RADIO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 10

RADIO

ON THE BROADCAST BAND

The number of broadcasting stations licensed in Australia has doubled within the last six years, and heterodyning has increased in the same proportion.

Although 2FC’s new transmitter is rated at 10,000 watts there has so far been no noticeable increase in signal strength. Actually 2BL, using only 3000 watts, is performing just as well. Posisbly the new plant is not yet being operated at full capacity.

New 10,000 watts transmitters at 2FC and 3LO were simultaneously officially opened last Saturday night. The Australian National programme has been transferred from 2BL to 2FC, and now goes over from thirteen other statoins —2CO, 2NR, 3GI, 4RK. 4QR, 4QN, SAN, 6WA, OWN, 7ZL, and 7NT. To cover six States, over 5000 miles of land line and a Bass Strait cable is required.

Radio Luxembourg and Radio Normandy. the two Continental stations which broadcast for English advertisers, charge at the rate of about £3OO per hour, on top of which the advertiser has to provide the programme, which costs at least £lOO per hour. Even when recordings are used, a “performing fee” of about 20/- has to be paid in addition to copyright.

A noticeable increase of output has been apparent lately from VLR, the Australian Commission's shortwave station at Lyndhurst (Vic.). No announcement concerning it has been made, but the power of the transmitter seems to have been at least doubled. Th? division of wave-length—2s.2s msirss until 6 p.m., and 31.34 for even-

ing transmissions—seems to have been an Improvement. Formerly known as 3LR. the station nows uses the call Sign VLR3 on the 25 metres band, and VLR on 31 metres. The station is now a full-time one, opening at 6 a.m. and carrying on until the end of the National programme at night.

Apparently some Australian DX-ers are being tricked by harmonics, or by some amateur short-waver who has been experimenting with rebroadcasts of a New Zealand commercial station. Some of them have heard intermittent transmissions on the higher frequencies from 2ZK or 2ZB, identification of the country of origin being fixed by the advertisements, and have concluded that the Dominion has a commercial shortwaver in operation.

Last Saturday night 2FC was stepped up to 10 kilowatts, and once more took Its place in the front row of Australian stations. 2FC was originally run by Farmers, a mammoth Sydney drapery store, and its competition With 2BL in the “early” days of broadcasting was a fine thing for the listener of fifteen years ago. 2BL at that time was owned by a company, but how both stations are the property of the Commission, and they have their studios in the same building in Bligh Street, though 2FC’s transmitter is located several miles from the city.

One of the controllers of the broadcasting service has been at it againdiscoursing on culture in relation to radio programmes. One can only conclude that those worthy people who talk in this fashion know little about programmes. The only alternative would be to assume that they have strange ideas of culture. A service which swamps its transmitters with Dad and Dave, Eb and Zeb, St. Percy’s, Hotel Revue, and a score of similar features, and which fills the air for hours on end with the hotch-ma-cha-cha rubbish styled dance music, knows little of culture. The YA evening programmes may be what listeners want, but it is fantastic to describe them as cultural.

The usual method of broadcasting executives the world over of ascertaining what listeners (which means a majority of listeners) want is to select a number of people of varying tastes and in different walks of life, get them to answer a “questionnaire" (blessed Word, that), and to average their replies to arrive at a desired result. The result is an Irish stew which satisfies the radio palate of only a small minority. Where only one station or one programme is concerned it Is obviously impossible to please a majority, but this should not be difficult in New Zealand, particularly in the cities, where there is a choice of several stations. Anybody with even an average talent for organisation could arrange the schedules in such a way that most listeneis could hear something which gives them’pleasure, and even if they derive pleasure from Dad and Dave, Carson Robleson or other lowbrow entertainers. they pay for it and arc entitled to it provided they do not trespass on the rights of people whose tastes are less debased. It is this lack of organising ability that is driving YA listeners in increasing numbers to the commercials during evening sessions.

