ON THE AIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18595, 4 January 1935, Page 4

ON THE AIR

A Summary of Progress Of Two Years of Empire Broadcasting

THE 8.8. C. Empire • broadcasting service as ve know it to-day celebrated its second anniversary on December Id. The seeds of (lie prosent. service, however, were sown-many years ago.

On November 5, 1027, largely as the result of request a 1 from many hundreds of listeners throughout the British Empire, the 8.8. C. inaugurated a series of daily transmissions from an experimental short-wave transmitter at Chelmsford (GSSW). By 1020 a considerable, number of reports and data with reference to these transmissions had been received 1 , which led to the conclusion that an immediate' expansion of the existing facilities uas desirable and the need tor tv moie adequate and comprehensive programme service to the Empire was becoming increasingly urgent. The inadequacy of the experimental service from GSSW was largely due to two factors:—(l) This station was capable of transmissions on one wavelength only; (2) The times of transmission, which were limited, made regular reception in many parts of the Empire—owing to difference in time between transmisison and reception — impracticable. In 1931, therefore, the 8.8. C. decided that in view of the urgency of the problem, they must assume the financial responsibility of the venture and proceed with the, establishment of an Empire broadcasting service along more concrete lines. Two high-power short-wave transmitters were, therefore, erected at Daventry, which -were capable of transmission on a series of different wave-lengths. Thus the reception of British programmes in all parts of the globe was ensured.

Five Transmissions Daily. On December 19, 1932, the new Empire broadcasting service was inaugurated. A separate Empire, programme department was established, which was responsible for the creation and execution of programmes at all hours of the day and night to ensure reception at convenient hours for local listeners in all parts of the world. A daily service of live separate transmissions now provides reception in the following parts of the world during the evening hours (local time): Transmission 1. — Antipodes arid Pacific Islands.

Transmission 2. —Malaya and her East.

Transmission 3. India, and Ibe East.

Transmission 1. —African Continent and Near East.

Transmission 5. —Canada and Amcri can Continent.

At the same time it is appreciated that many listeners receive programmes which arc not specifically intended for reception in their area.

Success of Service. The success of the new service was almost immediately apparent and during tin; last two years the Empire program me department, of the 8.8. C. has grown beyond recognition. Today an Empire programme director is responsible to the director of Empire and foreign services for the creation and execution .of all programmes transmitted from Daventry. His staff includes an assistant, a producer, a music director, who controls the 8.8. C. Empire Orchestra, two news editors, and announcers, whoso voices have been specially trained to insure their satisfactory transmission and reception on short-wave lengths. Another section of the department is responsible for handling the enormous overseas correspondence involved and an Empire information officer with an assistant and staff is responsible for the transmission of all information relative to (lie Empire broadcasting service. not only to the press throughout (he world, but to all interested organisations. Perfection of Transmission.

Last, but not least, there is a stall of engineers who are constantly engaged not only in the operation of the two transmitters at Daventry and the studio facilities at Broadcasting House, but in the.collect ion ami collation of reports on reception from all parts of' the world, which provides the basis for all experiments towards the perfection of transmission and re ception. Reports on reception and appreciations of the programmes have been received from almost every corner of the globe. During the past nine months alone, over 9000 communications of this nature have been received'.

The Empire programmes are distinct. from those transmitted -to British listeners, although the more important programmes broadcast in Great Britain are relayed to the Empire, and, where the times of the Home broadcasts d,o not coincide with the Empire transmissions, recordings of them arc reproduced at convenient times for overseas listeners.

Tn addition to the news bulletins, market news supplied' by the intelligence branch of the Imperial Economic Committee is broadcast weekly.

A special feature is made of talks of interest to the Empire ancl visitors from overseas are frequent contributors to this important part of the programmes Cost of Operation.

The Empire broadcasting service is operated at the expense of the 8.8. C. without any contribution from the British Government or, as yet, from the overseas listeners. In addition, no revenue is derived from the transmission of advertisements, as is the practice in other countries. In short, the cost of operating the Empire broadcasting service falls directly on the British license holder, who alone contributes to the revenue of the corporation. It may, therefore, be asked what is the practical justification for the Empire broadcasting service and what are its objectives? These may be summarised as follows:

1. Now that the practicability of long-distance wireless transmission has been proved, the 8.8. C. lias recognised its obligation to provide an adequate broadcasting service to listeners in isolated parts of the Empire. This view has recently been confirmed by the provision of similar services by foreign countries for the benefit of their nationals overseas. 2. If is felt that the time has now been reached when reciprocal broadcasting facilities should be available between Great Britain and all parts of the British Empire. Through the medium of the British Empire broadcasting service it is now possible for broadcasting organisations in all parts of the world to relay the British programmes, and it is hoped before long that programmes originating overseas will regularly be incorporated in the programmes broadcast in Great Britain.