RADIO INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 6

RADIO INDUSTRY

Britain a Pioneer The United * Kingdom radio industry is a pioneer industry. United Kingdom manufacturers were the first, in Europe to turn their attention to the development of broadcasting and broadcast reception apparatus, their early work in this direction leading to the establishment of the British Broadcasting Co., Ltd., in 1922. The British Broadcasting Corporation was established in order to take over the service from the company and began to operate on January 1, 1927. Their enterprise was justified for pulilie interest was tremendous from the outset. Before the end of 1924 the first million listeners’ licences had been sold ; the second million before the end of 1926; the four-million mark was passed In 1931 ; the sixth in 1934; this year will see the total beyond eight: millions—l 74 listeners per thousand of the population. In no other country in Europe has development been so rapid. The speedy growth in the number of listeners in the United Kingdom is an indication of the size of the Home market to which the attention of tlm United Kingdom manufacturers was, naturally, first directed. During the period of 14 years, lhe turn-over of the industry lias boon built up from its commencement to a figure of approximately £30,000,009 a year.