Another Blow to B Stations

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 174, 26 July 1935, Page 7

Another Blow to B Stations

Ban on Use of Records

only government action CAN SAVE THEM Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Station 3ZM and all other private or club-supported B class radio broadcasting stations in the Dominion are faced with the prospect of closing down almost immediately following the receipt of notice from the gramophone industry forbidding the unauthorised use of records in programmes transmitted.

It appears that action by the Government is the only possibility of keeping these stations on the air. In addition to the ban on the use of records the companies have requested stations to furnish details of all records broadcast without authority during the past three years, and a demand has been made for 10/- per record side for each time a record has been used in a programme without authority. Failing receipt of an undertaking to cease unauthorised broadcasting or details asked for, the companies reserve the right to take legal action for an injunction, damages, and other relief to which they may be entitled. In the ease of station 3ZM, which has been on the air for two years and four months, the amount to be paid for records broadcast iu the past would be approximately £250 a week, or a total of about £30,000. As far as the other stations arc concerned the amount will vary according to the number of records broadcast.

Nelson Estimate KELSON, Last Night. The 2ZR Radio Club’s alleged liability for broadcasting copyright records is about £13,000. Some B Stations Already Provided For WELLINGTON, Last Night. When asked to comment on the demands of the gramophone industry on B class stations, Mr. E. C. Hands, the Broadcasting Board’s general manager, said to-night that the board worked under an arrangement with the gramophone companies and this covered not only - national stations but also B stations in Napier, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Masterton, New Plymouth, Greymouth and Invercargill, all of which were subsidised by the board. Position Needs Clarifying ONE AUCKLAND STATION WILL CLOSE AUCKLAND, Last Night. The opinion among the proprietors of the three B class radio stations in Auckland is that the position raised by the gramophone interests in their circular needs clarifying. In the meantime stations IZB and IZM have decided to carry on, but the owners of station IZJ have decided to close that station pending further light on the situation. No Word Received by 2ZO Nothing of the intention of the gramophone companies is known by the two Palmerston Nortn B stations 2ZF and 2ZO.

As far as 2ZF is concerned the President (Mr. W. A. Waters) explains that it is covered under the contracts arranged by the Broadcasting Board with the gramophone companies.

Mr. Kyle had nut received anv word

up to last evening. It is understood the gramophone companies are only concerned with the broadcasting of records released during the last three years, so that stations using the earlier releases arc not affected.