Radio

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 7

Radio

Three official reasons were given for the discontinuance of the television broadcasts in London. They were:— Interests of national security; to relieve engineers needed to maintain a 24-hour sound service; and the high cost of television in relation to the comparatively small number of viewers.

The Perth shortwaver VLW3 (which operates on the 25 metre band until 10 p.m. N.Z., and thereafter on 31) is often much stronger than VLR Melbourne. VLR has changed its day frequency from 25.25 to 25.3, but no improvement is perceptible. The Commonwealth's "foreign news" transmitters—VLQs on 31.3 and VLQ-—arc not powerful, and they clash with Indian and South American stations. . .

There was one significant sentence in the eulogy of the late Mr E. C. Hands that was broadcast by the Director of the N.B.S. Mr Hands' listeners were told, held the belief that it was the function of a broadcasting service to entertain as well as to instruct. Listeners, or the great majority of them, will hope that, Mr Hands’ successor, whoever he may be. will subscribe to this view and be strong enough to resist any further encroachment by the instructors.

A reader asks for information regarding the number of Church stations that operate in Australia. So far as is known there is only one. 2SM Sydney which is owned and run by the Roman Catholic Church. 2GB Sydney is run by the Theosophical Society, but is openly a commercial enterprise. Until a year or so ago 2CH Sydney was controlled by the Council of Churches, though its finances were guaranteed by a wealthy business man. It was bought by Amalgamated Wireless, with an arrangement that some of the religious features were to be retained in programmes.

The Canadian Government has stepped up the license fees for commercial stations. The fees are based on output and coverage. The minimum is 50 dollars for a transmitter of less than 100 watts with a population radius up to 25.000. Stations with a rating of 250 to 1000 watts will pay from 100 to 700 dollars, according to the number of people served. High-powered transmitters of 15,000 watts will pay 3000 to 4000 dollars; and the levy’ for one of 50,000 watts will range from 8000 to 10,000 dollars per annum. It is expected that the license revenue will increase from 4250 dollars to 26,000 dollars per annum.

The Comedy Harmonists, whose adoption by the Australian Broadcasting Commission caused considerable hostility, were engaged for another tour under the auspices of the National Broadcasting Service, but the Government refused to permit them to enter the Dominion. According to one of the party, no reason was given for the ban, but he went on to explain that “we are not British subjects, but we have declared our loyalty to and sympathy with Britain. ... We have applied for naturalisation as British subjects. We were Austrians before the German invasion of Austria: now we are Stateless.” The Harmonists have left Sydney for U.S.A.

a proiessor of marketing at New York University has been discoursing on radio advertising. He declares that radio has suffered more from inferior advertising than from anything else in its career, and a lot of people will agree with him. The professor suggests that an ad, writer should develop tact and delicacy of presentation, an appreciation of rhythmic prose, knowledge of how to translate eye pictures Into ear pictures, an appreciation of the mental limits of listening and an appreciation of the personal and intimate character of wireless. But of course our "aunts” and the bright young personalities we hear know all about that. Or do they?

It Is computed that last year about £60,000 In copyright fees was collected from Australian radio stations by the Performing Rights Association. Of this sum commercial stations are said to have contributed £32,000 and National stations £28.000. Ninety per cent of the money went overseas, but the Imposition of exchange control regulations by the Commonwealth Government may create difficulties in future. It is complained by Australian artists that they are deprived of these royalties because their performances are not recorded by the gramophone companies. They are not recorded because they are not best sellers. If Australia had a few Crooks. Tibbetts, Giglis, Korjus and artists of that kind they would soon be rushed into celluloid.

When he was autocrat at the 8.8. C., Sir John Reith was asked, ’’Why not give listeners what they want?” His reply was, “Give them something better than they think they want.” In other words, what Sir John thought they should have. Sir John Reith Is now British Minister for Information, and it may be due to this that Daventry bulletins contains items like the following:—"A ship off the coast of Scotland sent out distress signals. It is understood that tire crew were rescued." Or. “A steamer was bombed and the decks machine-gunned by a Nazi plane. The survivors have been landed at a British port.”

The renegade Scot whose attacks on England, delivered from Nazi propaganda stations with an exaggerated "Oxford” accent, have gained for him the title of Lord Haw-Haw .apparently has killed one person by words. At an inquest into the death of an English woman it was shown that she had resorted to the gas-ring as a result of depression caused by the Berlin broadcasts. In lighter vein, he is dealt with by those satirical songsters, the Weston brothers. The gentleman’s name is William Joyce, and at one time he was director of propaganda for the Mosley Fascists, and prior to that co-leader of the British National Socialist League.

A booklet entitled “Freedom Calling” has been published in England by a writer who describes himself as representative in Britain of the German freedom station—the station which for three years has eluded the relentless pursuit of the Gestapo and the Nazi radio sleuths. According to the author, "Thousands of voluntary helpers keep the station informed, and up to date, and send in ’hot’ news. There is no F -oadcasting House. Its technical staff consists of three or four people, but its contributors number thousands. It has the greatest reporting staff in the world.” This suggests that the station is mobile, and evidently the Nazis have th- same idea, for one day all cars leading to Berll.i were stopped. A few days later all furniture vans in Wuerttemberg were held up. Then people noticed a sudden increase in the number of police boats on the Rhine—barges were stopped and searched.