How is time distributed in a radio program?

When a radio program is made its distribution of time requires great coordination between the team that directs it. As it has a limited duration and only one type of sensory interaction, in this case the ear, it is essential that the elements are properly organized.

This allows the program to achieve its mission, whether it is to inform or entertain, without diverting the attention of the listener. Normally this planning is done at least one day before the broadcast of the program.

To order the sections into which a program is divided and to distribute its time properly, different techniques and tools are used. The most used are the radio or radial script and the rundown.

Radio or radio script

This represents the written planning of a radio program, thanks to this tool the sections or divisions that the program may contain are structured.

The script usually includes technical annotations, instructions, and steps to be followed by the announcers. Depending on their characteristics, the scripts can be divided according to the information they present or according to the form they have.

According to the information they present:

-Technical script: It is the most used today, it mostly indicates instructions and technical references. It gives the announcer more freedom to improvise his story and is usually used in interviews and live shows.

-Literary script: Focuses more on the script to be followed by the speaker and presents more specific instructions regarding intonation or the way of speaking. Its use is more frequent in radio novels.

-Technical-literary script: It is a combination of the two previous scripts, it presents both technical information and indications for the announcer.

According to its shape:

-American script: It is a single column where all instructions, indications, technical details and information are written together. Technical information is differentiated from literary information by underlined and capitalized texts.

-European script: It has 2 or more columns that divide the type of information. The left column is used for technical information and instructions, while the rest of the columns contain literary information and instructions for the speaker..

Escaleta

It is a proper list of the activities to be carried out during the program, including in detail its content and the duration of each section.

It presents instructions for both the operators and the announcers of the program. These are presented in the form of a technical script. For example opening or closing the microphone, introducing a guest, or announcing the music that comes next.

The rundown allows a sequence to be carried out throughout the duration of the program and normally has a 3-column structure.

The first column indicates to whom the instruction is directed, the second column the detail of the activity to be carried out, and the third column the duration that it will have, either in minutes or seconds..

An example of this could be:

Time of each section

Regarding the duration of each section in a radio program, this usually depends on the type of program that is made.

The usual thing is that for every 60 minutes:

-10 minutes are dedicated to advertising

-10 minutes to music

-30 minutes to the topic of the program

-The last 10 minutes to comments by the announcer.

References

1. Arthur Asa Berger. (1990). Scripts: writing for radio and television. Michigan: Sage Publications.
2. Robert L. Hilliard. (1967). Radio Broadcasting; An Introduction to the Sound Medium. New York: Hastings House, Publishers.
3. Steve Herrmann. (2008). Script-writing tips and real examples. 2017, from BBC News Website: Script-writing tips and real examples.
4. Educarchile. (2012). Radial scripts. 2017, by Educarchile Website: Radio scripts.
5. Christopher H. Sterling, Cary O'Dell. (2010). The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio. Washington: Routledge.