CATERING FOR ALL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 945, 15 December 1933, Page 5

CATERING FOR ALL.

The Broadcasting Board’s Policy. IMPROVED PROGRAMMES. An outline of the Radio Broadcasting Board’s intentions regarding programmes was given by the chairman of the board (Mr H. D. Vickery) in his speech at the opening of the new 3YA transmitter last evening. “ For some time past,” said Mr Vickery, “ the board’s programme staff has been working on a new scheme of programme construction which will be adopted early in January. Briefly, the aim is to provide a different type of programme from each of the four main stations every night, and to arrange alternative types from the four subsidiary stations. To do this is not so simple as some may imagine—much depends upon what may be one’s conception of a contrasting programme. “ There is now an opportunity—welcomed by a capable programme staff—of catering more fully for the varying tastes of listeners. Hitherto, we have endeavoured, in the main, to satisfy many different tastes every night from each station, admittedly an impossible task. Our staffs will now have more scope and I feel sure that listeners will appreciate the changes being made.” Views of Listeners. Mr Vickery said that while many persons wrote to the newspapers complaining about radio programmes, very few communicated with the board, something over 90 per cent of the correspondence received by the board in connection with programme matters being of a complimentarv nature. That did not mean that the board and its staff were satisfied; far from it. All were looking constantly for new ways and means of giving listeners the very best entertainment available. That was the spirit which actuated the national broadcasting service.