THE NEW STATION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19180, 10 December 1927, Page 10

THE NEW STATION.

SPECIAL FEATURE SESSIONS.

The outstanding event in radio circles during the past week has been the opening of the new Christchurch broadcasting station, 3ZC. Transmitting on a wave-length of 250 metres the new station will be on tho air daily from uoon till 1 p.m., with the exception ot Saturdays and Sundays, and on luesdav there will be ample entertainment for listeners-in, as 3ZC will be transmitting from noon till 1 p.m., 2 till 4, and 7 till 10. Unfortunately the wave-length of the new staion is too low for certain types of crystal sets to be able to be tuned to it, and already the owners of the station, Messrs Home Recreations, Ltd., have received, a considerable number of enquiries from crystal set owners as to why their sets are incapable of bringing in the new station. Excellent reports of reception have been received bv 3ZC from listeners-in. in various parts of the Dominion, and there appears to be general satisfaction with the programmes broadcast to date. . ..

Several special feature sessions are promised by the station for tlie near future, including a complete performance, in recorded form, of Puccini's .'i-aml opera, "Pagliacci." It is believed that this will be the first occasion in the Dominion on which a complete grand opera has l>eeii brcudcast. Tim opera will be tiivou in English ami the plot and settings will be fully described by a special announcer. Special Christinas Day sessions arc also promised. From 8 a.m. till 'J a.m. there will bo a broadcast of Christmas carols and during the afternoon Handel's "Messiah" will be broadcast, the choruses being by the worldfamed Sheffield Choir, and the soloists including some of the world's most famous vocalists.

Tho children are noticing overlooked, and arrangements have been in ado for a special broadcast by Father Christmas of a description of his homo in the Arctic regions and a description of his adventures during his trip to New Zealand.

The new station is co-operating with, the Mayor in collecting toys for distribution among the poorer homes at Christmas time, and already a large number of parcels have been received by Homo Recreations, Ltd. Children who wish to help their less fortunate young folk may leave any surplus, or discarded toys at the premises of H-imc Recreations, Ltd., 120 Armagh street (opposite Armstrong's). They will bo handed to the Mayor before Christmas, who will see that Santa Clans delivers them on his round of calls on Christmas Eve.

Pending the arrival of a special microphone on order from the United States, 3ZC will confine its transmissions to recorded music and news sessions, hut as soon as its "mike" arrives the new station will introduce a number of singers and instrumentalists to listeners-in. including several vocalists and instrumentalists who have hitherto not been heard "on the air."