Many English firms hire radio sets at 2/- a week, with service and replacements free, and find it a good selling stunt. The hirer is given an option of continuing the weekly payment and so purchasing the machine, and as most of the receivers are comparatively cheap they are bought outright inside a couple of years.

For the first time on record, English magistrates have ordered the confiscation of a radio set because it was unlicensed. The circumstances were exceptional, as the P.O. authorities had been in communication with the owner for 14 months, and officials had made 25 calls in connection with the matter. The receiver, a 60 guinea radiogram, was removed by the P.O. immediately after the order for confiscation was made.

An Efficient Othello “How did your ‘Othello’ go?" “Wonderful. Desdemona had to be strangled six times before the audience stopped clapping." Taxi-Crab Due A recent news film showed us a new invention that enables a car to move sideways. So the advent of the taxicrab cannot be far off. A Suspicious Claim A French villager's claim to be a hundred and twenty years old is regarded with suspicion. It is thought that he has been reckoning in cabinets Instead of years. Dad Defines a Secret “Daddy,” said Betty, looking up from her book, “what is a secret?” “A secret, my child,” replied Daddy, smiling at his wife, “is something a woman tells one person at a time.” Disappearance Welcomed According to a detective, many people who vanish mysteriously are convinced that they are not wanted:

Others are only too well aware that they are. Stale They often quarrelled, but just before her birthday she was sweetness itself. She (purring): What are you going to give me for my birthday? He (scowling): Nothing. She: But darling, can’t you think of something original? You gave me that last year. Gas v. Electricity For nearly half an hour the salesman had explained to an old lady the virtues of the electric fire, the electric poker, and the electric kettle and iron, “Now, tell me,” she said, when he paused for breath, “where do you put in the pennies for the gas?” No Standing! "And now that you have had an opportunity of hearing my opinions," said a Parliamentary candidate, “you’ll agree that my opponent hasn’t a leg to stand on.” A voice came from the back of the hall: “All the more reason why he should have the seat.” A Serious Case A young doctor received a telephonecall from a colleague, who invited him to make a fourth at bridge. “Going out, dear?” asked his wife, sympathetically. “I’m afraid so,” was the grave reply. “It’s a very serious case. There are three doctors there already.” A Grand Party “Did you have a good time at the party last night, dear?” asked the wife at breakfast. “Oh, grand!” cried her spouse enthusiastically. “What did you do?" “Isn’t that just like a woman? Would it have been grand if I could remember what we did?” Publicity to the End “Well," said the business man, “you better put in a clause about my employees. To each man who has worked for me 20 years I give and bequeath 50,000 dollars.” “But,” said the lawyer, “you haven’t been in business twenty years.” “I know it, man, but it's good advertising.” Sleuth Wanted “Yoh need another character to make that play a success.” “What?” “A detective.” “What for?" “To find the plot.” Plenty Chief: The cashier’s post is worth £lO a month. Applicant: Um—one cannot go far .on that. Chief: It's not intended that one should. Proof of Affection “And do you really love me?” she murmured softly. “Of course I do, darling," answered her admirer. "And do you think of me night and day?” she went on. He, being a very truthful young man, hesitated a little. “Well, darling,” he said at length, “to be quite honest with you, I do think about the Test matches sometimes.”

