DUTCH SHORTWAVE STATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 8

DUTCH SHORTWAVE STATIONS

“BIG BROADCAST” TO BE TRANSMITTED It is a little over 10 years since the broadcasts of the pioneer Dutch shortwave transmitters PCJ and PHI began. It is certain now that a “big broadcast” will be transmitted in the near future to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first broadcast. For some months the management of stations PHI and PCJ have been preparing this broadcast, which will take the form of a birthday party—a party that will include the best bands and the foremost radio and stage stars of the world. Regardless of cost and labour, the management intends to make this a programme full of sparkling wit and laughter. Every care will be taken to ensure good reception in all parts of the world. Schedules of operation times have been tested, changed and tested again,. to make sure of the most favourable times for the transmission. A beam aerial will be used, and this will make it necessary to rebroadcast the programmes. This beam antenna is constructed on entirely new principles, which make it possible to “spout” the transmitter energy away in a very narrow and high-powered beam, which consequently covers only a narrow region, but with full force. For each of these regions the programme will be repeated. , It might even be possible that the difference in time between two countries lying behind each other in the same beam would prove too great, in which case the programme will be broadcast twice, to suit the most favourable times of each region. Also, if circumstances should have a detrimental effect on the reception of the programme, a repetition of this broadcast will be given. Among the numerous stars featured will be Carol Gibbons and his Savoy Orchestra, Greta Keller, Montevanni and his orchestra, Florence Desmond, Danny Malone, Charles Scott and Captain Charles Scott. In conjunction with this broadcast there will be a competition, in which every listener may enter. Prizes will be awarded to the value of £2OOO. Details of the time of transmission are not yet known, but it is expected that the broadcast will take place towards the middle of this month.