RADIO IN THE HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21494, 18 May 1933, Page 14

RADIO IN THE HOME

BROADCASTS FROM IYA STUDIO PROGRAMMES FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY The programmes from IYA for the remaining three days of tlxe week include a variety of studio items. The University test Rugby match between Anstralia and New Zealand on Saturday will be described. Details of the items are:— To-day.—7.3o p.m., It. A. K. Mason, "The Rights of Ma 11 in America and France : 8, record (orchestra); 8.0, baritone, Norman Day; 8.12, Barry Ingall's Hawaiians; 8.17. records (tenor); 8.23, humour, -T. B. I inlayson; 8.28. record (song); 8.34, duet, Madame Cora Melvin and Norman Day; 8.41, records (accordeon. contralto)'; 8.47, Hawaiians ; 8.5'.!, records (song, orchestra): 9.2. James Wylic, "The Power of Persuasion' ; 0.22, record (orchestra); 0.25, Norman Day; 9.32, records (violin, tenor); 9.3G, Hawaiians; 0.41, J. B. Finlayson; 9.47. record (orchestra); 9.50, Madame Cora Melvin; 0.54, records (band). To-morrow: 7.30 p.m., sports talk; 8, IYA Chamber Orchestra; 8.11, soprano, Beta MacCullay; 8.18. records (piano); 8.24, baritone, AV. E. Crowes; 8.31, humour, Dan Flood: 8.37, Orchestra; 8-40, organ. Arthur K. AVilson; 9.2, E. J. Bror C. Muller, "Hiking and Biking Through Central Europe"; 0.20, Orchestra; 9.20, Rita MacCullay; 9.33. record (trio); 0.30. Dan Flood; 9.45, \V. E. C'rewes: 9.52. record (violin): 9.58.' Orchestra. Saturday: 2.45 p.m.. Australia-New Zealand University test Rugby from Eden Park; 7.30, horficulturial talk; 8, record (orchestra); 8.9, tenor, Leslio Belciier; b. 1(3, Alt. llealy's Orchestra; 8.21. record (quartet); 8.27, concertina. Robert McKnight; 8.32. record (song): 8.38, Orchestra; 8.45, record (soup); 8.48. soprano, Clirißsie Foster; 8.55. record (band); 0.3, Stroller. "Among 1 lio Fisher Folk"; 9.21, orchestra; 9.27, Leslio Belcher; 9.34, record (humour); 0.37, Robert . McKnight; 9.42, Chrissie Foster; 0.45. records (piano); 9.48, orchestra; 9.51, record (baritone, hand): 10, sports resume; 10.10 to 11.10, danco music.

" RADIO-MINDEDNESS " Which is tho most "radio-minded" country? Generally it is assumed that this honour —if it is an honour —goes to the United States, whore, after all, broadcasting first grew to popularity, but figures recently issued by the International Broadcasting Bureau at Geneva indicate that this is not the case. Denmark is, in fact, the country which leads in this respect. There nearly one person in every seven (13.4 per cent) possesses a wireless set. Great Britain is now second with a total of five and a-half million. The actual percentage, according to official figures, is just under 12—one set to about 8£ people. The United States, it seems, is well down the list, so far as official means of calculating go in a country where there is 110 licensing system, and estimates can only be based on manufacturers' returns. The percentage is given as 9.8—0r about one set to each eleven persons. Lowest in the list is Spain, where the percentage of receivers to population is only 0.2—-one set to 500 people. There must bo something electrical about the Danes, for not only do they lead in adopting radio, but also they are fourth in the world list in connection with telephones. Their percentage of users of the telephone is about two and a-half times that of Britain. NO ROOM FOR AMATEURS No more amateurs need apply to the British Broadcasting Corporation for broadcasting engagements in future unless they can prove that they are specially gifted. So said Mr. Roger Eckersley, director of programmes, when he talked recently about the recent circular telling a large number j of artists that they need no longer consider themselves on the 8.8.C. waiting list. "We must draw the line somewhere," said Mr. Eckersley, "and I am concentrating almost entirely upon the professionals. With 66,000 broadcast hours in the year, it is quite impossible to engage the really famous as often as 1 would like. So what of the unknown mediocre Y Not a chance, it is better that they should know straight away." Some years ago, he went on, the 8.8.C. would give an audition to almost anybody—hence the huge waiting list, which has just been swept away. At one time they used to give as many as 60 auditions a week. "You can have no idea what it was like," ho said, " especially the vaudeville auditions. Somebody would tell little Tommy that he was a perfect scream and ought to go on the wireless. So with no better recommendation we would give him an audition." Mr. Eckersley wiped his brow at the recollection. "Now," he said, "before ever wo grant an audition, wo demand a signed certificate from some ' reputable school of music or professor that tho applicant really has talent —professional talent, not just nice drawing-room ability." Every day he and his staff were looking out for new talent in concert halls, music halls and schools of music;, but they demanded a really high standard. The standard had improved in the past few vears, and it was still - ing. "However good a singer or player might be on the concert platform, he might not bo suitable for broadcasting. Both singers and pianists varied | tremendously in their adaptability to | the microphone. "I must be arbitrary, en id Mr. | Eckersley. "Either an artist is good , —or he is not. I cannot enter into! argument about it. Of course, if an;v of the people on tho waiting list can I prove that they have improved since | their last audition, it is another mat- j ter. But I am afraid that a great many of them will never reach the standard which we demand to-day.

BEST YEAR FOR RADIO Radio, industrially and as entertainment, goes from strength to strength. Here aro some figures for win™ show the extent of its growth in btJtli fields in England: Entertainment: 932 218 more licences issued than in 1931 (Totals 5,262,953 last year: 4,330,735 in 1931). Industry: Turnover £7,627,425 more than in 1931 ([ I otals £36,62/",425 last year: £29,000,000 m 1931). , , ~ In their report, the governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation say with prido: "The year has again been ono of steady progress. With it ends the first decade of British broadcasting; in it the five million licence mark was Pa, Ihey explain that the licences include those issued free to blind listeners. These increased by 587:5 during 1932, from 28.981 to 34,854. There were 1007 S.O.S. messages broadcast—l 74 more than in 1931—and of these, 412 (40.91 per cent) were successful, 062 (55.81 per cent) failed, and the results of 33 (or 3.28 per cent) were unknown. Police messages asking for witnesses of fatal accidents totalled 106, and 43 brought the desired results. The governors confess that the problem of conveying humour purely by oral methods within the limitations of microphone and programme policy has not yet been solved. The success of humour, thev say, depends more than is generally realised upon visual impression and on an audience. . About the year's trading in the radio industry, "The ireless and Gramophone Trader" reveals that factorymade receivers of all classes sold last vear totalled 1,436,849, equalling ii cash value of £19,323,198. The English public spent £9,000,000 on accumulators and batteries, £5,000,000 on components and accessories, and £2,854.425 on valves, apart from those supplied in sets. Radio prices dropped lower than ever during 1932, but many more people purchased better-grade sets, with the result that the year's trading, though showing an increase of only 170,000 in set sales, brought in £7,000,000 additional cash