WIRELESS CONDITIONS ON CONTINENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 11

WIRELESS CONDITIONS ON CONTINENT.

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE DIFFERENT PLANS.

(Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, March 23. At the present time when the future of our own broadcasting system is somewhat uncertain, is interesting to see what other countries have done m the development of wireless as a means of entertainment, what steps have been taken abroad for controlling broadcasting, and how revenue is obtained. Franee can probabl}' claim to be the first European country in which a regular radio-telephony service was instituted, for shortly after the end of the war news bulletins and weather forecasts were sent out in this way from the Eiffel Tower. A little later concert programmes were inaugurated, though, as happened also in this country, wireless did not show signs ot becoming a really popular hobby until the end of 1922/ From that time progress was rapid, though, curiously enough, it seemed at one time that France as a whole was likely to be worse catered for in the way of broadcasting than other countries. Station after station was opened in Paris, but the provinces were left unprovided for. The result was that even as late as the spring of last year there were comparatively few receiving sets outside a range of 100 miles or so of the capital. To-day the whole country is well supplied with wireless transmissions. Parisians have on most evenings a choice of four different programmes, and there are nine main and relay stations in different parts of the country.