Technology Dials Up The Latest Advance In Radio (NAPSA)—Things sure have changed since Nikola Tesla was granted a U.S. patent for a “system of transmitting electrical energy” and another patent for “an electrical transmitter” in 1900. These patents set the stage for the broadcasting medium that became knownas radio. Here are a few highlights in radio’s development: * In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi, at a wireless receiver in St. John’s, Newfoundland, picked up thefirst transatlantic radio signal, transmitted some 2,000 miles from a station in Cornwall, England. On Christmas Eve, 1906, engineering professor Reginald Fessenden transmitted a voice and music program in Massachusetts that was picked up as far away as Virginia. In 1920, station KDKA in Pittsburgh became radio’s first scheduled commercial programmer with its broadcast of the HardingCox presidential election returns. By 1921, there were eight commercial radio stations in the U.S. Pacifica Radio went on the air in 1949 as KPFA-FM in Berke- ley, Calif., and in 1951 received the first major foundation grant for the support of a noncommercial radio broadcast operation. The first pocket transistor radios hit the market in 1952. Stereophonic broadcasting began in the 1960s. Satellite radio was launched in 2001 when XM started broadcasting across the continental U.S. In the same way that cable TV brought more choices to viewers, XM offers radio listeners more than 170 radio channels, includ- ing commercial-free music from a variety of genres, exclusive concerts and original musicseries. Public radio legend Bob Edwards is now heard on satellite radio from coast to coast. It also broadcasts sports coverage such as Major League Baseball, National Hockey League games, auto racing and college sports. In addition, there are news reports from CNN, C-SPAN, CNBC, BBC and other new sources, as well as traffic and weather reports for 21 major markets. Plus, there’s comedy; drama; children’s shows; variety programming with personalities such as Bob Dylan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Snoop Dogg and public radio legend Bob Edwards and talk shows. For instance, sub- scribers can listen each week as Oprah Winfrey opens up with her audience and speaks from the heart about what’s on her mind, exclusively on “Oprah & Friends.” Listeners can even call in on 866-OPRAH-XM. XM radios for the car, home, and portable use are available at consumerelectronics stores. XM radios also come installed in many newcars and trucks. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.xmradio.com.
