Radio and television can educate, entertain or inform audiences worldwide. These media send electronic transmissions that manifest themselves on receiving devices as either sound or, in television, a combination of sound and images.
Origins
According to the Federal Communications Commissions, Guglielmo Marconi developed practical long-distance wireless radio at the turn of the 20th century. Philo Farnsmith and Vladimir Zworkyin independently developed electronic television during the 1920s.
Technologies
Television and radio both transmit communications in the form of electromagnetic waves sent either through the air to an antenna or via dedicated cable or satellite connections, according to PCMag.
Devices
People receive radio communications through receivers that tune in to specific audio broadcast bands. Televisions similarly transmit different communications through tuners, but they include both audio and video signals.
Purposes
Radio and television transmit a variety of communications, ranging from entertainment programs and news to commercial advertisements. They also transmit weather alerts and other emergency warnings.
Access
Anyone with a standard radio can receive broadcast transmissions free of charge, while satellite radio requires the purchase of a provider subscription. Television broadcasts have transitioned over the years from free reception to paid cable or satellite services.