ON THE BROADCAST BAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20587, 28 November 1936, Page 10 (Supplement)

ON THE BROADCAST BAND

John Robertson, the red-topped New Zealand comet-player, who has been trumpeting in a Sydney restaurant band for some time will open a tour at 4QG next week.

The first artist to be imported next year by the Australian Broadcasting Commission will be Essie Ackland. Others likely to come are Paul Robeison and Lottie Schmann.

The 50-watt station 3HS Horsham on 1380 kilocycles will shortly be replaced by a more powerful transmitter under the call sign of 3LK, operating on 1095. It will be used to relay the programmes of 3DB Melbourne.

The first Test between England and Australia will commence next Friday, at Brisbane. A resume of each day s play will be broadcast each evening at 9 o'clock (N.Z. time), and at 9.38 a commentary will be given by C. B. Fry. The majority of the National stations will be linked up for these features, but the best- to listen to are usually 3GI on 830 k.c; or 2NR on 700.

Australian stations are becoming more '‘distant" wtih the lengthening hours of daylight, and it Is seldom that they are worth tuning in before 9.30 or 10 p.m. Trans-Tasman reception has been patchy all through the spring, on many nights static having been so fierce that the programmes were scarcely listenable and provided no real enjoyment.

Until commercial stations are installed in all centres the suggestion that Timaru should use the radio channel to advertise its holiday attractions is premature, and under existing conditions money spent in this direction would be largely wasted. The only commercial station at present operating in New Zealand is located in Auckland, and as its power is only 90 watts its range is very limited during the summer period. Later on, when 1000watt transmitters are in service in the four main centres, the proposal may be worth considering.

It was to be expected that the questionnaire-, would reveal that Friday is the nightion which listeners are fewest, but it is a surprise to learn that Monday is the most popular. Is this to be interpreted as a justification of the great amount of time devoted to wrestling.

All over the South Island, adverse comment has been heard concerning the different treatment accorded by the National Broadcasting Service to Jean Batten and E. Clark. When Miss Batten completed her Tasman flight, all the YA stations were used; when Mr Clark arrived 3YL was thought to be appropriate by those in authority in Christchurch.

The 8.8. C. is in a fair way to clip the wings of the Continental broadcasting stations which advertise English goods. At the instigation of the British Foreign Office, France has imposed a tax of 48 per cent, on receipts for all advertising directed at Britain. Negotiations are in train with the German and Dutch Governments for a similar arrangement.

If the votes have been fairly counted, the result of the plebiscite is a convincing answer to those people who have claimed that the “B” stations are more popular than the A’s. A concerted effort was made to whip up support for the privately-owned stdtlors, yet 79 per cent, of licensees who filled in the questionnaire form declared that they listen more often to the national stations. At long last the results of the questionnaire have been revealed. Only 80,000 of the 176,000 forms printed have been filled in, but the number might have been increased considerably if the questions had been more intelligently framed. Generally the figures published indicate that a majority of .hose whe took the trouble to vote are more or less satisfied with what the YA stations offer them, and with some exceptions programme organisers can to excused if they continue on the beaten track. Among the definite results are the following:—A big majority in favour of reduction in the amount of classical, symphonic and chain bet music, and an adverse vote against crooners (vocal jazz numbers). There is an insistent demand for more "music mirth and melody,” and preference is expressed for imported artists and recordings over "local talent.” Only an imperfect expression of listeners' opinion was possible owing to the manner in which the questions were put, but the poll has confronted those critics who have damned the whole service as “rotten." Lack of co-ordination, and inappropriate times for certain otherwise good programmes, have been responsible for a lot of criticism that could have been avoided. These defects could easily be remedied, and if 60 per cent, of the American recordings were consigned to the dest.n'tor the YA proarammes will no L bl bad.

CHURCH RELAYS

Morning—lYA, St. David's Presbyterian; 2YA, St. Peter’s C.E.; 3YA, Congregational; 4YA, St. John’s, C.E.

Evening.—lYA, Anglican Cathedral; 2YA, Congregational; 3YA East Belt Methodist; 4YA, First Church, Presbyterian.

Many cricket enthusiasts are aggrieved at the failure of the National Broadcasting Service to give any information concerning the M.C.C. team’s matches in Australia. The scores could have been given at any time between 7 and 8 p.m., but the YA’s have shown a complete lack of enterprise in this matter.

A few months ago Amalgamated Wireless acquired the Council Churches’ station 2CH and converted it into the station for sports. Now a concern styled Denison Estates Ltd., has bought out the Sydney Theosophical Society’s interest in 2GB, leaving 2SM the only Church station in Australia. Sir Hugh Denison is chairman of directors of the Sydney “Sun,” which already controls 2UE.

New Zealanders, not without cause, are apt to be caustic concerning some of the work of our sports announcers, but in many respects we get better service than Australian listeners. With all their faults, the wrestling men here are better, and it is the same in football. A countryman in New South Wales has been stenographing portions of cricket broadcasts, and has told the world about it:—“Bradman has just hit a glorious lofty cover drive. It is going over the sight-board. Not, it won’t reach it. The ball is bouncing over the fence for six, I mean a four.” Again:—“McCabe played that one through the covers. It is going straight to the fence for four. They have run one, now crossing for two. Bradman has come round from deep fine leg to save the boundary. Two to Fingleton makes him 46. I mean 44. Pardon me ...up . . . four, no two to McCabe, bringing his tally to 83.” The trouble with sports announcing is that too often a man who is an expert in one branch of sport and has broadcast it successfully is employed to describe other games of which his knowledge is superficial.

There will be no Christmas message from the King broadcast this year.

A speaker at a church congress in Christchurch is reported to have protested against the broadcasting by Australian “B” stations, and to have demanded some form of control. There was a time when such a protest would have been listened to in New Zealand, but it is presumption on the part of a New Zealander to talk of control of foreigners, and in any case the protest is futile. Australian distillers and wine-makers are among the biggest radio advertisers, and they sponsor many big programme features. In any case, the brandy and port wine business is a legal one, and on the air is no more objectionable than pills and underwear. Even a church station accepts liquor advertisements.