TELEVISION IN JAPAN

Evening Star, Issue 23651, 10 August 1940, Page 4

TELEVISION IN JAPAN

. Television research, in Japan is being carried out at a number of institutes and laboratories, including the technical research laboratory of the Broadcasting Corporation of Japan, the Electric Laboratory of the Communications Ministry, and the Higher Technical School of Hamamatsu. Experimental broadcasts of television were made recently for the benefit of the Japanese public. The Technical Research Laboratory of the Broadcasting Corporation of Japan (devoted to study of the theory and application of radio-telephone), established in 1937 an experimental television station (J2PQ), made a test transmission for the first time in May of last year, succeeding in transmitting photographs to the Tokio Broadcasting House, 14 kilometres distant from the laboratory.

Since, intensive study and improvements have been sought, with several test transmissions made public to popularise television. And after a considerable experimental period, television has been put on the streets. Regular television broadcasts are to be begun shortly.

It is computed that 28,000,000 of the 33,000.000 homes in the United States are equipped with radio. Extra sots increase the number by over 10,000,000, and 6,600,000 car sets are in operation, bringing the aggregate up to 45,000,000. The nation’s daily bill for current for radio is 450,000d01, and the listening public is assessed at 70,000,000 P e °P le - * . . .

Armed guards are provided for Australian radio stations, and precautions are being taken against the danger of “ fifth columnists ” among studio audiences rushing to the microphone and broadcasting subversive statements. Technical staffs have been instructed under national security regulations to switch off equipment immediately any such attempt is made.