BROADCASTING PLANS

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1946, Page 6

BROADCASTING PLANS

-Press> . • Assoeiation i

■ - — . — . — — , ; by be Low Powerei Statkns

By Telegmpk—

» DUNEDIN, Oct. 30. - l Provi&ibn for .lirst grade reeeption ipt t those areas in which -reeeption atu present is not Rrst grade, and the es- ; • tablishment of subsldiary local cover- ' age stations in cities and larger towns, ; were apong the fea.tu.res of tlie pos'trWar; pliau of tlie New* Zeaiaud Broadvcasting ; Service, whieh the Minister of Hi'oadcasting, Hon. P. Jones, outiined in his opeuing election address. Mr. Jones said the Government had decided that since manufaetnrers. were i.n a position to supply small trahsmit- , ting stations contracts, should be iet toi* the puTehase of four 2k.w. transinitters | for installa-tion at North Auckland, ! Hamilton, Wanganui and Timaru. The ' establishment of these stations would take place as soon . as auitable accommodation 'could be obtained and . the necessary aTlocations of building resourees were received. At the same ( time, the Minister added, opportunity was being talven to increase the power of stations 1ZB Auckland,: 2ZB Wellington, 3ZB Christchurch and '4ZB- ,Bhn edin by. ordering new 10k, w., stations ;as replacements as soon as oquipment from.:

overseas became available-. Similajaction was being taken iri conn.ee tion . with station 2ZA Palmerston North and 2YN Nelson and the new" equipxnent to be installed would nxake those stations of 2k.w. each. Tt had been f©.und desirable that the signal strength of all these sfations should be inereased in order to override power and other interference. "The New Zealand Broadeasting Service is. at present engaged in ex tending its eoverage aetivities in the Bay of Plentv, Rotorua and Tauranga, and West Coast of the South Island. and when buildings can be pro.vi'ded, in the Northland district," Mr. Jones said. "Sueh centres as Hamilton, i Wanganui and Timaru are to be provid ed with local stations. Consideration is also being given to the reorgani-sation of the present station at Gisborne and New Plymouth while the expansioii plan ineludes provisions of stations at such centres as Hastings and Masterton/ "Future plans for the Domimon network include small stations at Hawera,. Taumarunui, Thames, Dannevirke, Blenheim, Ashburton, Oamaru, Gore and Westport. "In addition to this programme of replacements and expansion, the New Zealand Broadeasting Service is engaged in placing into commission two shortwavc transmitters. These are at present being installed at Titahi Bay and will provide a shortwave service capable of serving the Pacilic 'area. " The Minister said the engagement o! the National Orchestra was now completed and that members of it lxad been rnarshalled in Wellington on October 24. The orchestra would travei th rough oxx t the Dominion to give concerts and broadcasts. The New Zealand Broadeasting Service had already arranged and would c.ontinue to arrange, tours of New Zealand by overseas artists of internationa. standing. Engagements would also be made with overseas artists touring Ne^ Zealand under contract - to other organisations. Mr. Jones said it xvas intended to increase the opportunities for local artists ineluding players in vario,us orchestras and bands. Sueh performers, were widely used already but a stan had been made bv extending production and recording facilities in Auckland for the greater use of local talent. Equip

ment was at present being eonstructed to extend this sclxeme to Christchurch and Dunedin. In addition me Broadeasting Service xvas constructiug inobile recording units and it was intended that they shou-ld be used for tlie recording of programme material in areas where the population wass sn sparse as not to warrant the erection of a station. "The Government is in toueh with : developments ip. television," Mr. Jones concluded, "aft'cl* pxXxwi'de^fqx' it>- ; intrbdue.tibn: ^ ®cae-;-ticable. ,1 * ' ' ;