Among national radio stations, however, a further distinction can be made, Basque national and national activist. The relative economy of transmitting and organizing a radio station make it easier for a diversity of radio stations to arise. Similarly, the risk and expense associated with establishing a television station and developing content is so elevated that the first television stations in Spain as well as in the Basque Country have originally been government sponsored initiatives. The first two private statewide television stations were established in the 1980’s and government stations were privatized in the early 1990’s, though they are still subsidized.

Though television stations were first and foremost government projects, the television’s foreign image has been reinforced with the arrival of US programming dubbed into Spanish. Unlike with television, the radio is often defended as a local tradition. A high regard of radio is taught in schools through popular school initiatives that organize radio news programs and interviews for several different age groups, mostly at the elementary school level. The radio programs are broadcast throughout the school and sometimes even the nearby community with a small tower. Jacqueline Urla’s (1994) article regarding rebel radio stations run mostly by youth groups with radical political and linguistic ideas provides further evidence that once again the radio is a familiar vehicle of expression for the local.³

In spite of this esteem for radio as a medium, throughout my fieldwork, it was more often spouses who work at home that when discussing television habits claimed that this is a culture of listening to talk radio. "I listen to the radio all day" explained a woman who worked at home and at the garden and took care of their calf. When comparing radio to television it is important to note that most avid radio listeners will witness more news and opinion programs than will television viewers, who aside from news hours primarily watch variety shows, series or movies. Still, the radio as with the television are home based activities. Portable radios are a rare scene and when used are primarily used for music. If one considers the time spent in the home is relatively little on average, the effect of radio broadcast news and talk radio appears limited by the ritual setting of reception.

—————–

³  The high cost of setting up a
television station strong enough to broadcast effectively even to a
small area must also be considered as a factor that alienates the
audience from the medium. Though school projects involving video to
simulate television programs might be organized I was not aware of
any such initiatives during my school visits. I believe it is safe
to say that no television based program is as pervasive and active as
early as projects regarding radio and print media.