases the signals are typically backhauled to a central switch of some type where the radio message is processed and resent (repeated) to all transmitter sites where it is required to be heard.
In contemporary two-way radio systems a concept called trunking is commonly used to achieve better efficiency of radio spectrum use and provide very wide-ranging coverage with no switching of channels required by the mobile radio user as it roams throughout the system coverage. Trunking of two-way radio is identical to the concept used for cellular phone systems where each fixed and mobile radio is specifically identified to the system Controller and its operation is switched by the controller. See also the entries Two-way radio and Trunked radio system to see more detail on how various types of radios and radio systems work.
The broadcast type of radio network is a network system which distributes programming to multiple stations simultaneously, or slightly delayed, for the purpose of extending total coverage beyond the limits of a single broadcast signal. The resulting expanded audience for radio programming or information essentially applies the benefits of mass-production to the broadcasting enterprise. A radio network has two sales departments, one to package and sell programs to radio stations, and one to sell the audience of those programs to advertisers.
Most radio networks also produce much of their programming. Originally, radio networks owned some or all of the stations that broadcast the network's radio format programming. Presently however, there are many networks that do not own any stations and only produce and/or distribute programming. Similarly station ownership does not always indicate network affiliation. A company might own stations in several different markets and purchase programming from a variety of networks.
Radio networks rose rapidly with the growth of regular broadcasting of radio to home listeners in the 1920s. This growth took various paths in different places. In Britain the BBC was developed with public funding, in the form of a broadcast receiver license, and a broadcasting monopoly in its early decades. In contrast, in the United States various competing commercial broadcasting networks arose funded by advertising revenue. In that instance, the same corporation that owned or operated the network often manufactured and marketed the listener’s radio.
Major technical challenges to be overcome when distributing programs over long distances are maintaining signal quality and managing the number of switching/relay points in the signal chain. Early on, programs were sent to remote stations (either owned or affiliated) by various methods, including leased telephone lines, pre-recorded gramophone records and audio tape. The world's first all-radio, non-wireline network was claimed to be the Rural Radio Network, a group of six upstate New York FM stations that began operation in June 1948. Terrestrial microwave relay, a technology later introduced to link stations, has been largely supplanted by coaxial cable, fiber, and satellite, which usually offer superior cost-benefit ratios.
Many early radio networks evolved into Television networks.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Radio Jovem Pan
Radio CBN
Radio Bandeirantes
BandNews FM
MiliciaSat (catholic network)
Radio Globo
Transamérica Pop, Hits
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio 2
CBC Radio 3
Première Chaîne
Espace musique
Bande à part
MBC Radio
Corus Radio Network
Énergie
Rouge FM
Rythme FM
Sportsnet Radio
TSN Radio
Defunct
CKO
Pelmorex Radio Network
The Team
China National Radio
China Radio International
Shanghai Media Group
All India Radio (AIR)
Vividh Bharati
Radio City (91.1)
Big FM (92.7)
Radio One (94.3)
Radio Mirchi (98.3)
Red FM (93.5)
Suryan FM (93.5)
Hello FM (106.4)
chaska (95.0)
Fever 104 (104.00)
Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI)
Elshinta Radio
Radio Sonora
All Iranian radio (many ch.)
Ireland
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ lyric fm
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Today FM
NHK Radio 1
NHK Radio 2
JRN
NRN
NHK FM
JFN
JFL
MegaNet
Korean Broadcasting System
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation
Seoul Broadcasting System
New Zealand
Almost all radio stations in New Zealand are part of a radio network and most are network-owned.
Radio New Zealand - State owned non commercial
Radio New Zealand Concert
Radio New Zealand National
MediaWorks Radio - Commercial network of stations
George FM
Mai FM
More FM - Local programming in most markets between 6am and 1pm.
Radio Live
The Breeze - Local in Wellington and Christchurch
The Edge FM
The Rock
The Sound
The Radio Network - Commercial network of stations
Coast
Flava
Newstalk ZB
Radio Hauraki
Radio Sport
The Hits - Local breakfast in some markets, Local 9am - 3pm in other markets.
