THE NEW STATION

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 133, 9 June 1927, Page 14

THE NEW STATION

PROGRESS AND THE FUTURE

The construction of the nc\v Wellington broadcasting station 2YA is proceeding steadily. Prom the city the principal sign of progress is the growth of the masts. The first of these was quickly erected, but a "hitch" interrupted the building of the second. Work was resumed recently; and it is now practically completed. The two towers, with their graceful outline and airy-looking structure, form a striking and prominent landmark on the city's skyline. There is no truth in a rumour^ which attained a .little popularity during the- stoppage of construction that the" first mast Was completed in order to show what the second would be like when 40,000 . receiving licenses had been issued. In the transmitting station the installation of the electrical equipment is being pushed forward, and testing will probably begin before 1" the end of this month. Some of the testing may be done with the transmitting aerial, and will demonstrate the" qualities of the station, but in all probability most of the preliminary adjustment, though carried out on full power, will not be heard at large. The equipment includes an "artificial" aerial, which is a circuit having the same characteristics as the aerial proper, except its radiating power. The artificial aerial is a closed circuit containing inductance and capacity equal to those of the aerial proper, and a resistance capable of absorbing the normal output of the station. The which would be radiated under regular operation is simply wasted as heat. The use of this device enables the. operators to carry out tests at any time without risk of causing interference. The studios for the new station .are being constructed in the premises lately vacated by the , Wellesley Club, in Peatherston street. The date of the opening of the new station is now stated to be 9th July. A few. days ago Mr. A. E. Harris, general manager of the Broadcasting Company, gave the Christehureh "Star" an outline of the company's policy in regard to the new station. "We are going to have a very elastic time-table," said ■Mr. Harris, "and we intend to put on the best programmes wo can arrange. The company proposes to commence its sessions at 3 o'clock' every day, except Wednesdays and Sundays—and probably the station will run on Sunday . afternoons as well, especially in the winter. It will bo necessary to have one silent day a week (Wednesday) in order that the plant may bo properly attended to." In explaining the proposed timo--1 table,-Mr. Harris said: "The afternoon sessions will end about 5 o 'clock, and a children's session will commence at 6 o'clock. It is intended to have a children's session, every day- (except Wednesday), for the children's sessions arc extremely popular. ; There can be no two opinions about that. At 7 o'clock will commence the news and instruction' session (except on- Sundays, when church services or band concerts will be relayed). At 8 o'clock-will commence the ordinary entertainment. Saturday.will be a late night. "That will be, roughly, our usual time-table, but there will bo nothing hard and fast about it. If we consider it is. worth whilei to • broadcast any function in the morning we will do so. The same will apply to tho evening scs-

sions, and even to',important events on Wednesdays. We will not always close down when the clock strikes ten.-"We have in' view, too,' a short midday session. This time-table, will come into effect on Ist August. We expect to have the official opening of the station on 9th July, but after that a restricted service will be given until the whole intricate plant is working smoothly. So, to avoid breakdowns, the. station w,ill not get into its stride until the end of July. "As time goes on, many innovations will be .introduced into the service given by 2YA, and altogether its programmes will be in keeping with the size and importance of the station."