BROADCASTING RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1927, Page 9

BROADCASTING RUGBY.

WISDOM OF POLICY DOUBTED.

POSSIBLE REVENUE SOURCE. CANTERBURY UNION'S DEBATE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH. this day. The question of broadcasting a description of the football matches at Lancaster Park, and the possible effect of this on attendances at the matches were discussed by the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last night. The matter was introduced by Mr. C. S. McCully. who snid that last Saturday's match was not broadcast. It had been missed by patients in the hospitals. He wondered if the union could do anything in the direction of having the Oval mat' , ,! hroad/ast everv Saturdav.

Mr. J. K. Moloney said he thought?that if the Broadcasting Company were asked to broadcast the Oval match every Saturday they would be \*lvu sod t<> do *<>.

Mr. S. F. Wilson doubted whether this would be ii wise policy for the union. Ih< knew of people who stayed away from a match it they thought they could hear a description over the wireless. The company should pay the union something for the privilege of broadcasting. The company was not a benevolent institution. It was getting- revenue out of the business. He asked how the company had obtained permission to broadcast matches in the past.

The secretary said tliat an application to broadcast the Old Boys-Christchurch game this season had not been brought before the committee owing to an oversight. He had given permission, as permission to broadcast matches had been given last season.

Mr. Moloney said that soldiers of the consumption sanatorium had approached him with reference to the brnacasting of matches and he had advised them to apply to the company.

Mr. A. E. Flower said that there was a movement at Home against the broadcasting of matches.

Mr. A. E. McPhail said it was possible that the broadcasting of a match affected the attendance.

Mr. McCnlly thought the time might come when the right to broadcast would bring in a lot of revenue to the union. Therefore they should not gi'e the company the right to broadcast for more than a season at a time.

Mr. McPhail: It is understood that the company will have to obtain permission before it can broadcast anv match.