THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1928. RADIO AND THE PUBLIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19976, 19 June 1928, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1928. RADIO AND THE PUBLIC.

The British Broadcasting Corporation has issued a report indicating the results of the first year's working under its control. By the most practical teat possible, the number of licences issued, it appears that the system started at the beginning of 1927 under considerable criticism, and with some misgivings, has won a substantial measure of public favour. The beginning of last year saw the old British Broadcasting Company—an association of manufacturers deriving its income from a share of the annual licence fee and a royalty charged on every approved receiving set sold—give place to the existing corporation, wjiich handles broadcasting under Government control. Its report records an increase of over 200,000 in the licences issued during the first 12 months of its labours. This indicates popular approval of the fare offered. As an added proof, the rate of increase must have grown as the year passed. It was stated that after six months' experience of the new 8.8.C., the licences had grown in number by 71,000. The second half of the year, therefore, saw an addition of 129,000 in round figures. Other factors besides the service provided by the broadcasting authority may have helped to bring about this result. Any increase in prosperity giving more money to spend on luxuries —and a wireless receiving set cannot yet be classed as a necessity in ordinary circumstances —cheapening of apparatus, the installation of new stations, all these help to swell the army of licensed listeners. Still, experience the world over shows that the supply of programmes appealing to the public taste is the first essential to obtaining and retaining new licence-holders. On this ground the British Broadcasting Corporation can claim the results of 1927 as a tribute to the service it

gives. Public approval of the fare regularly broadcast is essential to the successful maintenance of the British service. Ultimately the public pays for broadcasting everywhere, though in some countries the levy is made indirectly, and almost imperceptibly. In Great Britain the income of the Broadcasting Corporation comes directly from the public. Of the licence revenue, the Post Office retains 12| per cent, to cover the cost of collection. It then pays to the corporation a percentage, 90 Jier cent, for the first million licences, reduced by 10 per cent, for each subsequent million to the fourth, after which the quota paid over remains stable at 60 per cent. vVith this provision for income, with the plant and staff of the old Broadcasting Company—including Sir John Keith, who continues his work as director-general—with £196,000 paid over in a lump sum by the Post Office at the beginning of the year, and with authority to raise £500,000 for capital purposes, the British Broadcasting Corporation has worked for one year. The results, and the deductions to be drawn from them have already been given. It would be even more interesting had there been some account of the progress made with its regional scheme. This plan aims at the provision of a chain of high-power stations throughout the country—ten has been given as the probable number—by which programmes audible to the owners of crystal sets have been promised to the public in all parts of the United Kingdom. It was suggested that two or three years would be required to complete it. The existent medium-power stations, which now work largely by relaying the main programmes, will then be discarded. It is perfectly clear that radio broadcasting as a regular feature of life in Great Britain is not only thoroughly established, but is also full of vitality and destined for greater development. • Obviously whatever method of control or organisation is adopted, the growth of a broadcasting service depends on the population of a country, and the response it makes to this new method of supplying amusement combined with instruction. It is true wireless programmes are not stopped by national frontiers, but in the ordinary way the people of a country expect to be catered for, and are most conveniently catered for, by a service from within their own borders. Long distance reception has a fascination all its own, but it also has its difficulties and its disappointments. A numerous population, readily responding to the appeal of radio, promises the speedy establishment of generous services in its midst. Even then the problem is not solved. There must be some degree of control. Everyone ready to broadcast cannot safely be allowed to put programmes on the air. The result would be confusion, duplication and constant interference, as the public of the United States has found to its cost. Two methods have been most considered apd tested, direct provision of service by the State, or delegation of this function to private enterprise under careful regulation. In Britain, the second-named system existed from 1922 to the end of 1926 ; Now broadcasting is to all intents and purposes a State enterprise. Though the control is not direct, the system

has been described, with some justification, as "a more or less camouflaged extension of the Post Office." Accepted with serious doubt by those most interested, it has certainly turned out far better than was expected. The last word has not yet been said, by a very long way, on how the public demand for entertainment by radio can best be answered. Constant controversy in most countries proves this. Britain, however, can claim to have contributed in an interesting way toward the solution throiigh the British Broadcasting Corporation.