AFTER NINE O'CLOCK

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 938, 2 August 1957, Page 11

AFTER NINE O'CLOCK

Sir,-J.C.R. writes in The Listener, speaking of Radio Roadhouse, "The only thing that puzzles me is that the NZBS hasn’t yet got round to the idea of a repeat weekly at a more comfortable time than late on Wednesdays." This opens up the whole question of appropriate timing. If a census of listening hours could be taken, I wonder how many people would be found listening after 9 p.m.? A large ‘proportion of the population is early rising — people on farms are usually up considerably before the lark-and no power on earth is going to keep a worker awake after a certain time in the evening. Even people who habitually listen late tell me their concentration ebbs. It frequently happens that things like BBC World Theatre are pushed into the late hours. Has a programme arranger ever sat huddled with his ear in the loudspeaker and an anxious finger on the volume, ready to turn down swiftly the despair and trumpets of a Greek tragedy, against the ~ muffled moans coming through bedroom doors? Followed by black looks and bitter words at breakfast? If he had, he would give it a miss next time. There are also many things, humorous and otherwise, that are suitable, and even desirable, for the young of various ages, which come on after what certainly should be their bedtime. Here of course we come up against the homework problem but that is with us in any case. Obviously it is all very difficult, but I am sure that a large body of reasonably intelligent people would very much like to hear the really good things while they are still sufficiently awake to listen. If this means repeat programmes, why not?

NINE P.M. DEADLINE

(Auckland).

(Unfortunately, there are so many differing opinions: about what are "the really good things." -Ed. )