RADIO IN AMERICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 12 June 1929, Page 3

RADIO IN AMERICA

THE WORK OF BROADCASTING ,: NO MONOPOLY HELD rVTDE RANGE OK CHOICE A rosy picture of American broadcasting is painted by a. correspondent of the London "Daily Mail," Mr W. F. Bullock, in a despatch from New York. If Americans criticise their radio programmes, he says, their complaints find no records in. the newspapers. Nevertheless, Americans are seldom inarticulate where their interests are concerned, and broadcasting companies are flooded with letters of praise and blame when any item of importance is offered to the critical tastes of American fans. The reason that comment finds little space in the newspapers is that broadcasting here is not a monopoly. New Yorkers alone have four important stations, and 15 smaller ones which cater for their amusement, and it. is an easy matter to tune in on the many others scattered throughout the States: This plethora of offerings leaves little room for complaint, and in net field of American enterprise is more activity shown tiijan in broadcasting. Every field is combed for subjects which will attract listeners, for the .stations are dependent for their livelihood on their popularity. Competition is the core of their existence, and they arc kept fully up to the mark when their public can, by a mere turn of the screw, reach one of their competitors. INTENSELY TOPICAL Every great event in American"life is broadcast over the whole country by the simple process of linking up all the large stations throughout the, country. When Mr Hoover's inauguration took place not only was every American citizen able to hear the ceremonies, but arrangements wero made for all the world to listen in. The daily programmes are the most catholic in the world. They are intensely topical, as witness the introduction of Captain Fried and Chief Officer Manning, who told their stories ot the Florida rescue, as soon as they were released from the official ceremony of welcome at the City Hall.

No programme is' ever given without full explanations being added which will elucidate any difficulties that may mar full appreciation. When London was heard the oilier day everyone remarked that no mention was made of the music being played nor where the performance was taking place. Musical experts well known to the public always explain the musical items, especially the delightful symphony concerts which form part of the Sunday afternoon entertainment. Professor Damrosch, who has been a conductor here for many years, now devotes himself entirely to radio programmes.

PELIGION AND DRAMA Religion offers an example of the catholicity of taste. On Sunday two well-known clergymen command audiences of several millions, one delivering an address—it w ; ould never be called a sermon in America—and the other answering questions. Each receives an income of £SOOO a year. The Paulist Fathers maintain their own'station, from which they give talks on religion, art, and other subjects of widespread interest. The , anti-Catholics can tune into an anti-Catholic address given by voluntary subscriptions, the donations being announced weekly over the radio.

Drama has definitely taken its place in all programmes, Hie plays being especially constructed for an audience which can hear but cannot sec. Lessons in French and Spanish, and in such lighter amusements as bridge/are of daily occurrence, and the housewife can take a domestic economy lesson in the morning as she dusts her room or cooks her meal. Americans have an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and the radio salesmen cater fully for this passionate longing to be up-to-date in all branches of knowledge.

ATR CROWDED WITH STATIONS i For these reasons complaints by radio followers would be almost supertluous. Something is always at hand for every taste. . Mr Bullock does not attempt to deal with the reverse side of the picture—the extremely poor programmes given out by many of the smaller stations, and the direct and indirect advertising on which every station depends for support. One of the greatest drawbacks, interference,, has Keen lessened a great deal through the work of the Federal Radio Commission, but the air is still so crowded with stations that in the more populous regions only a multi-valve set can overcome the confusion. Moreover, the standard waveband ' allocked to . a station is not wide enough to give perfect reception over Ihe whole range of musical frequencies, and there has to be some "cutoff," usually at the upper end. This is one reason why soprano singers are not popular. The American pays no direct tax for his broadcasting, but he pays, nevertheless, with interest, because he has to buy a five or seven valve set where a three-valver would do if the ether were, reasonably clear.