NEW TRENDS IN NZ. BROADCASTING

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 430, 19 September 1947, Page 6

NEW TRENDS IN NZ. BROADCASTING

Developing Radio as a District Institution

HE New Zealand Broadcasting Service has now started on its plan, delayed by the war, to give the Dominion better radio coverage. The aim is to provide clearer reception in afeas where it is not now at its best, and to establish subsidiary local-coverage stations in cities and some of the larger towns. Overseas labour troubles and the shortage of building materials will mean slow progress, and so it is impossible to give a date’ by which the whole scheme will be complete. Up to now broadcasting in this country has been treated from the national view-point-giving the best programmes available without much regard to the locality of performers or stations. The new idea is that radio should be used more as a local institution, for developing cultural life, artistic endeavour and civic consciousness in towns and districts. The development scheme provides for a chain of low-powered local stations throughout New Zealand outside the main centres. These will depend for their appeal on local interest in the performers and their work, and on the local significance of talks and relayed ceremonies. Local talent drawn on for broadcasts over these stations need not be of as high a standard as is expected from the more powerful stations, so that a wider range of artists may have a chance to be heard. Talent of sufficiently high grade discovered ‘by these local stations will be broadcast by the more powerful district stations, and the best district talent will be used on a national level. The highest grade of national talent will be called on for touring, festivals, and stage presentations. This will provide qa means

of grading talent from that acceptable | only for local stations, up to that selected ) for touring, each stage being a stimulus | to the performers in the grade below. New Equipment To give better reception of Wellington stations the NZBS has ordered from Amalgamated Wireless, Australia, a 10 k.w. transmitter for Station 2ZB, and a new 60 k.w. transmitter. The latter will replace the old plant which has nearly to the end of its useful life at. 2YA. These stations can all economically | use the one site at Titahi Bay. The present 710ft. mast will be modified to actas aradiator for 2YA and 2YC, and another 400ft. mast will be built at Titahi Bay for 2ZB and 2YD. The masts which are a well-known mark on the skyline at Mount Victoria will remain, to be used at some future time-for instance, if television becomes practicable in New Zealand. Under the new technical setup, the masts themselves will become radiators, doing away with the present suspended copper wires, and this principle will be used at all stations. Auckland’s installation will be the next largest. There will be three 10 k.w. trans-mitters-one to replace that at 1YA and the other two for 1ZB and 1YX. The existing 500ft. mast will be used for the output of 1YA and 1YX, and a new mast will jointly serve 1ZB and 1ZM. The Auckland scheme means removing 1YX from its place at the top of the Shortland Street studio building. The increased power will give a stronger

signal in the congested areas of the city, and over-ride power noises which are now troublesome to listeners. In Christchurch, both 3YA and 3ZB will have new 10 k.w. transmitters. The old one at 3YA will be used by 3YL as long as it is serviceable. When completed the three transmitters will operate from Gebbie’s Pass, where a new 400ft. mast will act as joint radiator for two of the stations. Dunedin’s 4YA will work from a new 10 k.w. plant and another of the same power is on order for 4ZB. Station 4YA’s existing plant will go to 4YO. Broadcasts from 4YA and 4YO will be from the 500ft. mast at Highcliff; 4ZB is to have a new 400ft. mast of its own. The other 10 k.w. station in the South Island will be at’ Kumara, on the West Coast, four miles south of Greymouth. to give West Coast listeners better service. Timber from a military camp will be adapted for the temporary buildings to house equipment and staff, Station 3ZR will have a 500ft. mast. Bay of Plenty Station A 10 k.w. transmitting station is to be established at Paengaroa, to serve the Bay of Plenty district. The site will be on the junction of the roads leading from Tauranga and Whakatane to Rotorua. This was chosen with the object of covering the Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki areas. The NZBS has a permanent site at Rotorua, opposite the council chambers, and buildings at Mangere, purchased from the War Assets Realisation Board, and sent to Rotorua,

will be adapted for a temporary studio, In time there will be permanent studios in this district, one at Tauranga and the other at Rotorua. Each will have its own programme staff. There is a big expansion programme ahead for 2 k.w. stations. One will be erected at Whangarei, with a 200ft. mast, and here again war-time buildings will be used for temporary studios. Inquiries are now being made in Gisborne for premises where a 2 k.w. transmitter can be installed, with a 200ft. mast. A site has already been selected for Hamilton’ station and officers of the NZBS ar now looking for a suitable locality fox New Plymouth’s 2 k.w. plant. It has been hard to find satisfactory temporary premises at Wanganui, but another 2 k.w. transmitter has been ordered for installation when a building is available. The low-powered commercial station, 2ZA Palmerston North, will be increased to a 2 k.w., and permanent sites for studio and transmitter have been selected. In the meantime the present studio will be used. Neison’s 2YN is at \ other low-powered station which will be stepped up to 2 k.w. strength; another temporary building is being adapted for studio purposes and to take an increased staff. Timaru is now to have its own station, with the temporary studio in the town, The 2 k.w. transmitter will be near Washdyke. The increase in power of the various stations mentioned will mean improved reception in many districts,