BETTER SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 7

BETTER SERVICE.

EMPIRE BROADCASTS. 8.8.C. REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVES. ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUTURE. "I have come out to investigate reception from the Empire broadcasting station, not so much from the technical side, but from the standpoint of the listeners; also to ascertain the reactions ou the public of the type of programme wo are giving." This statement was made by Mr."Malcolm A. Frost, representative of tlie British Broadcasting Corporation, who arrived" by the Monterey this morning. "Wo are not giving a satisfactory service," said Air. Frost. "A number of experiments are being carried out, and while-1 am in New Zealand these will bo increased in order that I may personally observe the results. We arc hoping for better results. There arc many difficulties to be surmounted in serving the whole Empire. At the present time the whole expense of _ the scheme is being borne by the British listeners and 110 Dominion or colony has been asked for a contribution to tile cost. Tlie corporation does not intend to make a charge until a regular daily service of real "entertainment value is provided. • Bad Reception. "Owing to the poorness of reception in New Zealand and the unsuitability of your stations for relaying, we have supplemented the Empire service with a series of electrical transcriptions. We feel sure that listeners in New Zealand are anxious to hear British programmes of the best, just as the British, public are desirous of hearing programmes from all parts of the Dominions, and it is hoped before long that this will be an accomplished fact." Mr. Frost said the British Broadcasting Corporation intended to make a small nominal charge to local broadcasting organisations for the electrical transcriptions, or records, but the service would ensure to listeners the best of British programmes, provided, of course, that the service was taken by

tho New Zealand Broadcasting Board. The revenue from this source that would be collected by the British Corporation would hot nearly cover the cost of production of the transcriptions, hut it was felt that too great a burden should not be placed for the Empire service on the shoulders of the British listener, who contributed the total revenue of the 8.8.C. Keeping in Touch. Stressing the value of the Empire service, Mr. Frost said that in these difficult days nothing was more important than that every section of the British family distributed throughout the Empire should be kept in touch/ with one another and be afforded opportunities for the exchange of ideas on the difficulties of the times. "It is only by the cooperation of all Empire broadcasting organisations that tho 8.8.C. will he able to continue the service of the electrical transcriptions," he said. _ "While we welcome constructive criticism, listeners must remember that the Empire station is still in its experimental period and that no charge is being made to anyone for the service that has been inaugurated. Altered Hours. "Australia and New Zealand are tho most difficult parts of the Empiro for broadcast reception of short-wave transmission, owing to distance and the fact that it has to pass through both day and night. We intend altering the schedule as from June 1 as an experiment, and instead of London sending from between 9.30 and 11.30 a.m., we -will transmit between 4.30 and 8.30 a.m.— five hours earlier." Mr. Frost said that the Empire service entailed tremendous work, as programmes Were being transmitted for practically the whole 24 hours of each flay and night. 'JThe Empire was zoned and there was a separate programme for each. That meant that artists had to bo engaged at extraordinary hours. On special occasions as much as £1000 had been paid for a programme. There were 5,500;000 ■ listeners at- Home and tlie license fee was 10/ per annum. The average cost of a first-class receiving set was about £18. Reception in India., ho said, was good and Big Ben was heard there "as clear as crystal" every evening. While in America Mr. Frost discussed the interchange of programmes and made arrangements in respect to broadcasts connected with the World's Fair, which is to be opened.in Chicago on June 1 and is to cost £30,000,000. Mr. Frost lias already made a five months' tour through Africa, and from New Zealand he goes to Australia and then to the Orient.