BROADCAST OF CIVIC CONCERTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 34, 3 November 1928, Page 8

BROADCAST OF CIVIC CONCERTS

TO BE DISCONTINUED AT

AUCKLAND Dominion Special Service. Auckland. November 2. “This concert will not be broadcast,” states a sentence in a City Council advertisement announcing a municipal band concert at the Town Hall. An explanation of the notice is that the Radio Broadcasting Company has refused to renew its past year’s agreement with the council for the purpose of broadcasting municipal music, the company deeming the new terms asked —£7so a year—out of proportion to the value to it of the performances. Last year’s agreement, whereby the company had the broadcasting .ights of band concerts and organ recitals at a charge of £3OO a year, expired last August, but by arrangement was extended to October 31. The view of the company is that it would be obliged to pay £750 for 37 band performances, 11 in the Town Hall and 26 in the open air, which works out at just over £2O a concert, at which price, it is claimed, the band could be hired.. In addition, there is the expense of relaying, while under last year’s lower rate too, it is said, more band concerts were available for broadcasting. It is understood the company is making arrangements to provide a suitable substitution programme for municipal band concerts, but an announcement on the subject will be madejater.