"THEME-SONG” OF B.B.C.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 April 1938, Page 3

"THEME-SONG” OF B.B.C.

U.S.A. GIRL’S MISTAKE. LONDON, March 3. The voice of Britain is heard in every part of the world through the Empire Broadcasting Service,” said Sir Stephen Tallents, Controller of Public Relations ftt the 8.8. C., speaking at Oxford. “A girl in San Francisco wrote expressing appreciation of the service, and mentioned also how much she liked the themes song. 8.8. C. officials were troubled till inquiries revealed that tho ‘theme song’ was ‘God Save the King.’ ” Referring to television, Sir Stephen said: “It is agreed that in it we have tho nucleus of a'great new British industry and that we in Great Britain are ahead of the world. No other country is giving television services into the people’s homes. “AVe are anxious to make a great show to establish that pre-eminence, and to secure for our country, if we can, an industry which should come to be worth £25,000,000 a year?’ Sir Stephen spoke of the many misconceptions of the 8.8. C., and said: “Some people know it simply as ; a great white building. Others regard

it as the centre of the Great Red Peril. “The 8.8. C. is of putting in talks too much to the Left or of twisting news. When we reply that the news comes from an agency we are accused of twisting the inflection of the announcer’s voice. We are also accused of being a Fascist body where everything is done in a military way. “Another view of the 8.8. C. is of a place of highbrow uplift That is as unjust as the others, but the view is pretty prevalent.”