History of Radio 3 (From 1970 to 1992)
From Third to 3
In 1970 it became official: after many broadcasting upheavals (not least the general downgrading of radio in favour of television) the Third Programme became Radio 3. 'Auntie' — as the BBC has been affectionately known — had gone hip in 1967 and introduced a new pop music station (Radio 1) as a rival to the commercial stations; the Light Programme had then become Radio 2, the Home Service Radio 4. But the Third Programme — like the melody — lingered on, in name at least, for a full three years. Its eventual "demise" aroused deep disquiet even though assurances were given that Radio 3 would be the Third Programme in all but name.
When Radio 5 arrived the demarcation between the network stations became fixed: Radio 1 for pop music, Radio 2 for light entertainment, Radio 3 for arts broadcasting and classical music, Radio 4 for speech and Radio 5 for news and sport.
Any overlap was more apparent than real: while Radio 2 found time for comfortable selections from the light orchestral and popular classics, Radio 3 was adventurous, championing contemporary music, delving into little-frequented musical byways and, of course, featuring chamber music, symphonies, complete operas, sacred choral works &c. of major and minor composers. A small amount of jazz, however, had been included almost from the start of the Third Programme, and Jazz Record Requests had been a weekly regular since 1964.
Radio 4's drama output included both modern plays and 'classics', both entire and in serial form. One thinks Terence Rattigan or Trollope (Anthony) here. Radio 3, though its speech content was now reduced, also broadcast drama, but of the Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Pinter and Stoppard variety.
News coverage remained the province of Radio 4 and the new Radio 5. On Radio 3 it was never more than a matter of a reading out a few cursory headlines, and not a matter for concern if the announcer mislaid the news bulletin just before it was needed.
Radio 1 was always a distant island beyond the horizon, which, quite possibly, was no more than an ill-founded rumour.
When Radio 5 arrived the demarcation between the network stations became fixed: Radio 1 for pop music, Radio 2 for light entertainment, Radio 3 for arts broadcasting and classical music, Radio 4 for speech and Radio 5 for news and sport.
Any overlap was more apparent than real: while Radio 2 found time for comfortable selections from the light orchestral and popular classics, Radio 3 was adventurous, championing contemporary music, delving into little-frequented musical byways and, of course, featuring chamber music, symphonies, complete operas, sacred choral works &c. of major and minor composers. A small amount of jazz, however, had been included almost from the start of the Third Programme, and Jazz Record Requests had been a weekly regular since 1964.
Radio 4's drama output included both modern plays and 'classics', both entire and in serial form. One thinks Terence Rattigan or Trollope (Anthony) here. Radio 3, though its speech content was now reduced, also broadcast drama, but of the Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Pinter and Stoppard variety.
News coverage remained the province of Radio 4 and the new Radio 5. On Radio 3 it was never more than a matter of a reading out a few cursory headlines, and not a matter for concern if the announcer mislaid the news bulletin just before it was needed.
Radio 1 was always a distant island beyond the horizon, which, quite possibly, was no more than an ill-founded rumour.