Compared to television, which medium reaches more people overall?

• A. Radio reaches more people overall than television
• B. Radio and television reach similar numbers
• C. Television reaches more people overall than radio
• D. Radio reaches far fewer people than television

Answer: (A)

Reach is the total number of people exposed to a medium at least once over a given period. Radio tends to have the widest overall reach because it is highly accessible and portable—people can listen in cars, at work, while shopping, or around the home, often without paying and without needing a screen or internet. This broad, ubiquitous exposure means more individuals encounter radio across their daily routines, even if they don’t spend as much time listening as they might watch TV. Television, while strong for engagement and visuals, requires a TV or streaming device and a suitable viewing time, which can limit the number of people exposed at any one period. So, radio reaching more people overall makes sense in terms of how widely and conveniently it can be accessed. The other options imply similar or greater reach for television, which isn’t as consistent with the general pattern of exposure across a population.