NZ. BOADCASTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 214, 10 September 1945, Page 5

NZ. BOADCASTING

COMMENT BY MR. C. C SCR’MGEOUR

PARLIAMENT AND WRESTLING MOST POP!LAR

Reed. 7.30 p.m. Canberra, Sept. 9 New Zealand national radio stations attracted their biggest audiences when they broadcast either Parliamentary debates or wrestling matches said Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour, giving evidence before die Parliamentary standing committee on broadcasting which is examining the pioposai to broadcast Parliamentary debates from Canberra.

Describing the increase in listeners to national stations when debates or wrestling are broadens., Mr. Scrimgeour said: "Normally the commercial stations claim the attention of 75 per cent, of listeners. When Parliamentary debates arc broadcast 50 per cent, of these listeners switch to the national stations. The percentage of listeners to commercial stations also drops sharply when the national stations are broadcasting wrestling matches."

The chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Boyer, who returned yesterday from a week's tour of New Zealand, said in Sydney that Parliamentary broadcasts iii New Zealand had come to stay. They were popular and interestng. Mr.'Boyer said he would make recommendations on Parliamentary broadcasting in a report which he would submit to the Parliamentary Committee on Broadcasting this month.