THE END OF SUMMERTIME.

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 34, 9 March 1928, Page 4

THE END OF SUMMERTIME.

The end of sutamertime and the immediate shortening of the evening hours, so far as the approach of darkness is concerned, by one, will mark an advance in the conditions of reception and renew an intense interest in broadcasting, particularly on the part of rural listeners, who ‘unquestionably have definitely suffered through the operation of summertime. The inquiry conducted through our columns recently as to the views of listeners quite plainly showed that. It is the rural listener to whom the trade and broadcasting in general must, we think, look for expansion now. The cities certainly have not reached saturation point, or anything like it, but the rural districts have not as yet responded to the lure of radio to the extent that its advantages make desirable. With the end of summertime and the approach of the longer winter evenings, the time becomes opportune for definite concentration on this field. In our view everything possible should be done to encourage the radio habit by country people, for to them it is very much more than a toy or an opportunity for an evening’s entertainment. It is of definite commercial value, particularly in relation to the news service and market reports, as well as in weather reports. We have heard of cases in Canterbury where farmers, unfortunately not yet possessed of ‘ wireless sets of their own, have ridden or driven up to 20 miles in order t to hear the weekly broadcast of the Addington market. The knowledge thus gained of the trend of stock prices has proved of outstanding financial importance to them, and resulted in’ their securing full value for their stock in subsequent paddock sales, 4 TELEVISION IN FIVE YEARS. The special report we are able to give in this issue of the first successful broadcast of television will be read with intense interest by all who are’ impressed with the wonderful performances of the age in which we live. Television is the next big advance on which all eyes are centred. It is now a scientific actuality. Sight has been broadcast ; the waves have been caught, and the scene depicted re-visualised in not one, _ ‘put several homes. It remains now but for the scientific actuality to be . made into a commercialised possibility, on such a scale as to be available -to the people. The view of Senatore Marconi as expressed in a recent ‘ impressive interview is that it may not he possible for commercial and financial reasons to put a television set in every home in the way that + is at present conceived, but that it may be possible for special theatres " to be operated much on the lines of our present picture palaces for the reception of broadcasts of historic events. This would be wonderful enough. The short wave era is now with us, and is adding new won- : ders of performance to its laurels almost week hy week. What the next five years will bring in detailed development it is impossible accurately to prophesy, but that it will be a very pregnant and wonderful: period is ' unquestioned.