THE POST-WAR BBC

New Zealand Listener, Volume 13, Issue 327, 28 September 1945, Page 10

THE POST-WAR BBC

W. J.

Haley

Describes The New Set-up |

|--YEACETIME plans to give Britain "a more comprehensive national broadcasting service than any other country in theworld" were disclosed a few weeks ago at Broadcasting House, London, by the Director-General of the BBC, Ww. J. Haley. Mr. Haley had at his side the Deputy-Director-General, Sir Noel Ashbridge, to" explain technical points, and reporters heard the post-war radio plan discussed over tea and sandwiches. When the war broke out, British listeners were served by 12 wavelengths, but during the war they had only two, which latterly provided a Home Service and a General Forces Programme. Ten wavelengths were to be restored as from July 29 last, eight being used for a regionalised Home Service, two for a new Light Entertainment programme. Operating from 6.30 a.m. to midnight on week-days, and*from 8.0 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, the Home Service would retain many popular features,

such as "Kitchen Front" and "Can 1 Help You?" This wavelength would attempt to cater for a wide variety of tastes with what Mr. Haley called a "middle of the road" programme. The regional structure of the pre-war service would be used again, but it might be some time before there was much variety between regional programmes. "We too have our staff difficulties," Mr. Haley explained. Mr. Haley was definite about the function of the "light" programme. "It will keep its contract with the listener -to entertain him," he said. A "Serious" Programme A third programme was said to be on ‘the way, which would’ begin operating as soon as wavelength conditions in Europe are stabilised, and powerful British transmitters can be put on the

air without interference from the continent, or without interfering with broadcasting in Europe. Mr. Haley set a time limit for this-nine months-and added, "I promised that the BBC would begin its switchover 90 days after. victory in Europe. We have begun in 82 days. By May 8, 1946, the new third programme will have begun." The functions of this third programme were hinted at: "Call it ‘highbrow,’ ‘cultural,’ ‘serious,’ or what you Will," said Mr. Haley. Its chief distinctive feature would be that it would thke little account of time. If occasion called for it, a whole evening would be devoted to a single concert, play, or opera. "We shall not have to bother with the Frankenstein of the 9'o’clock news," said Mr. Haley. His promise has no doubt been welcomed by the musical listeners who have from time to time made agonised protests against the chimes bursting in on unfinished musical broadcasts.

Separate Directors Mr. Haley also disclosed an important charge in internal organisation. Under the new set-up, each programme will have a director, who will be responsible for his programme just as an editor is for his newspaper. The chiefs of* the Light Programme and the Home Service had already been chosen. Lindsay Wellington, Chief Programme Controller (for the Home Service) and Maurice Gorham, who was lately in charge of the phenomenally successful Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme (for the Light Programme). It was apparent from other things, Mr. Haley said, that regional directors under the new system will be given more independence. "A frequent charge against the BBC’s monopoly is that if an artist fails, he’s out,", said Mr. Haley. In (contifued on next page)

(continued from previous page) future, any producer, comedian or scriptwriter will be able to try each of the regional directors in turn and have his case judged on its merits. Controversial Broadcasting The Director-General adroitly sidestepped attempts by reporters to engage him in controversial issues. One question about "political" broadcasting got this answer: "I’m not trying to imitate Joad, but it depends on what you mean by ‘political.’ If you mean whether controversial broadeasting will increase, the answer is definitely yes." Sir Noel Ashbridge covered some technical points. The over-all coverage by the new programmes would be 95 per cent., and listeners would often have the choice of three or four programmes, since many of the regional transmitters will overlap, as they did before. He prophesied a "cascade of shrieks" from angry listeners when the BBC returned to longwave broadcasting, which had not been used for over five years. Wartime civilian sets had been bought, against his advice, which could not receive long waves, and those listeners would have to wait until they got adaptors before they could hear the Light Programme. _ There was one other new decision. To help the Regional Directors discover the wants of listeners in their own regions, the BBC's listener-research organisation will ‘itself be regionalised, and its findings will. show. variations in. taste from region to region.