RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1929, Page 13

RADIO

GLEANINGS FROM THE AIR. INCREASE IN THE “AUDIENCE.” That broadcasting is firmly established in New Zealand can be seen at a glance at the latest licensing figures, which bear silent tribute to the improvements made both in programmes and general service during the past tweh c months. A grand total of 47,306 listeners was the official number on August 31 last, and many new licenses have been taken out since. It may be safely said that New Zealand’s mighty radio audience is. in excess of 100,000 persons, excluding “pirates.” Talking of pirates, “8.C.L.” was in conversation with a man recently. . He started by rather severely criticising 2YB. Asked to specify his complaints he said the strength w as insufficient, and generally he did not think much of it or of any broadcasts he had heard on his or other sets, and saying he had not a license as radio was notworth it. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? Devotees of the Australian stations should certainly have' had their fill of late if they are at all interested in politics. The A class stations have been busy broadcasting the views of the .various contesting parties in the forthcoming federal elections to the world at large. One would imagine that Australian listeners will bo pleased when the election is over and they can settle down to the entertainment sessions again. With the advent of all-electric receivers many listeners with good battery sets are inclined to be apologetic about their good old friend when talking to the man who has installed the latest electric set. Few are aware that the average battery type receiver can be converted into a good electric receiver at considerably less than half the cost of even the poorer and cheaper class of all-electric receiver. Any reliable radio dealer can do the job and one can feci quite up-to-date again. Next "Wednesday will see the opening of the new 4YA. The Postmaster-Gen-eral is to perform the opening ceremony. A very fine programme has been arranged. In keeping with the traditions of Dunedin the programme will have a decided Scottish flavour. The 'Station is unique in the fact that it is the only A class station in New Zealand to be housed all on one floor. Studios, lounges and transmitting and control room are all situated on the top floor of the new JSvening Star building. The transmitting plant is .up to the minute in both efficiency and design and should be heard in Taranaki at considerably better volume than the old 4YA. Listeners will be looking forward .to the opening of the last of the big stations, which completes the constructional programme of the Radio Broadcasting Company under their contract. Whether the company will proceed with the proposed establishment of several relay stations only the future will sho'w. Will 2YB attempt a rebroadeast of some of the items for the benefit of crystal set owners ? 2BL, Sydney is to be the first station to’ be reconstructed by the Australian Broadcasting Company. The now transmitter is to have an antenna power of 5090 watts, or practically three times its present power. The station is to be moved away from the more densely populated areas.' A novel broadcast to take place on October 19 through 2FC will take the form of a “Night on Sydney Harbour.” A special launch will be chartered by the Australian Broadcasting Company, and will ply the harbour with a group of singers who will treat listeners to a number of plantation melodies. There will also bo some comedians on board, and incidents of the trip will be described by the 2FC evening announcer.. POWER VALUE DISTORTION. Many listeners have now installed power valves in their receivers with the idea of improving their tone quality, but through neglecting to increase the plate voltage on the power valve in the last stage, have been disappointed with their results. It should be noted that an extra terminal should bo included as by merely connecting another battery in series will result in distortion caused by working the other valves at the wrong points of their characteristic curves. With modern improvements in receiver and valve design, and with the increased power bf transmitting stations, the grid swing applied to the last valve in any set using more than two valves, is so great that ordinary “general purpose” valves cannot deal with it adequately, and poor tonal qualities result. With sufficient anode voltage, the power valve, when proper grid bias is applied, is designed to handle a large grid swing, and when used, greatly improved reception follows. Usually it is best to work with as high a grid bias value as possible without weakening reception, but manufacturers always provide working data with their valves, and this should always bo followed. ENGLISH CRITICISM. For some time past, English newspapers . have contained an increasing amount of destructive and unjust criticism levelled against the British Broadcasting Company’s varied policies in maintaining the high standard of their nation-wide service (states a contributor to John Bull, a well-known English weekly). Unfair programme criticisms, innuendoes concerning recent staff resignations, and many other similar incidents, have been probed into and given purposely-distorted publicity. In the past, however, attacks were confined to spasmodic articles of a disparaging nature appearing in the daily newspapers, but recently almost every periodical has entered the controversy. This latter is out of all proportion to the cause, and a reason for this ex- I treme antagonism is not hard to find. I Until now, one side only, that savouring I of Press propaganda, has been made pub- I lie. It is now fairly patent that certain powerful interests are out to wrest! the control of broadcasting from its pre- ] sent stable and well-defined authority. | They want control in their own hands, and they want it because broadcasting is likely to become preeminently more powerful than any other means of dissemination.

Because of the 8.8.C.’s music, its debates and lectures, and its talks, the public is unconsciously absorbing a new outlook on life and on the things that matter, and is able to visualise for itself the true value of newspaper opinions. The policy of the 8.8. C. has always been to let the public commend or condemn its efforts, and it has always to give of the best. This is why no real opinion from anybody of outstanding importance in the world of science, music, art or literature, has ever been secured to back up these unjust attacks. The tremendous power of the microphone has never yet been invoked to re-’ veal the ulterior motives of the enemies of broadcasting, and in adopting this course the 8.8. C. has acted wisely.

