EMPIRE BROADCAST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 20, 20 December 1932, Page 7

EMPIRE BROADCAST.

NEW STATION OPENED. After many months of preparation, the new Empire broadcasting station opened last evening at 9.30 o’clock (New Zealand time), which corresponded to 9.30 a.m. in i/ondon, and a relay was carried out by the YA stations in New Zealand. The broadcast was an auspicious one in the annals of Empire history and was a fairly satisfactory one from a technical point of view, although the severe surging during the earlier portion spoiled the reception to a great extent. It was appropriate that Big Ben’y mellow notes should signalise the half-hour to commence with, and the impressive—although subsequently multilated—rendering of the National Anthem provided no doubt as to the station’s identity. Particularly noticeable were the enunciation and measured tones of the announcer, who intimated that the programme for the Australian and New Zealand zone was being transmitted simultaneously on two wavelengths, 25.63 metres, with the call GSD, and 31.3 metres, with the call GSC.

The chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation was the first speaker and he was followed by Sir John Reith, the director, and Mr Hall Ashbridge, the engineer-in-chief. The chairman stressed the value of the station in having the people of the Homeland and overseas sharing the heritage of Britain. He introduced Sir John Reith as one to whom broadcasting owed a great debt. Sir John stated that many troubles had yet to be overcome if the service was to bo “in the best interests of mankind,” and “render greater understanding among the different constituents of the. Empire.” After requesting that reports based on careful observation be sent from overseas, Sir John said to listeners, “Do not expect too much.” Its success would be measured by the volume of co-oper-ation accorded it, he added. Air Ashbridge stated that 300 cablegrams and 1000 letters had been received regarding the earlier trials, and he asked for further reports. After the world-known “London calling” announced from the studios, Air Barclay Mason presented a pianoforte recital, but the theme was scarcely recognisable because of the surging. . . , , , After the transmission had been broadcast from 2YA for a quarter of an hour, conditions became unfavourable, and distortion was bad. From about 10.15 p.m. until 10.45 p.m., an address on the political and economic situation in Hungary came through rather well, and practically every ■word was intelligible. At 10.45 p.m. dance music was heard from London fairly-clearly, and at times the announcer’s voice was so well received that the speaker might have been in New Zealand. A few minutes before 11 p.m. the announcer at 2YA stated +V,SiT the programme would be terminated, and said it was hoped to'broadcast further items from London this evening.