ZM
Rhema Group - Non commercial Christian network of stations
Life FM
New Zealand's Rhema
Southern Star
Maori Radio Network
FM 98
FM 103
Hum FM
Apna FM
City FM 89
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
Advanced Media Broadcasting System
Aliw Broadcasting Corporation
Associated Broadcasting Company
Audiovisual Communicators, Inc.
Bombo Radyo Philippines
Bicolandia Broadcasting Network
Brainstone Broadcasting Inc.
Catholic Media Network
Christian Era Broadcasting Service
Delta Broadcasting System, Inc.
Eagle Broadcasting Corporation
Empire Entertainment
Far East Broadcasting Company
FBS Radio Network Inc.
GMA Network
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Manila Broadcasting Company
Mareco Broadcasting Network
Nation Broadcasting Corporation
National Broadcasting System
Palawan Broadcasting Corporation
PBN Broadcasting Network
Philippine Broadcasting Service
Progressive Broadcasting Corporation
Quest Broadcasting Inc.
Radio Mindanao Network
Radio Philippines Network
Rajah Broadcasting Network
Raven Broadcasting Corporation
Real Radio Network Inc.
RBN-BBC Broadcasting Corporation
Regional Broadcasting Corporation
Sonshine Media Network International
Southern Broadcasting Network
The Radio Partners, Inc.
Vanguard Radio Network
ZOE Broadcasting Network
Poland
Public stations in Poland
Polskie Radio
Program 1 (Jedynka) - (news, current affairs, easy listening music, focused at listeners aged 40–64) - AM, FM, DAB+ and the internet
Program 2 (Dwójka) - (Classical music, drama, comedy, literature) - FM, DAB+ and the internet
Program 3 (Trójka) - (Rock, alternative, Middle of the Road, focused at listeners aged 25–49) - FM, DAB+ and the internet
Program 4 (Czwórka) - (Dance, R&B, Reggae, Rap, Soul, focused at listeners aged 15–29) - FM, DAB+ and the internet
Polskie Radio Dla Zagranicy - (external service in English, Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian) - AM, FM, DAB+, satellite and the internet
Rolskie Radio 24 - (news/talk) - DAB+ and the internet
Polskie Radio Rytm - (music) - DAB+ and the internet
Polskie Radio Regionalna - (public regional radio network) - FM, DAB+ and the internet
Non-commercial radio stations in Poland
Radio Maryja (catholic)
Radio Orthodoxia (orthodox) - Bialystok
Radio Jutrzenka - Warsaw
Commercial radio stations in Poland
"Bauer Media Group" company:
RMF FM - hot adult contemporary radio (Target Demographic 18-44) (nationwide)
RMF MAXXX - contemporary hit radio (Target Demographic 13-34) (22 local stations)
RMF Classic - classical and film music
Radio GRA - local station in Torun
"Eurozet" company:
Radio Zet - hot adult contemporary radio (Target Demographic 21-49) (nationwide)
Radio Zet Gold - oldies (15 local stations, formerly: Planeta FM, Radio Plus Toruń, Traffic FM)
Radio Zet Chilli - chillout and jazz music
Antyradio - rock and metal music (3 local stations)
"Time" company:
Radio Eska - contemporary hit radio (Target Demographic 13-29) (40 local stations)
Eska Rock - mainly rock music (local station broadcasting in Warsaw)
VOX FM - mostly Disco Polo
Radio WAWA - only polish music (8 local stations)
Joint project of "Eurozet" and "Time:"
Radio Plus - upbeat oldies from the 1970s to 1990s (Target Demographic 40 and older) (18 local stations)
"Agora" company:
TOK FM - rolling news, talk, current affars
Zlote Przeboje - mainly oldies music (Target Demographic 30-49) (22 local stations)
Rock Radio - rock music (Target Demographic 18-39) (7 local stations)
Blue FM - local station in Poznań
other:
Muzo.fm - music and news stations
Radio Kolor - local station in Warsaw
Radio Alfa - local station in Kraków
Radio Parada - local station in Łódź
Radio Kaszëbë - local station broadcasting in north-central Poland
and over 100 other local stations
All Turkish radio
Bauer Radio
British Broadcasting Corporation
Capital FM Network
Heart Network
Real Radio
XFM
Radio Rainbow International the voice of peace
RadioBalkanNET
United Nations Radio