BROADCASTING IN JAPAN

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 45, 25 May 1928, Page 5

BROADCASTING IN JAPAN

NEW 10,000-WATT STATION POOR PROGRAMMES. NEw Zealand listeners who operate multi-valve sets will be interested in the news that within.a few weeks six 10,000-watt (aerial power) broadcast stations will be operating in Japan. A eorrespondent writes to London "Modern Wireless" :- As there are so many points of resemblance between the island Empire of Japan and our own country (Great jvituin) in the matter of modern activities, at least, the development snd present, state of broadcasting in -dapan is an interesting study. When one considers that less than a century so the Japanese were prone to resist the influx of the foreigner and his devilish arts by force of arms-very primitive arms-the present situation of the country in world-politics, and in broadeasting, is amazing, though "when we consider the last-mentioned we are bound to confess that listeners in England are far better served. Broadeasting in Japan was started by the Tokio Broadcasting Company, which erected a 6-Ikw. set in March, 1925. This was followed by the formation of the Osaka Broadcast Company, with a transmitter of the sume power, in May of the same year, "pen in July, 1925, the Ngaora Broadcast Company also put up a 6-kw. set. At ,that time the license fee was 2 yen per month, or about £2 8s. per -apnum, and the companies had to issue the licenses and collect the fees.

GIANT STATIONS BEING BUILT. _ In January, 1926, the Tokio fe was reduced to £1 4s. per annum, and the Gsaka fee to £1 10s., the Nugoy1 fee being unaltered. The number of subseribers was then: Tokio, 140,000; Osaka, 49,000; and Nagoya, 16,000. The first Government regalations for broadcasting allowed for the forination of eight companics, of which only three were formed, but during the summer of 1926, the Japan Breadcast . Association came into being, and combined the three, with a directive board _ appointed by ‘eishinsho iJapanese Government Communication Wepartment) consisting of ex-Veishinusho of-ficials-the equivalent, one supposes, of the B.B.C. Bourd of sxovernors. In March, 1927, the Japan Broadeast Association placed orders for six 16,000-watt (aerial energy) stations, three Marconi type and three Western Wlectric type, destined for (Marconi stations) Tokio, Osaka and Kumanoto, and (Western Electric type) Hiroshima, Sendai and Sapporo. These stations are to be capable of working at 20 per cent, overload for at least one hour per day, and all are expected to be ready by the middle of the year. They will transmit within a band of 830-400 metres. Somewhat Spartan Fare. At present the Japanese listener has not much to attract him, and it is said to be almost impossible for him to receive either of the other two stations when the one nearest to him is working, as Tokio works on 375 metres, Nagoya on 360 metres, and Osaka on 385 metres. The only thing which will save such a situation is the provision of excellent programmes, but these appear to be lacking. Here is the Tokio programme for Norember 3, 1927 :- 9.40 a.m.-Chorus, "Kimigayo." Lecture. 10.30 a.m.-Lecture. 11.15 a.m.-Market news and weather report.

11.20 a.m.-Lecture. 12:10 p.m.-Drama, "Kiichi Hogen." 2.0 p.m. -Lecture. Koto, by Ikuta School, Story-telling. Songs for children. 3.40 p.m-News and weather report. 6.0 p.m.-Play for children. 6.30 p.m.-lLecture. 7.10 pm-News; English lesson; Ngauata, soprano solo; Utazawa, Gidayu; weather report. This to the English mind is somewhat Spartan fare; though, of course, it is possible that Koto, Ngauta, Utazawa and Gidayu may redeem the

whole programme. ‘The number of lectures show that the J.B.A. is copying the British Broadcasting Corporation; and it has just occurred to me that the programme contains no chamber music, unless it is disguised as Utazawa or Koto. I fear that such a type of programme is very dear at £1 4s. a year.