Radio IN THE HOME
ON THE BROADCAST BAND Church services to be relayed tomorrow are:— Morning, 2YA—Terrace Congregational. Evening 1 YA—Church of Christ; 2YA, Trinity Methodist; 3YA, Church of Christ; 4YA, Church of Christ. The new 3YA plant is to begin regular transmission on Thursday. The present station will be kept in commission to provide alternative programmes, but 2ZC is to be closed down. 2YA on its new wave-length is making reception of 2CO and 7ZL> difficult. This will be more noticeable when winter comes and the Australians are coming in early. "This station is operating on a wavelength of 420 metres, for the purpose of testing during the installation by Amalgamated Wireless Ltd. of Australia, of a new transmitter for the New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Board.” This announcement late on the night of November 30th was the most welcome heard from a New Zealand station for years. It marked the first step towards emergence from the junk heap. First impressions of the new wavelengths were that 4YA and 2YC had improved wonderfully, and that IYA was better, but that 2YA was patchy. First impressions in radio, however, are apt to be misleading, as so much depends on atmospheric conditions, and it will be a week or two yet before any definite conclusions can be arrived at. As was to be expected, the new policy in regard to B stations is being vigorously attacked by interested parties, as well as by listeners, particularly in Auckland and Wellington. A storm is said to be brewing in Dunedin also, and the opposition is so strong that no surprise will be expressed if the Government, or the P. and T. Department, or the Board, whichever is responsible, offers to compromise. Fifty thousand listeners may be wrong, but they have votes.
I Seven thousand Aucklanders have [ promised to write to the Prime Minister In connection with the B station business. Before it is all over the Government may wish it had left the radio service alone, but the Post Office will get some revenue. The comment of one listener—" The new 3YA is well worth the money, even if it cost twice as much"—appears to epitomise opinion concerning the new transmitter at Gebbies' Pass. It is understood that a poll of listeners is to be taken by post on the question of restrictions on B class stations. Needless to say, it is not j being organ! ed by the Broacasting Board or the P. and T„ and the result ; may be a shock to these authorities. I Next to the voice of the new 3YA. | the best radio news of 1933 was the announcement that after years of evasion, steps are to be taken to give the P. and T. Department legislative authority to Insist on the elimination of machine-made static. The authorities have been an unconscionable time in screwing up their courage, but better late than never. It took IYA a little time to find its new wave-length. On its first night after the change it was about ten kilocycles away from its allotted frequency of 650 and was right on top of KFI and SCK
This is the off season for Americans, which are a couple of hours later in reaching the audible stage than they were in midwinter. The Australians also, are much later, but none of their evening concert programmes is lost by people who are content to remain up until the small hours. One or two of the B’s are on the air until 2 a.m. N.Z. summer time.
The “Record" offers an explanation to its readers of what happens to a listener’s “thirty pieces of silver”—in other words his license fee. It is pointed out that 2s from each license goes to the Post Office for collection and other expenses, and 3s to A.W.A. for patent rights. Then there are head office expenses, four city stations, auxiliary stations, subsidies to B stations, gramophone records, artists’ fees, new transmitters, and other expenses to be provided for. Not one word, though, about the £58,000 that has to be paid to the Broadcasting Company for plant which is being scrapped as rapidly as possible!
The Faith in Australia flight across the Tasman was not so interesting as a radio stunt as the Southern Cross’s last venture. Kingsford Smith had installed a radio-telephone transmitter which broadcast speech. Ulm’s machine had merely a morse outfit, which sent out messages at comparatively long intervals. The fact that Ulm made a night flight was another factor that made his crossing less interesting to listeners, but the Board did its best by keeping its stations on the air through the night.
The stated policy of the old Radio Broadcasting Company, if its license had been renewed was the Installation of a chain of small stations to relay the four city stations. This, it was claimed was the best means of minimising static and atmospherics. That theory was blown clean through the Heavyside layer during the first hour's test of the new transmitter at Gebbie’s Pass. This plant is a puny one judged by overseas standards, but it is at least five times as powerful as the one in Gloucester Street. The difference between the old and new can best be illustrated by stating that an amount of current which will enable Gebbie's Pass to come in at good volume will not bring even the carrier wave from Christchurch to the loud* speaker. Interferences and heat surges which are annoying when other New Zealand stations are tuned in can be cut out on the new 3YA.
In a debate in the House, one member criticised the YA programmes on the ground that not enough use was made of local artists. This member obviously is out of touch with the great majority of listeners. Local artists must be very good to capture the attention and approval of any number of their audience. It is unreasonable to expect much appreciation for a local soprano when dal Monte. Conchita Supervis and other stars are on the same programme, or for any New Zealand baritone to sound well alongside Peter Dawson. It is the same with orchestras. The 2YA combination does not impress when, it has to follow recordings by the world's best instrumentalists, and the programme arrangers will not receive much praise if they attempt to put over any additional local talent.
•The New' Zealand air is to be kepi clear of advertising.” was the salient feature of a recent statement on the Government's broadcasting policy made in the House by the Post-master-General (Hon. A. Hamilton). That is a consummation devoutly to be wished, but it will not be reached merely by the suppression of sponsored programmes by B stations and until a more correct appreciation is shown of what constitutes advertising. If the P.M.G. (or his advisers, as the official head of the Department may know little about radio), is in earnest, he can begin a blacking out •’announcements” by Government Departments which are unadulterated advertising, and having cleansed himself from this radio unrighteousness he will be able to begin with better grace the salvation of other wireless sinners. A stream of free publicity has been radiated from the Board's stations, 3YA and 2YA being particular offenders. The weekly “railway report” is pure advertisement, as are “talks” read to work up interest on behalf of wrestling and other money-making fixtures. Announcements regarding entertainments, apI>eals, and a dozen other things are tree publicity. Just as much as was a • lost notice” concerning Dante's terrier. A few days ago 2YA emitted an advertisement for a provincial racing club, giving the hour and date of closing of entries, the secretary's name and address, the telegraph and telephone hourN. and the fact that the track was alleged to be in j>erfect order. There was not one word in the announcement that was not advertisement. and yet—only a few weeks ago IZR was closed down because it tacked the business of a firm on lo ! the introduction to a si>or.6ored session! j Fully streamlined. Germany's latent I car is fitted with disappearing headlights. To dimlnhh air resistance they ' ;ire mounted in recesses in the mud- | guards. Duri: daytime the headlight [ jx>r tholes may be covered with mclal 1 jjlatcs. hiding them from view, and increasing the ttreatrl.ned efiect Re ioors have no handles a k<»y being re<‘<J to open then
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19668, 9 December 1933, Page 14
Word Count
1,396Radio IN THE HOME Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19668, 9 December 1933, Page 14
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