BROADCASTING.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1925, Page 3

BROADCASTING.

■ -■■V'—<EBl @ 11 * GOVERNMENT SIGNS AGREEMENT

STATIONS FOR FOUR CITIES. WELLINGTON. July 20

Government and the promoters of a new radio broadcast ing company on Saturday signed an agreement providing for the erection by the company of up-to-date oOD-watt output broadcast, stations in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and the maintenance of an efficient broadcast service, la return the company i- t" receive L’-'is out of each 80s license ice paid l>y broadcast listeners and a similar proportion of the radio traders' and other license fees. The promoters will now proceed with the flotation of the company.

Up till lately negotiations were in progress between the New Zealand Broadcasting Syndicate and the Government, hut a settlement could not he readied. Subsequently the promoters of another company, belonging. it is understood, io Hamilton, treated with the Government, and il is with them that the Government have reached a settlement. Last session a special Act was passed to onablo the Government to enter into an agreement with a broadcasting company and to pay the company for the maintenance ol an up-to-date broadcast ing service on a national basis.

On April Ist. broadcast listeners license fees were increased from os to 80s per annum and lor the first time all radio traders were required to pa.v license fees, which range from £2 to £lO per annum. Altlumgh some months had elapsed since the passing of the special broadcasting legislation no agreement had I arriv'd at by April M. for the maintenance l>v the Broadcast Company of adequate and up-to-date sorvire. Cnnseqliently. when the listeueis license Ices were increased front os to 80- on that date, a large proportion of Ibe listeners declined to renew their licenses. as they held that the existing broadcast services did not justify ‘.be impost.

lii jin ruin' i" liii’i'l tlm sit mi tj. m ilu- Cuvernment subsidised xist - imr broadcast stations with a view In securing a general improvement m broadcustig services. These services were. I r.uiklv regarded as only of a temIxiiary nut lire unii! the inaugural inn "I a national broadcast sc'imum. which was unamiilaMy hold no. Tim iempornry services, however. have proved unsntisliutorv to the majority ol listeners-in, ami. as a result, tlm radio industry has I,mil in a stagnation. The news of a seltlcntc.il having been arrived at between the (ioverninciil and the |»roiin»ters o| the Itroadcasi Cotn|iany will he welcome therefore to some -101)0 radio enthusiasts, inanv other prospect ive enthusiasts, and (o scores of linns engaged in tlm radio industry throughout New Zealand. Something like tlie boom that resulted in Australia is anticipated in New Zealand as soon as the new scheme is established. The news should also he of ‘interest to inanv thousands ot listeners-in in Australia as transmission from tlm np-10-dnto oOtl-watt stations in New Zealand will he audilile to a larije number of Australians and it is evioi expected that some radio listen-ers-in in California will be able to pick up tlm .Now Zealand stations. Some idea of the impetus that Unpopularity of listening-in ' s bkcly *<> receive from the introduction of ail up-to-date broadcast service ill New Zealand may he gained from the laet that in Australia there are now about <>*_.- OTIO licensed listeners, whilst there are milv about live-high-powered broadcast stations in Australia, although others are ill course of erection, and existing ones are about to increase tlmir pmvTlio New Zealand broadcast iug scheme will embrace conceit pr°grammos day and nigbt. instructive lectures, market reports and a news service. .nnr-'i-n