The 8.8. C. cannot be killed at the bidding of vested interests, however strong those interests imagine themselves to be. Its work' and development, however, can be affected and hampered; and this is what will happen so long as the true motives underlying these 'continuous attacks are not properly appreciated by the British public. WIRELESS PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND STATIONS. IYA, Auckland.—3 p.m., afternoon session—selected studio items; 4, literary selection; 4.8, studio items; 4.25, sports results to hand; 5, children’s session; 6, dinner session—“ His Master’s Voice” Hour; 6,15, organ, Herbert Dawson; violin, Fritz Kreislcr; Flonzaley String Quartet; 6.30, New Light Symphony Orchestra; organ, Herbert Dawson; Flonzaley String Quartet; violin, Fritz Kreisler; string sextette; Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra; 7, news and market reports; 7.-10, talk, Mr. W. G. E. Wheeler, “Esperanto”; 8, relay from Cambridge of Demonstration Concert in connection with the Cambridge Competitions; close down. 2YA, Wellington. —3 p.m., chimes;, 3.1, selected studio items; 4.30 and 4.50, sports results to hand; 5, children's session; 6, dinner session—“Parlophone Hour”; 6.15, Frank Westfield’s Orchestra; violin, Tossy Spivakowsky; Dajos Bela Orchestra; Edith Lorand Orchestra; Dajos Bela Trio; 6.45, Frank 'Westfield’s Orchestra; 7, news session, market reports and sports results; 7.40, lecturette, Mr. A. Varney (Wellington Cricket Association); 8, chimes; programme featuring excerpts from “The Rebel Maid” (Montague Phillips) presented by tho Philharmonic Quartet; overture, Orchestra; sporano, Miss Ena Rapley; baritone, Mr. Arthur Brady; pianoforte, Miss Pauline Rodgers; recital, Mr. Errol Muir; 8.33, instrumental, orchestra; vocal duet,' Messrs. Edwin Dennis and Arthur Brady; ’Cello, W. H. Squire; contralto, Miss Madge Freeman; selection, orchestra; 9.1, weather report; soprano, Miss Ena Rapley; vocal duet, Misses Ena Rapley and Madge Freeman; dance suite, Orchestra; vocal quartet, Philharmonic Quartet; humour, Mr. Errol Muir; 9.30, instrumental, Bande de la Garde Republicaine; tenor, Mr. Edwin Dennis; contralto, Miss Madge Freeman; ’cello, W. H. Squire; baritone, Mr. Arthur Brady; selection, Orchestra; 16.2, close down. 3YA, Christchurch.—3 p.m., afternoon session—selected studio items; 4.25, sports results to hand; 5, children’s sesion; 6, dinner session—“ Columbia” Hour; 6.15, Ketclby Orchestra; waltz, Jacque Jacobs Ensemble; Columbia Symphony Orchestra; waltz, Royal Serbian Tambouritza Orchestra; Symphony Orchestra; H.'M. Grenadier Guards Band; 6.45, waltz, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; waltz, Jacque Jacobs Ensemble; 7, news session; 8, chimes; studio instru-. mental octet under the conductorship of Mr. Harold Beck; baritone, Mr. J. Francis Jones; mirth and melody, The Chatterboxes; musical comedy selection, Studio Instrumental Octet; 8.45, baritone, Mr. J. Francis Jones; studio Instrumental Octet; 9.1, weather report; vocal trio, Dalhart, Robison and Hood; studio Instrumental Octet; mirth and melody, The Chatterboxes; 9.36, “Brunswick” dance programme; 9.51, vocal solo, Al Bernard; foxtrots, waltzes; 10.6, vocal, Al Bernard; foxtrots, waltzes; 10.21, vocal duet; foxtrots, waltzes; 10.36, tenor, William O’Neal; foxtrots; lO.ul, tenor, William O’Neal; waltz, Eight Radio Stars; waltz, Regent Club Orchestra; 11, close down.

4YA, Dunedin. — 3 p.m., chimes; 3.1, selected gramophone items; 3.15, fashion lecturette; 3.30, studio items; 4.25, sports results to hand; 6, children’s session; 7, news session; 8, chime; overture, Marek Weber’ Orchestra; contralto, Miss Margaret Howden; violin, Mr. Frank Parsons; baritone, Mr. W. Ruffell; mezzo-soprano, Miss Winnie Collier; instrumental, 4YA Broadcasting Trio; 8.33, recital, Miss Joyce Hould; chorus, Ever-ready Hour Group; pianoforte, Mrs. Ernest Drake; tenor, Mr. Allan Mitchell; Victor Symphony Orchestra; 9.3, weather report; contralto, Miss Margaret Howden; instrumental, 4YA Broadcasting Trio; mezzo-soprano, Miss Winnie Collier; march, Band of the Garde Republicaine; 9.30, baritone, Mr. W. Ruffell; ’cello, Mr. P. J. Palmer; monologues, Miss Joyce Hould; organ, Reginald Foort; tenor, Mr. Allan Mitchell; selection, Symphony Orchestra; 10.2, close down.