RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1928, Page 10

RADIO

LISTENERS AND THE COMPANY. CO-OPERATION NECESSARY. Very diverse opinions seem to be held in various quarters as to the relative merits of the two schemes for- co-oper-ation between listeners and the R.B.C. It is early yet to discuss the merits and demerits, but it is certainly evident that something of the kind is necessary for harniony among listeners and the officials of the company. Listeners are looking forward to the dinner music session, and are also anticipating 'better results from the promised orchestra, provided that they will choose a brighter type of music. The trios at present seem to play the most doleful music possible, which though no doubt technically good, is not suitable for a mixed audience such as a broadcast station is expected to cater for. OUR SUPER STATION. EFFORTS AT IMPROVEMENT. At last an attempt is to be made to improve the transmissions of 2YA. Early in the week some alterations were made, and a slight improvement in volume was reported, but at the sacrifice of clarity. This, however, will be rectified later. On Wednesday, 2YA’s silent day, the aerial was to be altered to a single wire, to conform with the latest ' American practice, which is claimed to be more efficient than the type now in use. Crystal control is to be fitted to the transmitter in the near future. To the uninitiated, this apparatus keeps the wave-length of the station carrier wave practically roek steady, and maintains the tuning sharp-and constant. It should be a great improvement, although there has not been much swing to the carrier of late. THE £5 LICENSE. The agitation regarding the imposition of the special £5 license fee has apparently borne fruit, for an amendment has now been gazetted. The old regulation read: “In the case of radio-reeeiving stations in hotels, restaurants, places of amusement, or other places where the reception of radio communications is intended for a number of people, the license shall be a special receivingstation license” (for which the license fee is £5). The new regulation is as follows: “In the case of radio-receiving stations in places of amusement or other places where the reception of radio communication is intended for a number of people, and which are licensed to charge a fee for admission, the license shall be a special receiving-station license.” AN EXPERIENCED CRITIC.

CRITICISM OF 3LO •MELBOURNE

In England there has been formed an Empire Broadcasting League, one among many objects of which is to foster an Empire-wide regular broadcasting service. The overseas secretary of this league has recently visited Australia. Speaking with an intimate knowledge of the principal broadcasting stations of Britain and her dependencies, barring, of course, the station “second only to Daventry” (’), Mr. H. A. Hankey, the official referred to, makes some interesting and candid criticisms of Australian stations to a Sydney paper. Regarding 3LO, of which there is a general high opinion in New Zealand, Mr. Hankey says: “3LO, in many aspects, reminded me of 2LO, London. With its set programmes, super-abun-dance of talk, and general stodginess, one could almost see the hand of the 8.8. C. in its management. This station, like the 8.8. C., has an overflowing treasury, and whether that is a synonym of stodge is a question that at once arises. In choral, orchestral, and concerted instrumental music, 3LO seems to lead the way in its programmes, but for general acceptance the more varied programmes of 2FC appear to me to be more popular. I found a peculiar paradox in 3LO, for, mixed with its general stodginess on the programme side, there was in operation a real cheap-jack type of publicity. Like many of the American stations, 3LO tries to bluff its listeners that every half-guinea performer and second-rate vaudeville artist is of equal importance with what may be termed its star engagements. Perhaps this is an attempt to justify the tedious repetition in programmes, where, again and again, one has to listen to the same performers, day and night, throughout the whole week. “Whatever I might have said, however, against 3LO, I feel that it can be written down as one of the foremost stations in the world, and if it could overcome the defaults I have referred to, it could become a still greater force in broadcasting.”

VIEWS ON SYDNEY STATION. For 2FC, on the other hand, Mr. Hankey has nothing but the highest praise, especially in its short-wave achievements. This remark sheds rurther enlightenment on the Sydney station’s overseas, efforts. “I should say that a low estimate would fix an aggregate audience which has heard something of Australia from 3FC at well over 20.000.000 persons. In what other way, might I ask, can Australia reach such an audience V’ It is a great pity that Mr. Hankey did not visit New Zealand. If Melbourne programmes are stodgy, where artists are employed every night for a week, what would he have to say of local efforts where w e hear the same performers, in the same type of item, weekly for the greater part of a year? GENERAL ITEMS. In connection with the Presidential election in U.S.A., stations are being leased for political propaganda at a fee of £7O an hour. Here is one infliction from which New Zealanders are fortunately spared. The Westinghouse station at Pittsburg, K'DKA, now working at increased power. Previously the station used 30,000 watts but it is now one of the most powerful stations in the world, using as it does 50,000 watts, Belgium right ia the heart of Euro-

