PROGRESS NOT BEING MADE

Evening Star, Issue 21636, 3 February 1934, Page 4

PROGRESS NOT BEING MADE

’ Empire Broadcasting is not making the-progress which it was hoped would result as soon as regular programmes were inaugurated (says an English journal). • Although the service is undoubtedly appreciated in many parts of the Empire, the station is not so consistently and satisfactorily received on individual sets as to encourage any but the more enthusiastic sections of the population to invest in a short wave receiver and try to get the programmes regularly. Frankly,, our sympathies are largely with the people who, although they’ would like to hear home transmissions, do not feel justified in acquiring ‘a special set for the purpose until they can be satisfied that reception will :be reasonably satisfactory. ; »■” The 8.8. C. has gone to considerable expense and, effort to establish- the short■wave transmitter, and distant reports indicn'tsjjjthnt the station is capable’of giving-a - very good average account of itself,. ■

The next step is really up to the broadcasting - organisations situated locally throughout the Empire. It is for them to; arrange for adequate reception facilities so that the Empire programme can be relayed On their local transmitters as required. Reception on a proper basis, where space and facilities are not restricted, can be very much more satisfactory than reception by private persons on individual short wave sets.

If in the Empire local broadcast authorities are apathetic towards the Empire station in principle, then it is hot of much use to try to flog the scheme into activity from this end. If the' nature of the programmes is responsible for lack of enthusiasm then let us know about it so that something may be attempted to remedy the state of affairs. , Whatever may be the cause of the apparent lack of warmth of reception accorded to the Empire station in some places, let ns . get to the bottom of it and not allow apathy to kill a scheme so long projected and of which such great things were hoped.