THREE DIFFICULTIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 23 May 1927, Page 5

THREE DIFFICULTIES.

IN THE WA Y OF. EMPIRE BROADCASTING. PROBLEMS FOR SOLUTION. rfY CABLE PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, May 21. The possibility of Empire broadcasting was privately discussed at the Colonial Conference in consultation with the post office technicians and Mr Langely, who was responsible for the success of the Australian beam system. No decision is announced, but it is understood that emphasis 1 , is laid on three major difficulties, viz., the varying times, finance and technical' difficulties. It was admitted that as soon as beam telephony to Australia was achieved, perhaps at the year’s end, Antipodean broadcasting would theoretically be possible, but the British Broadcasting Company asks whether the Dominions will pay for the expense of programmes broadcast from Kn gland at hours corresponding to the Dominions’ normal listening-in periods, whether the Dominions’ stations will consent to relay British in perference to their own programmes, whether British license payers will coitsent to their fees going to benefit a comparatively small number of Dominion lis-teners-in.

Experts agree that once the phase of curiosity has passed the only demand will be for outstanding events like the King’s and members of Cabinet speeches, international cricket and tennis, and the Derby, for which people in the Dominion will stay up late and rise early. However, the first essential is to perfect beam telephony. There are high hopes of success with Australia, because it is the only one with alternative routes. Furthermore, a short wave low power will minimise distortion, encouraging secrecy. Vocal tests have been carried out, but more sensitive apparatus is required, which Marconis are now manufacturing and hope to ship to Australia in a few weeks.

There is a possibility of the British Broadcasting Company erecting a small experimental' station. They point out that telephony to Australia will not be prohibitive, because it will use onlv a fraction of Rugby’s plant and will probably not need its elaborate apparatus.

PROPOSED FOR THE DOMINIONS

(British Dfficial Wireless.) RUGBY, May 20. The British Broadcasting Corporation is considering a proposal of broadcasting, to the Dominions. They are approaching representatives of the Dominions to ascertain their views and to see how far the Dominions 1 are prepared to co-operate in the venture. It is stated that it is contemnlated to use the present beam wireless services to the Dominions, they being quite capable of telephoning simultaneously with telegraphic transmission.