N.Z. BROADCASTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 302, 22 December 1933, Page 8

N.Z. BROADCASTING

CHANGE OF TECHNIQUE QUESTION or frequencies. JHNISTEB ’S explanation. [ Per Presn Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. In a statement regarding the recent changes in the technique of broadcasting, the Postmaster-General said that there had been a certain amount of criticism of the changes in transmitting frequencies allotted to a number of stations in the Dominion, particularly those allotted to stations operated by the Broadcasting Board. Many listeners were disturbed because their reception from some particular overseas station had been prejudiced. “The position is that my department is concerned with assisting the Broaxicasling Board to provide an adequate sen ice throughout approximately 16 hours of the day, and as far as possible over the whole Dominion,” the Minister said. “The fact that many entnusiasts delight in the reception of foreign stations during a few hours of th? day, particularly in the winter months, is appreciated, but it is obviously impassible to sacrifice a regular national service in order to cater for this spasmodic reception. At the same time, it should be remembered that no one centre will be deprived of reason able reception facilities from more than a few overseas stations. ITio same waveband is used in all countries for broadcasting, and the same condi tions lead to the necessity for the most powerful stations in each country being allotted waves more or less in the same position, and it therefore follows that in each centre difficulty will be experienced in receiving particular stations.” “It has been realised for some time,” the Minister continued, “that the service to outlying districts could be improved during daylight periods and made more free of fading and distortion during the evening session if lower frequencies were to be employed bv the New Zealand stations responsible for the national service. It was therefor? decided to negotiate with the Australian Administration with a view to the reservation of four suitable frequencies at the low frequency end of the broadcasting band. The frequencies which were finally decided on are at present the only four exclusive channels rfvhich the Australian Administration has been able to leave unoccupied for use in this country. In selecting them, an endeavour has been made to keep the separation between the four main New Zealand stations sufficient to enable listeners in the four centres to readily receive broadcasts from the other centres without suffering interference from their powerful local station. “To an enthusiast in remote overseas reception I would say,”the Minister concluded, 11 outside of your two local stations there are over 90 broadcasting channels on which you can at times locate distant stations. Of these fewer than 30 are used by New Zealand stations and there is adequate .scope for those to whom overseas reception is a definite hobby. Further special short wave bands have been allotted for the purpose of overseas broadcasting and constant results can be obtained from suah stations as FYA, Paris, GSD, Rugby, and 2ME, Sydney. “Changes always cause some regrets, and I sympathise with those who find that they can no longer receive some favourite overseas station, but I can assure listeners in general that the inconvenience has been. minimised, consistent with the provision of facilities for improving the national broadcasting service of this country. ’ 1