THE PIRATES' PARADISE

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 49, 22 June 1928, Page 3

THE PIRATES' PARADISE

BROADCASTING IN INDIA. OT long ago the noble Hottentot could affirm that his country sheltered more broadcast pirates than any other. Not so to-day. The palm goes to India. The "grand" total of licenses issued in India from January to October last was 1692! Income £500; Expenditure ? Quite naturally the Indian Broad‘casting Company is beginning to feel the draught. The company gets eight rupees, or about 10s. 8d., per license per annum, so its income during the ten months under review came to little more than £500. Thus it is unable to afford Sir Harry Tauder, No Rush for Licenses. In the December "Indian Radio Times" some astounding figures are published showing how receiving licenses haye been issued in various districts. In the whole of the Punjab during the period of review licenses were taken out by seven persons, ie., 0.7 person per month; precisely the same number found their way to the license counter in the province of Assam. Tke United Provinces showed a more go-ahead spirit, producing one licensed soul a month, A Significant Point. Among the cities Shillong cut a poor figure with two holders of licenses (not much oscillation here!), and even Delhi could only muster seven. Bombay led the way with 1108 licensed listeners, Calcutta following with 550, In the opinion of the Indian Broadeasting Company, "piracy" exists on a considerable scale, to judge only from the sale of the "Indian Radio Times," which far exceeds the total number of licenses! "Why," asks the company, "should anyone buy the ‘Radio Times’ unless he has a receiving set?"