facilities and output

This page offers statistics on the number of broadcasting stations, cinemas and other facilities, supplementing the Communications Revolution profile and the Metrics & Statistics guide.

It covers -

• base data
• radio
• television
• cinemas
• time to roll out network

     base data

The 2002 CIA Fact Book (here) claims that globally there are some 47,776 radio stations (5,800 AM, 30,700 FM , and 1,300 shortwave) and 21,264 television stations , responsible for around 101 million hours of original programming. The US accounted for some 4,700 AM radio stations and 8,300 FM stations as of 2001, with the Clear broadcasting group alone accounting for over 1,170 stations.

Uptake of radio in the US during the 1920s provides a perspective on the 'internet boom' of the 1990s. Susan Douglas' Inventing American Broadcasting, 1899-1922 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Uni Press 1987) notes US growth in the sale of radio equipment - from US$60 million in 1922 to US$843 million in 1929.

The number of US commercial stations increased from five in 1921 to 30 in 1922, 556 in 1923, 681 in 1927 and 765 in 1940.

Year - Number
1921 - 5
1922 - 30
1923 - 556
1924 - 530
1925 - 571
1926 - 528
1927 - 681
1928 - 677
1929 - 606
1930 - 618
1931 - 612
1932 - 604
1933 - 599
1934 - 583
1935 - 585
1936 - 616
1937 - 646
1938 - 689
1939 - 722
1940 - 765

with expenditure on US radio advertising in that period estimated as -

     Cinemas

UNESCO estimated that in 1997 there were around 1,422 cinemas in Australia, 285 in New Zealand, 685 in Canada, 1,000 in Indonesia and some 31,600 in the US.

     time to roll out network

Many networks have grown to their maximum size within two generations. In the US particular networks reached their maximum size as follows -

50% - 100% - network
45yrs - 65 yrs - canals
60yrs - 80yrs - rail
50yrs - 70yrs - telegraph

 

   next page  (air and sea)