Plays by Wire in 1933

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17409, 6 November 1930, Page 9

Plays by Wire in 1933

THE wireless world was startled a few weeks ago bv the sensational news that an American radio group, in which John D. Rockefeller, jun. figured prominently, was planning a radio city in the heart of New York at a cost oi £50,000.000.

Tho directors of this colossal enterprise had one predominant object in view—the perfecting and popularisation of television.

They had all gone pretty nearly -as far as they could in plain Wireless broadcasting, and, looking to tho future, focussed their attention on the problem of carrying a realistic reproduction ot plays, musical comedies, and variety shows into the homes of the people. Their proposal was to produce these entertainments in their own theatres in radio city, one of which was to have a seating capacity of 7000 and another of 50G0, and televise them to sets purchased by the public. Practical minds saw financial difficulties in tho way. There is no wireless tax in the United States at present at any rate, and although tho. country has something like 600 broadcasting stations all in more or less simultaneous operation, there is no sucli thing as Stateaid.

Television Project When this great television project came to bo discussed'the question arose whether it would not be advisable to transmit their programmes on a series of mixed or “scrambled ’ wave lengths, tho key to which would only bo in tho possession of individual subscribers to the television service. Such a “scrambled wave’’ and “key” system was actually devised some years ago by John Hays Hammond, the eminent radio engineer, of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was intended at that time as a. means of producing revenuo for broadcasting stations. Radio enthusiasm, however, spread through the country at such a terrific puce that hundreds and thousands of radio sets were installed before if was possible lo pat the Hammond plan' into operation. Revenue had to be set cured somehow, and so tho advertiser came into the business, and “selling time” was established as a new American industry.

Broadcast advertising is said to have almost reached saturation. If it. encroaches much farther there will be more advertising than programme, and that is a situation which the broadcast listener in the United' States will not stand for.

Up once more, therefore, comes the “scrambled wave” and “key” proposition, or some alternative plan, which will give the public what it wants and yet not leave the broadcasters to pay tho piper.