A broadcast band is a segment of the radio spectrum used for broadcasting.
| Common name | Frequencies | Modulation | Frequency range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| longwave | 148.5–283.5 kHz | amplitude modulation (AM) | low frequency (LF) | Mostly used in Europe, North Africa, and Asia |
| AM radio (medium wave) |
525–1606.5 kHz, 525–1705 kHz in N. America, Australia and the Philippines. |
amplitude modulation (AM) | medium frequency (MF) | Usually speech and news, where a lower bandwidth will suffice; long range at night due to the ionosphere increasing in altitude |
| Shortwave | Multiple; see Shortwave bands | Mostly AM and single-sideband (SSB) modes | high frequency (HF) | Very long range through "skipping". Standard time frequencies can be heard here. |
| VHF low (TV) | 54–88 MHz | vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast | very high frequency (VHF) band I | Channels 2 through 6 are from 54–88 MHz (except 72–76 MHz). |
| FM radio | 87.5–108 MHz, 76–90 MHz in Japan |
Frequency Modulation (FM) | VHF band II | Usually music, due to the clarity and high bandwidth of FM. Relatively short range |
| VHF high (TV) | 174–216 MHz | vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast | VHF band III | Channels 7–13 use 174–216 MHz. |
| UHF (TV) | 470–806 MHz | vestigial sideband modulation for analog video, and FM for analog audio; 8-VSB or OFDM for digital broadcast | ultra high frequency (UHF) | Channels 14–69 use 470–806 MHz, except for the radio astronomy band at 608–614 MHz where channel 37 would be |