Editing Radio network (section)

== Broadcasting networks ==
{{Unsourced section|date=May 2025}}{{See also|Broadcast network}}
The broadcast type of radio network is a network system which distributes [[radio programming]] to multiple [[radio station|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 [[United Kingdom|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 (signal processing chain)|signal chain]]. Early on, programs were sent to remote stations (either owned or affiliated) by various methods, including leased [[telephone]] lines, pre-recorded [[gramophone record]]s 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 broadcasting|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]], [[Optical fiber|fiber]], and [[Communications satellite|satellite]], which usually offer superior cost-benefit ratios.

Many early radio networks evolved into [[television network]]s.