RADIO FINANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22390, 9 April 1936, Page 12

RADIO FINANCES

BOARD'S ACTIVITIES INCREASE IN REVENUE EXPENSES ALSO HIGHER ' NEW TRANSMITTING STATION [BT TELECRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON. Wednesday An excess of income over expenditure of £2502 is revealed in the report of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board for the year ended December 31, 1935, which was presented to Parliament today by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, This figure is arrived at after providing £19,345 for depreciation of assets and transferring £75,000 to accumulated account. The expenditure on programmes during the year was £15,429 greater than in 1934, states the report, and was an item of expenditure which would increase year by year. In addition to an expenditure of £1628 in providing gramophone recordings, relay lines and equipment to the eight subsidised stations, the Bum of £2622 was paid in cash subsidies. Accounts concerning the maintenance of plant, power and the salaries of engineering and operating staffs showed an increase for the year of £2227, duo to a considerable extent to the installation of high-powered transmitting plants.

Revenue .from Licences Comparative figures for general expenses show an increase from £12,749 in 1934 to £14,579 in 1935/ while the cost of administration, salaries and expenses was £7463 in 1935, compared with £6017 in the previous year. The board's revenue from licences was £195,038 in 1935, compared with £164,928 in 1934, the licence fee having been reduced from 30s to 25s on April 1, 1935, from which date the board agreed to accept 23s per licence fee instead of 25s as previously. "It has been deemed advisable," the report continues, "to appropriate from revenue to accumulated fund the sum of £75,000 toward meeting capital expenditure. The principal work involving capital expenditure to which the board is committed is the erection of a 60-kilowatt transmitting station at Titahi Bay ? Wellington. An area of land comprising 100 acres has already been secured, the construction of access roads is in hand, and the tenders for the transmitting plant have been accepted. It is estimated that the total capital expenditure Involved on these works, including the erection of buildings for which tenders are being invited, will be in the vicinity of £86,000. Analysis of Programmes i

"The building of suitable office and studio accommodation at Cbristchurch and Dunedin will have to be undertaken during the next few years, while at Wellington similar provision is a matter of urgency and demands the attention of the board in the coming year." An analysis of the matter broadcast during the 27,181 transmitting hours of the year shows that 70 per cent of the programmes consisted of music. By far the greatest proportion was light music, representing 43.46 per cent of programme hours, while what is described as "serious" music - amounted to 21.79 per cent. Modern dance music comprised 5.16 per cent of the programmes, and old-time dances 0.23 per cent. The remaining 30 per cent- of the programmes consisted of plays, talks, sporting commentaries, news announcements, religious services and children's sessions.