Not Werth Mentioning Wife (hearing hubby creeping into bedroom): Who’s that? Henpeck: Hardly anybody. Cheaper Teacher: What is the difference between lightning and electric light. Pupil: Lightning is free. Sandwich? “How is your vegetable garden this year?” “Fine! We had it for lunch on Monday." Considerate Student: “I don’t think I deserve a zero." Professor: “Neither do I, but it’s the lowest mark I'm allowed to give." The Fiery One First Charlady:, That new neighbour of yours is a bit of a spiritualist, ain’t she? Second Charlady: Well, I never seen no bottles goin’ in there! Well—Yes! Scotch Customer: A spur, please. Saddler: You want a pair of spurs. Customer: Why? If I make one-half of the horse go, the other must go with it." Worse “Have you heard of Mrs Loudspeaker's misfortune?” “Heavens! Has she lost her voice?” “No, her husband has lost his hearing.” Easy “Elsie is a sly puss. She told young Blank that he might kiss her if he gave up smoking.” “Well, what is there sly In that?” “Why, man alive, he is a nonsmoker!” Too Late Young Husband (breathless): “I got your ’phone message at the office and came at once. What’s happened?” Young Wife: “You’re too late. Baby had his toes- in his mouth and he looked so pretty!” Definition Professor (in psychology class): Is there any such thing as a triple reflex action? Student: Yes, sir. Waking up, turning off the alarm, and going back to sleep. A Scottish Wife? Friend (gazing aloft: Aren’t you worried when you see your husband looping the loop? Aviator’s Wife: Oh, no. You see, I remove all his loose change from his pockets before he goes up.” Silenced A candidate for Parliament declaimed, “The people of this country must grow more wheat!” “How about hay?” yelled a heckler. “I'm talking about food for mankind now,” retorted the candidate, “but I’ll get round to your case in a minute!” Asking Too Much She: “I have just read In the newspaper that widows make the best wives." He: “Maybe, my dear; but you cannot expect me to kill myself so that you can be a good wife to someone else." Saving Money “Would you like a nice tender steak and some lovely fried onions, with golden brown fried potatoes this evening, dear?” asked Mrs Newlywed when her husband returned from the office one day. “I would, honey,” he replied, “but I think we ought to save money. Let’s eat at home.” Medico’s Problem The doctor had thoroughly overhauled his patient, but at the end of the examination seemed somewhat puzzled. “Well,” he said at last, “I can’t quite diagnose your case. I think it must be drink." “All right, doctc -,” said the patient cheerily, “I'll come back when you’re sober.” A Bird Hops It A crowd in a busy street had gathered round a little man who was uttering strange noises. “Now what’s all this about?” inquired the policeman who came up to find out the cause of the commotion. ,‘Tm not doing any ’arm, sir," said the little man. “I’m only a bird-imi-tator.” “A bird-imitator, are you?” asked the arm of the law. “Well, then, let’s see you ’op it.” Borrowed! “Well, my good man, what brought you here?" asked the sympathetic visitor of the prisoner. “Borrowing money, lady,” replied the prisoner. “Borrowing money!” she echoed. “But surely they don’t put people in prison for borrowing money!” The prisoner shrugged his shoulders unhappily. “I know," he replied, “but I had to knock the man down three or four times before he would lend it to me!" Life and Death As Bilton was leaving the doctor’s surgery he was accosted by Smailes, one of his neighbours. “’Allo, Bilton!” greeted the other. “Are you out of sorts?" “Rather," replied Bilton. “The doctor has placed me in a quandary. He’s advised me to take up trombone playing for the sake of my health. What would you do?” “Well," answered Smailes carefully, “you just please yourself, for I’ve just persuaded my neighbour opposite to give it up for the same reason!” A Brave Photographer Brown went to Africa with the avowed intention of photographing wild beasts in their natural haunts. He returned with a few pictures of very tame subjects, but with a host of exciting stories pointing to his .own bravery. “H’m,” said a doubting listener. “Well what of the lions and tigers you were going to photograph?" "Ah!” said Brown, “I was too daring. You see, those savage beasts breathed on my camera lens and ruined every picture." Looking Ahead He was discussing the people round about with his old landlady. “They seem kindly enough people,” he remarked. The landlady sniffed. “You don’t knew them yet," she replied. “Oh, come,” protested the lodger, “they’re not bad. Why, the chap who’s got a little workshop down the road was asking about you to-day. Said you’d been ailing a lot lately. Is he a relative of yours?” “No,” said the landlady, sharply, “he’s the undertaker.”