TELEVISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 9

TELEVISION

BRITAIN LEADS THE WAY TWO YEARS AHEAD OF THE WORLD COMMERCIALISING THE RESULTS (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Jan. 9. “If England is often ■ behipd America and Gex-many in making a commercial success of. the results of a scientific discovery, she is definitely ahead ot the world by two years in television,” said Dr W. A. Fairclough, the Auckland surgeon, who returned by the Niagara after a tour abroad. Dr Fairclough is an authority on the use of the kinema in connection with medicine and surgery. “ The United States, where broadcasting and the * talkies ’ were the first real success, is now sending experts to Britain for ideas on television." Dr Fairclough continued. “Practically all the big American cbmpanies have experts in England at present, and later in the year the first public presentation will be carried out.” In New York television was at present on a scale of only two hours a week, but the British Broadcasting Corporation was now televising at least 16 hours a week, he said. In Berlin, rooms with television screens could be seen by the public, but no sets were available for sale. In London sets had been available for two years and a-half. “ I saw recently by television several shows, including a football match and theatre turns,” Dr Fairclough added. “ Plays are also being televised from West End theatres. Thb best screen I saw was a 20-inch by 18 inches. The definition and atmosphere were really marvellous. The ball could be followed throughout a football match. The transmitter was at. Alexandra Palace, about six miles north of Charing Cross,” he said. A really effective range was 25 to 30 miles, although in exceptional circumstances pictures had been received across the Atlantic. Sets in many London shops were available at prices from £25 upward, and were selling at the rate of 2000 a month.