COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING STATIONS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22367, 2 April 1938, Page 22

COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING STATIONS

TO THE EDITOB OT THB PRESS. Sir, —I could not help feeling a certain amount of. disgust when I noticed a paragraph of entirely unwarranted attack on the commercial broadcasting stations in your leading article on radio licence revenue in this morning’s issue of “The Press.” Your theme was in no way connected with commercial broadcasting programmes, and yet you could not resist having a prod at what is really a competitive organisation. Now you realise that listeners do not pay direct revenue for the commercial stations, as they are self-supporting, so why bring them into your article? I realise, as many others will after reading the article, that your hint at “vulgarisation of programmes” is merely propaganda for the purpose of prejudicing your readers against the very popular commercial stations; but it will not even reach the first stage of assimilation. Listeners are just as discriminating in their tastes as you are. and just as qualified to distinguish between vulgarism and puritanism. Perhaps you will be borrowing a leaf out of the Hon. Adam Hamilton’s book of prudery and condemning Sandy Powell’s record about the “Nudist Club.” as one to be switched off in case the soul becomes swallowed up with impurities—or perhaps you would not be indiscreet enough to reveal yourself in such a ridiculous light. I would just like to remind you that he is a poor journalist who cannot make his point without resorting to irrelevant tactics. —Yours, etc., COGITO, ERGO SUM. March 29, 1938.