The parsimony principle in radio programming states what?

• A. Program material must be used up as sparingly as possible, repeated as often as possible and shared as widely as possible
• B. Programs should be released every hour
• C. Only live material should be aired
• D. Content should be unique and never repeated

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is using program material as efficiently as possible—making the most of what you have by recycling, re-airing, and distributing it widely so more listeners can hear it without extra cost. That approach captures parsimony because it emphasizes economy and broad reach: you extend the value of content by reuse and wide sharing, rather than creating new material for every airing.

Why this is the best fit: it directly describes maximizing the value and life of each piece of content through reuse and broad distribution, which is at the heart of parsimony in programming.

Releasing material every hour focuses on scheduling frequency rather than how content is utilized over time. Only airing live material centers on production method, not efficiency or reuse. Requiring content to be unique and never repeated runs counter to parsimony, which favors economizing by reusing material.