GRANT FOE TELEVISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22928, 5 January 1938, Page 14

GRANT FOE TELEVISION

PROGRESS IN BRITAIN PLANS FOR PROGRAMMES [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Dec. 18 Thfc Government is to give the British Broadcasting Corporation a grant to assist in the improvement of television programmes. Colonel Colville, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, has informed Mr. de la Bore (Conservative —Evesham) that the Treasury has been satisfied, on representations from the 8.8.C., that an increase on account of television service, irt the percentage of net wireless revenue to be allocntod to the Corporation, will he necessary. He added that a Supplementary Estimate would be presented in the spring. Under the present system the 8.8.C. receives 7s 6d of the 10s paid for fcach wireless licence.

The exact amount of the grant has not been decided, but the expectations are that it will be in the neighbourhood of £IOO.OOO.

The 8.8.C. intends, when the grant is made, immediately to begin Sunday programmes for two hours. When further studio accommodation is available, either at St. George's Hall or the Alexandra Palace, it will also add another hour to the programme daily on week days.

Considerable improvement in the general quality of the programmes, involving more expenditure, is deemed by set manufacturers to be necessary before the public will buy sets on a large scale.

Purchases of sets since the service began a year ago have been distinctly disappointing. Manufacturers attribute this to the fact that 8.8.C. programmes have not been attractive enough, as insufficient funds have been available for them. No official figures are available as to the number of sets actually purchased bv the public, but estimates vary from 2000 to 8500.