COLOSSAL BROADCAST

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 28, 27 January 1928, Page 4

COLOSSAL BROADCAST

AUDIENCH OF THIRTY MILLIONS. Karly last month the New York Times" announecd "A quadrilateral hook-up whose four corners are to he New York, Chicago, Hollywood, Cal., and New Orleans will ‘‘unite the entire nation in one radio studio,’ at which more than 80,000,000 persons will listen in next January 4, according to M. H. Aylesworth, President of — the National Broadcasting Company. "At that time Will Rogers, acting as master of ceremonies in Hollywood, will introduce Al Jolson in New Orleans, Fred Stone in Chicago, and Paul Whiteman and his orchestra in) New York. The nation-broad_- programune will utilise the National Broadcasting Company and the American "‘Tclephone and" Telegraph Company facilities and will serve to introduce the advertising of new automobiles.

"The huge-network is termed the greatest mechanical achievement in 1adio telephony. Its cost will be more than 3,000 dollars (£200) 2 minute for the hour’s amusement. ‘The fees of the four artists amount to more than 25,900 dollars (£5,000), the telephonic and mechanical facilities are costing more than 35,000 dollars (£7,000), and the station time is estimated roughly at 7,600 dollars (£1,520), according to the announcement. she total cost is lelieved to be the largest amount ever spent for a radio entertainment, "Thirty-three stations are to be linked up for the programme which Will be accomplished hy special — telePhonic cirenits using 12,000 miles of telephone wires. "Three transcontinental circuits are to be used. One will serve the broadcasting stations, the second will transmit the contributions of the four performers to New York where they will he transmitted to the broadcasting station cirenit. The third circuit will be for emergency purposes in case the weather affects the second."