SECRETS OF B.B.C.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16202, 27 November 1926, Page 12

SECRETS OF 8.8.C.

730,000 LETTERS A YEAR.

Music occupies more than half of the time devoted to broadcasting, according to a statement by the British Broadcasting Co. Of this music, popular entertainments by military bauds, musical comedy, revue and cinema and restaurant relays claim the largest share. Dance programmes mainly given after 10..‘50 p.nt., occupy 12. d per cent, of the time allotted to music.

The talks occupy a fifth of the time of the programmes. The greatest part of this fcatifro is occupied by instructional talks on a wide range of subjects. News bulletins also claim some of the time, but poetry and literature only take .05 per cent. Tito remainder of broadcasting time is given to the drama, special features —such as the singing of nightingales, and music from airplanes—religious services, “miscellaneous,” and the children’s corner. Licenses for receiving sets numbered 1.061,012 on March 3.1, the end of the iinancial year, but the number had increased to 2.040,540 by the end of May, tDBG. There are now 20 broadcasting stations. No fewer then 730.000 letters are received from listeners during the year.

EMPLOYEES,

Seven hundred and .twenty-five people are employed by the company, including, 250 engineers. The orchestras employed, however, are not included in *h : s figure. The statement contains a references 'o the allocation of part of the 8.8. C. income to the Post Office, and expresses the view that not more than a sufficient amount to cover the cost of administtaring the liicenees should be appropriated by the Postmaster-Gen-eral, and that the balance should be devoted entirely to the development of broadcasting. Financial progress has been such that when, at the end of the year, the 8.8. C. hands over to the new national authority it will bo able, after repaying its ,shareholders at par, “to hand over the entire organisation with its considerable capital assets in a high state of efficiency at absolutely no cost whatever to the new authority.”

The view is al«o expressed that “to ftiiltify the growth of thlv great service throngi restricting its scope and withholding the fund., which are its due would be a grave misfortune to the country.” The B.bA feel that “however great has been the development of broadcasting in the past three end a half years, n is still in Its comparative early stage.-.”