Guide in PDF format

History of Radio and Television

Code: 107549
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Audiovisual Communication	OB	2

Contact lecturer

Name :: Matilde Delgado Reina
Email :: matilde.delgado@uab.cat

Teaching staff

: Maria Castellvi Lloveras

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None

Objectives

The course’s primary aim is to examine the evolution of radio and television from their beginnings, with a focus on technological, aesthetic, institutional, and socio-cultural aspects, paying special attention to the origin and development of content.

The specific objectives include:

Understanding the history of radio and television.
Identifying technological advancements related to radio and television.
Examining the social, political, and cultural roles of radio and television.
Exploring radio and television programming models.
Grasping the significance of genres and programming in the evolution of radio and television content.
Contextualizing the roles of radio and television based on social, political, economic, and cultural factors.
Identifying radio and television models in both analog and digital eras.
Reflecting on the informational and entertainment functions of the media across different periods.

Learning outcomes

CM05 (To assess innovations in the historical investigation models of film, radio and television productions.) To assess innovations in the historical investigation models of film, radio and television productions.
KM10 (To cite the main methods for analysing and interpreting film, radio and television productions.) To cite the main methods for analysing and interpreting film, radio and television productions.
KM11 (To recognise the main aesthetic movements in film, radio and television productions and their social impact.) To recognise the main aesthetic movements in film, radio and television productions and their social impact.
KM12 (To link specific film, radio and television productions to the structural and technological factors that exist in the field of Audiovisual Communication.) To link specific film, radio and television productions to the structural and technological factors that exist in the field of Audiovisual Communication.
SM09 (To research historical and current developments in film, radio and television productions from a comparative perspective.) To research historical and current developments in film, radio and television productions from a comparative perspective.
SM10 (To classify any kind of source or document related to film, radio or television productions.) To classify any kind of source or document related to film, radio or television productions.

1: From Technological Innovation to Mass Communication

2: Broadcasting Models: Hegemony and Diversity

3: From Popular Entertainment to Radio Storytelling

5: Radio and Television in Western Europe

6: Broadcasting in Spain

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS
Autonomous Work	82.5	3.3
Theorical Sessions	38	1.52
Seminars	15	0.6
Tutorship	8	0.32

The development of this course includes:

a. Theoretical sessions in which the necessary knowledge for acquiring competencies will be provided, along with listening to and viewing radio and television content to help understand the evolution of narratives. A session may also be conducted using the flipped classroom model

b. Seminar sessions, where students will carry out activities on specific topics and present the main results of their historical analysis of radio and television content.

A detailed schedule outlining the content of each session will be presented on the first day of the course and will be available on the course's Virtual Campus, where students will find all teaching materials and necessary information for effective course monitoring. Should the teaching modality change for reasons of force majeure according to the competent authorities, the teaching staff will inform students of any modifications to the course schedule and teaching methodologies.

The content of the subject will be sensitive to aspects related to the gender perspective and the use of inclusive language.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title	Weight	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Theorical Sessions Activities	15%	2	0.08	CM05, KM10, SM09, SM10
Theorical exam	50%	2	0.08	KM11, KM12
Seminar Activities	35%	2.5	0.1	CM05, KM10, KM11, KM12, SM09, SM10

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION

The course comprises the following assessment activities:

Seminar activities, 35%
Active participation in activities proposed during theoretical sessions, 15%
Theoretical exam, 50%

To pass the course, students must successfully complete all three assessment activities. Students are allowed to retake the theoretical exam if they have scored a minimum of 3 points on the first attempt. The grade for this retake exam cannot exceed 8.

SINGLE EVALUATION

Students may choose the single evaluation option. This includes the following assessment activities:

Analytical assignment based on one of the seminar topics – 20%
Analytical assignment based on another seminar topic – 20%
Participation in tutorials and progress monitoring – 10%
Final written examination (theoretical content) – 50%

The submission date for activities 1 and 2 will coincide with the date of the theoretical exam (activity 4), which will be announced at the beginning of the course. To pass the course, students must successfully complete all four assessment activities. Students shall have the right to retake the theoretical exam, provided they obtained a score of 3 or higher on the first test. Likewise, the grade for the retake may not exceed 8.

