ROUND THE COMPASS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 16

ROUND THE COMPASS.

GROWTH AND SERVICE.

RADIO NATIONS OF THE GLOBE,

Under the control of the Government of the United States there exists a very efficient Department of Commerce that prys into into all avenues of world trade, lor tho benefit, of course, of the United States manufacturer. Consuls in all corners of the globe supply statistics and comment for the compilation of regular trade bulletins. A recent one, dealing with radio broadcasting throughout the globe, is really of world-wide interest, for it gives some surprising analyses of the growth of radio as an entertainment, of what is paid for it by the individual who listens, and of what he gets for his payment. According to this bulletin, there are somewhat over twenty million receiving sets in operation throughout tho world, and ncar'.y 50 per cent of these, or over nine and a half millions, are in the United States itself. Such a gigantic total means a radio to every 12 persons—almost one in every second home. Scarcely a person in the United States can be beyond the reach of the voices on the air. The Big Four. Compared with these figures, the total of licenses in Britain, a mere two and a half million, seems quite puny, yet it means that there is a receiver to less than 20 persons, or one to at least every four families. More astounding perhaps is the phenomenal growth of broadcasting in seemingly impoverished Germany, for here the figures come very close to those of Britain, despite the fact that a listening license in the German Republic costs 24/, as against 10/ in Britain. France, with one and a quarter million licensed sets, is the fourth nation to reach the "seven figure" class. These countries constitute the "great powers" in broadcasting, and they "leave their naval rival, Italy, far behind in a radio set census, for in Mussolini's country there are a mere quarter of a million receivers, far less than sparsely populated Australia can boast. It is significant to note that both Japan and Argentina have passed the half-million mark, and have a big lead over many European lands and over Canada, despite the proximity of the big Dominion to the home of broadcasting, with its hundreds of stations audible across the dry-wet border. Under these circumstances, and with all the advantages offered to Canadian listeners, it is strange that in the listening-in habit they have been outstripped by Australians, for Australia ranks ninth on the broadcasting scale, with Canada fourteenth.

The population of tne world is roughly estimated at 1750 millions, and of these 750 millions are practically removed from the present possibility of hearing broadcasting. Allowing that a set provides regular facilities for an average of five persons —quite a modest estimate —it can be seen that at least a hundred millions throughout the world receive a regular radio service—that 10 per cent of those dwelling in lands where broadcasting is actual or possible are listening to it and enjoying it. When it is borne in mind that tills number has increased by onethird in the past two years some idea of the growth of broadcasting may be gathered.

Payments for Service. How many millions annually are paid by these vast audiences? In the United States listening is ostensibly free; no license fee is charged, but the listener probably pays more indirectly than he would by direct annual contribution. In New Zealand we grumble at having to pay 30/ a year for a quite extensive service, but the poor Turk is mulcted of £2 10/, the Swede of £2 12/, and the Lithuanian of £2 12/6. The Australian charge, 24/, is slightly less than ours, while in Canada the annual levy is only 4/, but here again as in the States, there is the indirect cost through advertisement. "During the past seven years," says the "American Bulletin," "broadcasting has become a part of civilisation exceeded in importance by few other contributors to the advancement of the human race. The influence on modern life exercised by the Press, the pulpit,

the school,' the stage and the lecture platform, hardly exceeds that of radio. Each of those institutions is limited to its particular field, while radio operates successfully in all of them. This does not mean that radio replaces or even rivals these institutions.- Much of the newspaper cannot be broadcast, and details of news items can never be fully appreciated through the microphone. The style and length of the book and of the magazine story are quite unsuited to broadcasting. Tlie stage can never lose, even through television, the attraction of a personal appearance, and it is ridiculous to imagine radio replacing the school. The pulpit, in its capacity of presenting a message to the congregation, can be broadcast successfully, but the church as a place of worship cannot be replaced by radio. The entire purpose which it can serve in these connections is as a complement, but as a complement it has proved highly successful and valuable."