RADIO TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 8

RADIO TOPICS.

BY THERMIOK.

IMPEOVEMENTS AT DUNEDIH. The new broadcasting stations for Auckland and Christchurch were originally to have been transmitting in May, but unforseen difficulties necessitated the granting of an extension of time until Jon# 30. The stations, however, have not yet been erected nor has there been any official statement that a further extension of the time for their erection has been granted. The non-appearance of tho stations means that the broadcasting company has broken the agreement mads by it with the Postmaster-General in July, 1925, and the condition of broadcasting in New Zealand during the past twelve months has shown that it would probably bo to the advantage of listeners if the present Postmaster-General took the available opportunity of placing broadcasting entirely under Government control, as will be done in Great Britain shortly. Dunedin aireadv has its broadcasting station 4YA. This station must now be considered to be under the operating conditions which will obtain with the new stations in other centres. Regarded in this light the writer is of opinion that the outlook for the future is not bright. However, some recent improvements which have been effected at 4YA deserve notice.

The signal strength from 4YA satisfies requirements and trie modulation is reasonably good. The wavelength is~ now 380. metres, having been changed owing to complaints of overlapping with Australian broadcasting stations. Commencing this week, broadcasts are to be given on six nights a week as follows:—Sunday, commencing about 6.30 p.m.; Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 to 10 p.m.; Tuesday and Saturday, 7.15 to 10 p.m. Bedtime stories will be given on Monday and Wednesday evenings. The manager of 4YA has gone to some trouble in organising and announcing in advance the nightly programmes for the whole of July. The broadcasts this week will be as follows:—To-night, Philharmonic Society concert, relayed from FTis Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin; Wednesday, Dunedin Male Choir concert, relayed from H.M. Theatre; Friday, studio concert and relayed items of the Savoy Novelty Band; Saturday, a gramophone recital of "Faust," Sunday, church service, relayed from the Central Mission, followed by a studio concert; Monday, July 12. studio concert.

The final nightly sign-off from 4YA is nsnally spoilt by "the operator's haste to shut down for the night. All one hears is "Good-mght, Every——" and then silence. At IYA, too, the Riaßo Theatre orchestra is frequently switched on hefore the announcer has completed his announcement. Operators should he instructed that announcements should not be interfered with.

BROADCASTING FINANCE. According to the radio correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, the steady increase in the number of license holders in Victoria is directing attention to an aspect of broadcasting control which dees not appear to have received the at ten- * tion it merits when the broadcasting regulations were framed. This is the financial aspect of the operations of tfco main stations. At present the two "A" class stations in Victoria are receiving between them a revenue of about £70,000 a year, which is distributed between them in approximately the proportion of two-thirds to 3LO and one-third to 3AR. Thus each receives a very substantial gross revenue. While it is admitted that the capital cost of erecting a broadcasting station is high, and that operating costs are also heavy, the stations should be receiving sufficient money to meet all these expenses and still have a large surplus. As no provision has been made in the Australian wireless regulations for the publication ot a balance-sheet, those who "contribute to the broadcasting companies' revenue are totally unaware how much of the money is spent on providing a service. Broadcasting companies as they are constituted in Australia ennnot be regarded in the Bame light as ordinary private enterprises, because they enjoy a monopoly in th. supplying of an important public service. .Even if £SO a day were spent by some of the Australian stations in providing artists, they would still hamore than £SOO a week to meet other expenses. The New Zealand regulations are moulded to some extent on those which eovern the operations of the British Broadcasting Companv. The shareholders in the British company are exclusively member, of th- radio trade, so that it is ultimately to their direct advantage to encourage the development of broadcasting apart from their interest in the broadcasting companv. In New Zealand. too, profits are limited to dividends of per cent, per annum, but the ad visibility of this mav be questioned. Certainly, Australia conditions. whi**V> nrf , vide for no protection of the listener from exploitation, are not wanted here. How ever, broadcasting in Australia is of a verv high standard, and it is an inter esting'poin 4 whether the allowance of a greater margir of profit to shareholders in the New Zealand companv than is now possible might not have hpen de sirable in giving a greater incentive for the provision of a broadcasting service worthy of the Dominion.

NOTES AND HINTS. The Melbourne station, 3LO. was heard in Auckland remarkably well during the past week, and was the best of the Australian stations. A nnmbe of Auckland listeners havo heard an Australian station, and have sought its identity from the writer. The broadcasts are on a wavelength of 263 metres, with a power of 500 watts. The owner of tile station is Mr. Otto Sandel. Be'levue Hil'. Sydney. A number of the "B" Australian stations have lately increased their power. The "B" <-lass stations , receive no revenue from listeners' license fees, hut the whole 0' the regulations governing Australian broadcasting arc to be re" viewed this month and, as an increase in the number of "A" class stations has been foreshadowed, the smaller stations are taking steps to be in a position to lav claim tc an increase in status. The private Auckland brondeasting station, IYQ. broadcasts on Mondav evenings and on Sundav afternoon, child ren's stories being given at 4 p.m. on iS»"day. The other Auckland station, IYB. transmits each Sundav evening in a highly satisfactory manner. A new valve, the UV-200A. has been designed in America, and remarkable claims are being made for it. The valve takes a filament current o? |-amnere and can be used as a detector or.lv Tests made by disinterested persons have shown an astonishing performance If is stated that for strong signals the valve shows no superiority over detectors b"t a marked difference for weak signals Tn fact, broadcasting stations which u-ere comoletelv inaudible with a 201 A valve could be heard at loud-speaker sfrpne'h on substitution of the new valve Tf is said that neither the plate nor fil»m«»<t voltaees are at all critical. If, under the conditions of mass production, the valves can repea* the performance of the fewsample valves that have been tester!, then listeners will soon have at their disposal a simple means of greatlv increasing the sensitiveness of their receivers. It is understood that six alleeed offenders against thu broadcasting regulations will make their appear& n ee shortly in the local Police Court. The radio inspectors are making a determined effort to put a check to tinlicen-»d listen-ing-in Ther ■ has been no ofiV'-d estimate as yet of the number of nnl'Vensed listeners in New Zealand. Tn England it is said that the pipporrion of unlicensed to licensed listeners is about one to four. On a similar basis there would be about 1000 <'pirates" in New Zealand.