BIG YEAR AHEAD FOR THE ZB'S

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 80, 3 January 1941, Page 14

BIG YEAR AHEAD FOR THE ZB'S

most successful in the history of the Commercial Broadcasting Service, reports the deputy-Controller, B. 'T. Sheil, who recently returned from a three weeks’ business visit to Australia. Not only did Mr. Sheil bring back a record amount of business with him, but the also took the opportunity of studying recent developments in Australian radio. He has returned more satisfied than ever with the standard of radio in New Zealand. year 1941 promises to be the

It is only in big network flesh-and-blood shows that Australia is ahead, and this is only because of greater population and many more big centres. A sponsor may spend as much as £250 in programme costs for a single show, and hy means of a network broadcast, reach a large proportion of listeners in the Commonwealth. This is a development of radio that is not possible in New Zealand even on a minor scale, for the simple reason that

musical items cannot be transmitted over land line for a hook-up of two cr more stations. Quiz Programmes Quiz programmes are still the rage in Australia, according to Mr. Sheil. Big quizzes, little quizzes, all sorts of quizzes, even quizzes in breakfast programmes. For the Commercial Broadcasting Service the coming year will be notable both for extensive use of local talent and a large number of new programmes, some of them imported, some of them produced in New Zealand. Although precluded from using land lines for hooking up musical shows, the CBS has installed up-to-date recording equipment at the head office studio, and in the near future all stations will be fitted with similar equipment. This will enable the cream of local talent all over the Dominion to be recorded for presentation in big national programmes. The CBS production department’s work has already been heard over the air, and several shows, including a series of "Real Life Stories" and a musical production "Radio. Rotogravure" will be released early in the year"Real Life Stories " "Real Life Stories,’ which is based on a programme of proved popularity in America, is the first straight dramatic production the CBS has undertaken. Production is in the hands of Bryan O’Brien, known for his children’s hour broadcasts, and a number of talented repertory players are in the cast. Commencing early in February will be a comedy ‘serial "To-day’s Children" another family story which is described as being "about children, for grown-up consumption." The script is an American one, while the feature itself was produced in Australia. — "Tt’s a Great Life," another new Australian programme which starts early in January (replacing "The In-Laws") is a human appeal story about the ups and downs of a young family. It has a fair slice of comedy running through it, and stars James Raglan, who has been heard in some excellent serials and has also starred in Australian films. Still another Australian programme is " Green Meadows," which is claimed to present the first undistorted pictures of true Australian rural types.

You be the Detective The feature " You be the Detective " is further proof of the universality of the detective thriller. Most listeners are already familiar with the idea-a bird’s eye view of a crime, a couple of minutes of quiet music to help one think it out, and then the correct solution, It is an amusing idea, and gives amateur detectives any number of knots to unravel, "Secret Diary" combines crime thriller with personal revelation. It is the intimate diary of a woman who is tried for the murder of her husband, and whose daughter is the chief witness against her. "Silver King" is a radio dramatisation of a play which old time theatregoers will remember well. It is the story of Wilfrid Denver, called the Silver King because of the fortune he won from the

silver mines of Nevada, and who for. many years believed himself to be a murderer. Besides these new programmes, and others which are in preparation by the production department of the CBS, the year 1941 will see an even greater variety of quiz programmes.