PLAGIARISM

Suppose a student engages in any form of misconduct that could significantly affect the outcome of an assessment. In that case, they will receive a grade of zero for that particular assessment, regardless of any disciplinary actions that may follow. If multiple instances of misconduct are detected across different assessment components of the same course, the student will receive a final grade of zero for the entire subject.

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction, or translations. Students must clearly identify any parts generated with these technologies, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how AI has influenced the process and final outcome of the assignment. Failure to disclose the use of AI in this assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty to the assignment grade, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

Any student suspected of submitting assignments that have been generated by AI, written by others or copied; include unattributed AI-generated content, or fall outside the permitted scope, may be asked to provide the preliminary work or other materials that can demonstrate it is original work and the result of their own authorship. They may also be asked to separately explain or justify their work.Teachers may also use AI detection systems or carry out any verification tasks they deem appropriate. If, after review, the instructor detects irregularities, the assignment may be graded zero, and the student may be subject to further disciplinary action.

Non-Assessable

Following point 9 of Article 266 of the UAB Academic Regulations, if it is determined that the student has not provided sufficient evidence to be evaluated, the subject will be classified as non-assessable.

Bibliography

Below is a basic bibliography, but additional references will be provided throughout the course for the topics covered.

ALBERT, Pierre and TUDESQ, Andre-Jean, 2001. Historia de la radio y la televisión. México: Fondo de

Cultura de México.

ARCHER, Gleason L. 1971. History of Radio to 1926. New York: Arno Press.

BAGET I HERMS, Josep Maria, 1993. Historia de la televisión en España (1956-1975). Barcelona: Feed-Back.

BALSEBRE, Armand. 2001. Historia de la radio en España. Volumen I (1874-1939). Madrid: Cátedra.

BIGNELL, Jonathan and FICKERS, Andreas (eds) (2008), A European television history, Oxford: Blackwell

Publishing.

BRIGS, Asa y BURKE, Peter, 2002. A Social History of the Media. From Gutenberg to the Internet. Cambridge:

Polity.

BRINSON, Susan (2005), \"From Marconi to Cop Rock. An introduction to Broadcasting history\" in WINN,

Emmet and BRINSON, Susan (eds), Transmitting the Past. Historial and Cultural Perspectives on

Broadcasting, Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, p.p. 1-15.

BUSTAMANTE, Enrique, (2008), Radio y televisión en España. Historia de una asignatura pendiente de la

democracia, Barcelona: Gedisa

CROWLEY, David and HEYER, Paul (eds.). (1997), La comunicación en la historia. Tecnología, cultura,

sociedad. Barcelona: Bosch.

DOUGLAS, Susan J. (2004), Listening in. Radio and the American Imagination, Minneapolis: University of

Minnesota Press.

FLICHY, Patrick, (1993), Una historia de la comunicación moderna. Espacio público y vida privada, Barcelona:

Gustavo Gili. Cap. 6: \"Siembro a los 4 vientos\", p.p.

FRANQUET, Rosa, (2001), Història de la ràdio a Catalunya al segle XX. De la ràdio de galena a la ràdiodigital.

Barcelona: Edicions 62.

GOMERY, Douglas, (2008), A history of Broadcasting in theUnited States, Malden: Blackwell Publishing.

HILMES, Michele (ed.) (2003), The Television History Book. London, British Film Institute

FAUS Angel, (2007), La radio en España (1896-1977). Una historia documental, Madrid: Taurus.

OLIVESI, Stephane, 1998. Histoire politique de la télévision. Paris: L'Harmattan

PALACIO, Manuel, (2001), Historia de la televisión en España, Barcelona: Gedisa.

PEGG, Mark 1983. Broadcasting and Society 1918-1939. London: Croom Helm.

STERLING, Cristopher H. and KITTROSS, John Michael (2002), Stay Tuned. A history of American

Broadcasting, Mahwah, N.J. : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, cap. 2 \"The Prehistory of Broadcasting\", P.P.

19-50.

WHEATLEY, Helen, (Ed) (2007), Re-viewing television history. Critical Issues in Television Historiography,

NEW YORK: Tauris & Co.

WILLIAMS, Raymond, 1989. Raymond Williams on Television. Selected Writings. London: Routledge.

WYVER, John, (1992) La imagen en movimiento. Aproximación a una historia de los medios audiovisuales.

Valencia: Filmoteca Generalitat Valenciana.

Software