RELAYING BROADCASTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19676, 30 June 1927, Page 15

RELAYING BROADCASTS.

fpTVOGRAMMES FROM ASROAD. JAN INTERESTING INNOVATION. BY THERMION*. "Increased interest in listening-in should Jbe the result of an extensive relaying of ;Bpecir.l broadcasts i'rurn European and .American stations by stations in Australia ..end New Zealand during the present ■winter. It was predicted last year by an Australian announcer that during 1927 it -would be possible for listeners having only the simplest of crystal receiving sets to hear broadcast programmes from many parts of the world. This statement has 'been amply justified during the past few ■weeks. Siuce the epoch-making relay of a transmission from 2LO, London, by PCJJ in ;Holknd and 2BL in Sydney a few weeks .ago, the Australian broadcast iitg stations liave frequently received and rebrondcast short-wave transmissions from Holland and -America. Last week there were relayed :from 2BL, Sydney, broadcasts from two .American stations, KDKA and \YGY, and on Sunday evening station 2!' C, Sydney, successfully relayed the test broadcast from WLW. On the latter occasion the local station, IYA, also relayed the transmission from WLW, and although far from perfect must be regarded as a fairly successful first attempt at a difficult type of broadcasting. While it would be regrettable to have the relaying of overseas' broadcasting conducted too frequently, there is at present .available to the New Zealand stations a field .of novel and entertaining experiments -which they have not yet, exploited. There Are now a number of short-wave broadcasting stations in America and Europe transmitting to a fixed schedule of times And, where these times are inconvenient "in New Zealand, it would appear to be .easily possible to arrange special transmissions at a time suitable to New Zealand listeners. Australian broadcasters, with their usual commendable enterprise, have lieen able to make the necessary arrangements, Snd it is to be hoped that, realising that novelty is the essence of a satisfactory ■broadcasting service, the New Zealand stations will study the technique of relaying distant stations and give listeneis the benefit of their experiments before the fcest season for conducting relays is over. AUCKLAND PROGRAMMES.

IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARD.

A statement that there is to he an almost immediate increase in the standard of broadcasts from IYA was made by Mr. (G. McNamara, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, in the course of a aecent discussion with the executive of the Auckland Listeners' League. Mr. McNamara admitted that in general the local programmes were poor, and stated the .amount now allotted for programmes was to be increased by about 60 per cent. No ■details were given tc indicate the type of improvement to be made. No listeners couid give the type of programmo which would please the majority ■of listeners, and the onus is on the Broad•casting Company to attempt to meet the -demands of the majority. Iliis it could do by organising a ballot among Auckland listeners to ascertain the broadcast items that are most popular. In the meantime the writer offers a few suggestions to assist in obtaining the much-needed improvements. The necessity for novelties to maintain interest in broadcasting demands that ideas of a stereotyped programme should be discarded. Occasional short talks by distinguished visitors could be sought. Short plays could be introduced with advantage, and extensive use should be .made of the relaying of programmes from sources outside the studio, even if permission to conduct the relaying can be (obtained only by the payment of a fee. In ballots conducted in Australia, band jnusic has always occupied a prominent place in popularity. Perhaps it might be possible to arrange for the installation <>f a microphone in the practice rooms cf leading Auckland bands with a view to obtaining say three items weekly from each band. The ordinary musical programmes could be improved by paying all artists and securing the services of only the best. Newcomers should be tried out privately and not at the expense of listeners during the ordinary broadcasting hours. In the writer's opinion the general trend of the programmes should be to--ward brightness of the items and, while classical music should be broadcast frequently, the alpount should not lie excessive. In the evening, the programme ■which can be listened to in an attitude of relaxation rather than of strained mental alertness for its full appreciation is likely to be most favoured.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL. LARGE BODY OF SUPPORT. Many events of interest to local listeners lave occurred during the past ten days and the result ha 3 been to strengthen the determination to have a thorough inquiry into the present broadcasting administration. The interview by the executive of the Auckland Listeners' League with Mr. G. McNamara brought ■ to light Some new facts, but so much was left unsaid that the listeners' representatives were entirely unconvinced that, their efforts to obtain Government control of broadcasting in New Zealand were not desirable. Most of the time was devoted to discussing the financial aspect of our broadcasting service, but the information made available v:as not very extensive. In any case there was a tendency toward taking the financial arrangements to be the main grievance of listeners. As a matter or fart. I lie A urkhrid listeners at a recent im>ei in* sought Government control because they had " lost confidence" in the piesent authority. This lack of confidence is due, (he writer believes, to a failure to keep promises made in the past and die usual curt refusal of the Broadcasting Company -of offers on the part of listeners' kngues -to co-operate with it. combined with a continued attitude of secrecy toward arrangements made for broadcasting. Why should announcements such as the appointment of Mr. •). Prentice. the ordering of a 5000-watt station for Wellington. and the promise oi improved programmes from IYA in the near future come from sources extrinal to the Broadcasting Company *' Concerning the promises made at the opening of IY.\ that the best of talent woald be procured for the programmes Mr. McNamara stater! that unfortunately the Broadcasting Company had at that time underestimated its revenue. 'lhe revenue at- that time should have been of no importance and high-class programmes should have been provided to obtain the goodwill of the public at what was undoubtedly the psychological moment for obtaining their interest. Mr. McNamara made no attempt to defend the company's policy in refusing to cooperate with the organised listeners. The Auckland proposal for Government control would appear to have the support of a very large number of listeners jn the Dominion and the result of their ectiyitips will .be .awaited with .interest. ,