Form: Number of Channels
by
A. Scott

The Question

How many channels are there in America and England?

Methods/Results: Television (Regular, Digital, Cable, and Satellite)

Counted the number of television channels offered in UK and USA (London and Philadelphia.) I did this by searching www.yahoo.com//tv for local television listings.

UK (Free TV) Total: 5

• BBC 1
• BBC 2
• Carlton (ITV)
• Channel 4
• Channel 5

USA (Free TV) Total: 7-9

These are the national networks. Most often stations vary locally.

• ABC (Ch.6)
• CBS (Ch.10)
• NBC (Ch.3)
• WB! (Ch.17)
• FOX (Ch.29)
• UPN (Ch.57)
• PBS (Ch.12)
• College Stations (Varies by community) (Ch.48)
• Trinity Bible Network (Varies by location)

(Cable/Satellite/Digital) Total: 37

• Includes: Sky {News, Premier, Moviemax}
• Carlton {Cinema, Select}
• Food Network
• TCM
• Filmfour
• UK Arena
• Bravo
• Living
• Paramount Comedy
• Sci-Fi Channel
• CNN
• UK {Gold, Arena, Style, Horizons}
• MTV
• National Geographic
• Discovery
• VH-1
• Cartoon
• Disney
• History
• Granada {Plus, Men&Motors, Breeze}
• Sky Sports {1-3}
• Eurosport
• Performance
• Live TV
• Travel
• Bravo
• ITV 2

USA (Cable/Satellite/Digital) Total: 181

Methods/Results: Radio

Counted the number of radio stations in the London and Philadelphia. Referred to the newspaper listings for legal London stations. And the following websites for London pirated, and Philadelphia stations.

London (AM) Total: 26

Includes: Atlantic, Spectrum Int. Radio, BBC {County, World Service}, Radio 5 Live, Classic Gold, Lib Radio, Talk Radio, Virgin, Capitol Gold, Premier Radio, Southern, Sun, Country Sound, Capitol Gold, Fame, London Turkish Radio

London (FM Legal) Total: 36

Includes: Radio 1-3, Capitol FM, Capitol Gold, Classic FM, GLR, Heart, Jazz, Kiss, Magic, Premier, Spectrum, Sunrise Radio, Virgin FM, World Service, XFM, The Eagle, Oasis, FM, Choice, Chiltern FM, Essex FM, 2-Ten FM, Invicta FM, London Greek Radio

London (FM Pirate) Total: 62

Includes: Basement FM, Key FM, Redemption FM, Shine FM, Rude FM, Ice FM, London Underground FM, Outcast FM, Station FM, Rain FM, Pure Magic FM, Vogue FM, Mission FM, Charge FM, Genesis FM, Power Jam FM, Revive FM, DejaVu FM, Taste FM, Mac FM, Vibes FM, Climax FM, Pre FM, Stompin FM, Fresh FM, Kool FM

London Grand Total : 124

Philadelphia (AM) Total: 11

WFIL,WIP,WQHS,WTEL,WURD,WPEN,KYW,WCAU,WHAT,WDAS,WPOR

Philadelphia (FM) Total: 20

WPEB,WXPN,WRTI,WHYY,WKDU,WXTU,WMMR,WYSP,WWDW, WUGL, Power 99fm , Y100, B101, Q102, WMGK, Philly 103.9, WSNL, WDAS, WJJZ

Philadelphia Grand Total: 31

Conclusions

The U.S. has more television channels than the UK.

The UK has more radio stations than the U.S.

The question as to whether having more channels in any one medium is better left until further examination. It is simply not a matter of quantity in this situation but rather quality. If in any one medium you are given a range of choices with any one of them lacking in diversity, than you are simply no better off than if never were to have that option in the beginning

Sources/For More Information

• http://www.yahoo.com/tv