"BALL-TO-BALL."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 138, 13 June 1934, Page 15

"BALL-TO-BALL."

TEST BROADCASTS. SYNTHETIC DESCRIPTIONS. INGENTTITY OF 2BL. Now that the first Test match is over, normal sleeping hours will be resumed by the many Aucklanders who, through the distinctive performance of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, were able to follow a ball-to-ball description of play over the four days. From a radio broadcasting viewpoint, the service was a notable achievement. The elaboration of the details was done so skilfully that the average listener was convinced that he was listening throughout to a direct broadcast from the ground at Trent Bridge. Such, however, was not quite the case, according to one enthusiast who made it his business to ascertain the actual procedure followed by the Commonwealth national system. He was able to establish definitely that, apart from the summary during the luncheon interval given by Mr. Wendell Bill, who is with the Australian team, the description of play was not instantly contemporaneous with the bowling of each ball and the making of each stroke. It was nevertheless sufficiently realistic to convey that impression. The course followed by the broadcasting authorities, operating from station 2BL, Sydney, was stated by the " Star's" informant to be roughiy as follows: A ball-to-ball description of play at Trent Bridge was flashed through to Australia by beam wireless and cable messages, and these were elaborated in the studio by leading Australian cricketing authorities. The closest attention was given to detail, and, although the running commentary was actually synthetic and slightly behind play, it was accurate in every respect, and at no stage distorted in order to secure effect. Through successful reproduction processes, the applause of the spectators and their occasional comments were heard direct by New Zealand listeners. The clicking of the ball was a studio " effect." Reception in Auckland on the opening nights was excellent, but static interference was noticeable on Monday night and again last night. Users of the more powerful sets had no- difficulty in keeping abreast of the broadcast during each of the four periods. Additional features, whieh were reserved for the luncheon and tea adjournments, were the comments of M. A. Noble and Clem Hill, both of whom included forecasts in their summaries of the morning and afternoon play. The work of the team of expert announcers used by station 2BL was an object lesson. In addition to their clarity of diction, the speakers remained cool when narrating the most exciting of the incidents with which the contest abounded, and never ran into the error of incoherence which is made by many announcers when developments become exciting. No expense was spared by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in providing the service for its thousands of listeners. It is stated that the cost ran into five figures.