SPORTING BROADCASTS

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 1, 22 July 1927, Page 5

SPORTING BROADCASTS

EPOCH MARKING WEEK .

2YA CAUSES A SENSATION

July 9 to July 16 will long be remembered by the sport-loving people of New Zealand. The broadcasting stations set a record that week which may stand . for some time.. Three days of racing, two Association football Test matches, and the Ranfurly Shield match were broadcast. It was truly an eventful eight days. What made it more. notable was, of course, the manner in which 2YA burst into the radio life of New Zealand. The new station made a sensational debut, and no one who heard the broadcast of the Ranfurly Shield match will ever forget it. It was a memorable affair. Wherever there was a _ lond speaker in any town or village in New Zealand people congregated. ‘They gathered in homes; in hotels, in the streets in front of radio shops, and fairly revelled in the happenings at Solway Park. ‘They laughed with the crowd: ever the gout and the fox terriers, and worked themselves into a high state of excitement in unison with the cheering and enthusiasm of the spectators as the game progressed. It was one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of radio in New Zealand." The difficulties under which the announcer worked only served to add zest to the proceedings. When the crowd moved forward to the touch-line he, still surrounded by people, had to remain behind with the microphone. The cheering throng around him raised a terrific din, but always his voice, calm and imperturbable, came through, detailing in his inimitable way incidents in the game and the general run of the play. "Make "Em Sit Down." That listeners were thrilled aud tense With excitement was shown in several telegrams which he received urging him to make the crowd sit down! "I’ve just had a fight with one man-Ill get my breath back in a moment," said the narrator laconically on one occasion as he resumed his droll description of what lie could see was happening and of what he thought was happening. | On the Inside, Apart from the listeners who heard the broadcast, the staff of 2YA will not soon forget the day when the big station was first put "on the air." It was somewhat in the nature of an endurance run for the plant. Wisteners little knew the anxiety of the Broadcasting Com- pany’s officials that whole afternoon, because if there is anyone who knows how merciless the public is over a disappointment in regard to an eritertain-

ment it is a broadcasting company official. Somewhat prematurely, the public had been led to expect the broadcast, and therefore must have it. So YA went ‘fon the air." As the levers were pulled the buttons pressed, and the regulating wheels turned to make the necessary adjustments, the operators felt as if they were saying "Good-bye, and the best of luck" to a new airship sent off on a trial flight. But soon telegrams began to arrive proclaiming how well the broadcast was being reccived throughout New Zealand. How those first telegrams were appreciated! As time went on they poured in, the messenger boys bringing them down in lots of six or eight at a time. It was a splendid tribute to the Broadcast Company’s efforts to cater for the sport-loving people of New Zealand. It is a matter for-comment that so many listeners should have seen fit to spend nitiepence (at least) on telegrams of encouragement to the Broadcast Company. Credit to P. and T. Department. The Broadcast Company does not lay claim to all the kudos for the success of the broadcast. It is proud to divide the honours with the P. and ‘IT. Depattment, which provided and maintained such a perfect connection between Solway Park, at Masterton, and OVA, The officials of the Department were obliging in the extreme, and to their efficiency tle public and the Broadcasting Company ate indebted. Scoops for Newspapers. A number of newspapers, equipped with wireless, used the broadcast report. ‘Ihe journal which featured the match most was the Christchurch "Star,"? By relays of reporters it was able to publish in its sports edition a four-column report of the match. ‘The "Star thus referred to the hroadcast :--~ ‘Ihe greatest wireless stunt in the history of New Zealand was stccessfully put over by the new Wellington broadcasting station, 2YA, this afternoon, when a description of the Ranfutly Shield match was broadcast, For three hours the Wellington station held a land wire from Masterton, where the match was played, and put on the air one of the most thrilling descriptions of a football match yet heard, Station 8YA Christchurch rebroadcast the Wellington, gfation, and crystal