TELEVISION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 28

TELEVISION

AN AUSTRALIAN MOVE

Mr. John- H. Tait- made known on January 30 that the directors of• J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have acquired the Australian rights of the Loewe television system. . When this fact was mentioned to tne Director of Posts and Telegraphs (Mr. H; P. Brown) he said that before television could be introduced in Australia by private "enterprise the approval of the Federal Government . would be necessary. ■ Many factors would have to be considered by the Government if an application were made by a private company to conduct a television service within the Commonwealth, Mr. Brown added. The chief-of these would be the necessity- for a guarantee that persons who purchased receiving sets would-have a continuous and satisfactory service. - If -and when the Government considered "television a Commonwealth proposition, it would have to determine, whether . a television service should be conducted exclusively by the Government itself," or in addition to any service provided by private enterprise. The Government, Mr. Brown emphasised, would not give, any .private organisation exclusive rights to conduct television services in Australia.

The .Post Office was. not concerned about the acquisition of patent rights for television apparatus. If it were decided to establish television as a Government service, :the Department would purchase the. necessary equipment, with the usual indemnification clause in.the contract against any possible infringement of . patent rights.

Mr. Tait, replying to Mr. Brown's comments, said that should the Government wish to do all the transmitting, his firm would merely receive royalties for the use of any of their patents that might be required.

On the other hand, it might be necessary for them to. form a company to develop television.

"It-is all a question, of Government policy," said Mr.. Tait. "Should it be decided to have, both Government and commercial television stations, we will probably participate actively. It is impossible to say how much capital will be required.-- ■

"Whether television' is a commercial success is in the lap of the gods," concluded Mr. Tait "It is a first-class speculation."