pean 'broadcasting has the fewest number of listeners per 1000 of population, only 5. America has 70, Victoria, Australia, leads the world with 79. TO-NIGHT'S BROADCAST. WIRELESS PROGRAMMES. Details of the programmes to be seat out by the New Zealand and Australian broadcasting stations thia afternoon and evening are as follow: NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA Auckland.—3 pan., afternoon session, selected gramophone items; 4 p.m., literary selection by the Announcer; 4.10 p.m., further .selected gramophone items; 6 p.m., children’s hour; 7.15 p.m., news and sports results; 8 p.m., chimes; 8.1 p.m., relay of Selected programme by Auckland Municipal Choir;; 9.30 p.m., relay of dance music by the Internationals; 11 p.m., God Save the King. 2YA Wellington.—Noon, running description of Marlborough Racing Club’s meeting at Trentliam; 3 p.m., chimes of the General Post Office Clock, Wellington; 3.1 p.m., selected gramophone items; sporting results to hand; 8 p.m., children's session; 7 p.m., news session, market reports, and sports results; 7.40 p.m., leeturette, Miss Phyllis Bates, “Yale Blues”; 8 p.m., chimes of the General Post Office Clock, Wellington; 8.1 p.m., overture, '"British Cavalry March”; quartet, Vocal Quartet. Melodic Four, “Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son”; banjo solo, Mr. Charles Brazier, “Beat as You Go”; tenor, Mr. Frank Bryant, “Roadways”; instrumental trio, SymonsEli wood-Short Trio, “First Movement of Trio in F”; baritone solo, Mr. R. S. Allwright, "The Watchman”; banjo solo, Mr. Chas. Brazier, “Listen to This”; tenor solo, Mr. Sam. Dunean, “Alice, Where Art Thou?”; flute solo, Mr. L. W. Rothwell, “Graceful Dance Caprice”; vocal duet, Messrs. F. Bryant and R. S. Allwright, “The Battle ’Eve”; instrumental trios, 'Studio Trio, (a) “Canzonetta”' (b) “Hungarian Dance”; bass solo, Mr. W. W. Marshall, “The Gypsy Love Song”; weather report; flute solo, Mr. L. W. Rothwell, "By the Brook”; vocal quartet, Melodie Four, “Mosquitoes”; 9.12 p.m., relay of dance orchestra from the Columbian Cabaret. Kilbimie.

3YA Christchurch— 7.15 p.m., news and reports; 7.30 p.m., sports results; 8 p.m., chimes and studio concert.

4YA Dunedin. —7.15 p.m., news session; 7.3'0 p.m., address under the auspices of the Workers’ Educational Association —Dr. Fisher, “The Study of Economics”; 8 p.m., Town Hall chimes; 8.1 p.m. relay of orchestral music from the Empire Theatre; studio concert. AUSTRALIAN STATIONS. 2BL Sydney.—From 9.30 p.m., studio items; 10.30 p.m., relay from the Stadium; 11.45 p.m., dance music from the Wentworth. 4QG Brisbane. —From 9.30 p.m., studio concert by Mrs. Croft’s party; 10.30 p.m., motor-cycle races from the 'Speedway; from 11 p.m.. dance music from Lennon’s ballroom. 3LO Melbourne. —(From 9.30 p.m., studio concert; band items; relay from the Stadium at 11 p.m.; dance music from 12.30 a.m. SUNDAY BROADCAST. NEW ZEALAND STATION'S. IYA Auckland.—3 p.m., afternoon session, selected gramophone items; 4 p.m., literary selection by the announcer; 4.8 p.m., further selected gramophone items; 0 p.m., children’s service conducted by Uncle Leo; 0.55 p.m. relay of evening service from Pitt •Street Methodist Church; 8.30 relay of Municipal Organ Recital. 2YA Wellington.—ll a.m., relay of special Anzac Day service from St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Preacher, Rev. J. R. Blanchard; 6 p.m., children’s service, conducted by Uncle Ernest; 0.55 p.m., relay of evening service from St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Newtown. Preacher, Rev. C. V. Rooke, 8.A.; 8.15 p.m., (approx.), relay of Wellington Municipal Tramways Band concert from ■His Majesty’s Theatre. 3YA Christchurch. —5.30 p.m., children’s song service; 0.30 p.m. relay ot evening service from Trinity Congregational Church. Preacher, Rev. Gardner Millar; 8 p.m., an after-church concert will be given by Derry’s Military Band, assisted by 3YA artists, the Melodious Four; soprano solo. Miss Frances Hamerten, “In Verdure Glad” from “The Creation”; selection, The Band, “His Majesty”; bass solo, Mr. T. D. Williams, “The Trumpet Shall ,Sound” from “The Messiah,” with trumpet obligato by Mr. R. Ohlson; selection, The Band, ''The Dawn of To-morrow”; contralto solo, Miss Belle Renaut, “The Birds of Bethlehem”; tone poem, The Band, “Finlandia”; tenor solo, Mr. Russell Sumner,

“In Native Worth,” from “The Creation”; allegro marzialle, The Band, “La Ritarata Italiana”; soprano solo, Miss Frances Hamerton, “O, for the Wings or a Dove”; selection, The Band, "Humoresque”; bass solo, Mr. T. D. Williams, “My Prayer”; contralto solo, Miss Belle Renaut) “By the Waters of Babylon”; selection, The Band, “Young England”; tenor and bass duet, Messrs. Russell Sumner and T. D. Williams, “Watchman, What of the Night?”; humoresque, The Band, “A Lightning Switch”; tenor solo, Mr. Russell Sumner, “Crossing the Bar”; vocal quartet, The Melodious Four, “Abide With Me.” 4YA Dunedin.—s.3o p.m., children's song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill; 6.15 p.m., relay df evening service from St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. Preacher, Rev. Canon Nevill; 8 p.m., studio concert. AUSTRALIAN STATION'S. 2BL Sydney. —5.30 p.m., relay of service from St. Jude’s Church of England, Randwick, followed by studio concert. 4QG Brisbane.—B.3o p.m., service from Ann St. Presbyterian Church, followed by concert from the Brisbane Municipal Concert Band. 3LO Melbourne. —From 8.30 p.m. relay of service', followed by instrumental and band numbers and community singing.