The Rapid and Remarkable Development of Sporting Broadcasts

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 3, 3 August 1928, Page 52

The Rapid and Remarkable Development of Sporting

Broadcasts

teumea| LMOST everybody is interHeng) ested in some form of i sport.. It-has been. said "ul that the youngest New ni) \g}) Zealander draws his first moss bredth in an atmosphere . _ throbbing with the vitalising tonic of cléan and healthy sport, and, certainly, the lure of the open-air keeps hith kéenly interested in the doings on course, court, and playing field long years after he has himself ceased to be an active participator in the strenuous rivalries of the young and strong. No wonder, then, that sporting broadcasts constitute one of the most popular. of the pumerous services réenderéd to’ the community by the Broadcasting Coimpany. oo BROADCASTING, like all new things, has:at the outset been looked upon with ‘a-certain amount of doubt and suspicién. Some of those responsible for the control. of organised sport have been appréhénsive as to the effect which this néw service would . have upon the particylar. sport with which they are. concerned. They have been: fearful lest the broadcasting of a description of races or games while they are actually in progress should’ prove sufficient for followers of the sport to keep them from attendance, and thus adversely affect the gate takings. Hence the difficulties which have from time to time arisen .when. permission has been sought to broadcast certain race and other sports meetings. Happily, however, practical experjence is constantly demonstratiny the fallacy of fear on-this- account, and proving conclusively that, far from exeycising any detrimental infiuence, broadcasting is widening and intensifying publie ipterest, attracting -new. patrons, winning pack those who have grown indifferent, and consequently building up instead of breaking down the financial bulwarks of the clubs. Of this striking and encouraging fact the Broadcasting Company has had convincing — testimony. In the United States, where broadcasting has an enorpious vogue, they have coined a. terse, pithy, and characteristic slogan-* Broadcasting never bumps-it boosts’-and of the truth of this claim New Zealand, though, comparatively speaking, new to the game, has already the proof of experience. SPORTING broadcasts make a very wide appeal. Shoals of appreciative letters have been received from all parts of the Dominion evidencing how — sta 2

widespread is the intérest.in éach particylay event. and, incidentally, how thoroughly appreciated is the action of the club, association, or society, which allows its fixtures to be relayed for the | entertainment of those enthusjasts who are unable to atténd, either in consequence of distance, illness, or other good and sufficient reasons. ; The company’s sporting broadcasts have covered racjng, football, boxing, cricket, tennis, athletic sports, motorcyele racing and gwjmming, 411 of which havé beén described direct from the scene of the encounter. AN iridication of the rapid development of this branch of the company’s sefvice is afforded by the fact that prior to June, 1927, approximately 175 transmission hours had been given to sport, whilst the grand tota} for the year ehding June, 1928, indicate 574 _ transmission hours. An gnalysis of the official records discloses that the time -oceupied per week ip sports broadegats exceeded eleven hours. There

were in all 206 relays conducted during this period. ‘Fhe details which follow disclose in interesting form the magnitude already attained in this branch of radio service, while at the samé time showing how well the Broadcasting Company caters for its sporting public. The figures, coveying the period June, 1927:28, give in the aggregate for the foyr statiens the number of sporting fixtyres broadcast and the time occupied in transmisS1LOTY t=

FROM the gbove, it will be seen that i racing and trotting hold the leach with 3083 transmission hours for all stations, Rugby football coming next with 1244 transmission hours, and miadking a total of 427% hours for these three sports. Rugby football leads in _ the number of attractions broadcast, TL

being recorded as against 64 for racing and trottijg. In additjon to these relays and rebroadcasts there have been regular sports sessioys on Saturday nights at all. four statiops af which all the more important sports results have been broadcast, and, when occasion required, reviews of the fields pefore race meetings, and talks on many sports subjects. During the past twelve months a system has been organised for the prompt supply to all stations of the results of the most important field events, and these, whenever possible, are announced durjng the afternoon session, as well as during the evening session. In order to carry on this service, several long relay lines have been required, the longest up to the present béing the lines used on the oecasion £ the Ranfurly Shield matches, which were relayed from Masterton and Palmerston North and broadcast from 2YA Wellington, a distance of 90 and 95 miles respectively.

[HE first sporting breadeust in New Zealand was transmitted by SAC. This initial event, u. description. of the inter-club Rugby fixture--Christchurch y. Old Boys played at Lancaster Park on May 29, 1926- was in the nature of "a novelty, so far as New Zegland was concerned, and was acelgimed 4 great suec x. Thys encouraged, SAC attempted the more ambjtious relay of the trotting meeting at Addington on June 3, and shortly after followed with the hockey fixtures Indian Army V. ‘anterbury and Indian Army v. New Zealand, which were played at Lancaster Park in June, 1926. These were the first international fixtyres played on the tour of New Zealand by the Indian Army hockey team. TTHE first sporting event pbroadcust from 3YA by the Radio Broadcasting Company was the relay of a deseript! of the Grand National Stee‘plechase at Riccarton. This first tranusmission has become historical in Christchurch and in the annals of broadcusting in New Zealund on account of the difeulties which had to be overcome before it could ke uccomplished. The relay apparatus had to be placed outside the groynds, and finally a place was found about three furlongs from ‘the judge’s box. This was an old huystack, and after the apparatus had been attanged om top of it, the anmuuneer took up his position, und, despite distance and discomfort, ay excclient broadcast resulted. One diffi- . "'y on this occasion was the finding of a suitable telephone Jine, 4s Riccarton was not very well supplied with lines at that time, put this Was overcome by the generous uction of Mr. J. MecCombe, the well-known Riccarton mentor, who placed his private *phone at 8YA’s disposal during the tine the | races were on. A. year has made a greyt difference in the conditions under which a sport~jng relay is conducted. To-day the | company’s official announcers ure pror vided with comfortable seats. and every vonsideration is shown them by efliciads aml patruns alike,

(THE first event recorded for Welling- ; ton whilst still operating ynder the , old call sign 2¥K was the description of the All Blacks v. Wellington Rugby wnatch, prior to their departure jn 1926 on their tour of Australia. Station "YK continued relaying sports at intervals yntil Jyly, 1927, when the highpowered station in Wellington came into action. July 9 to 16, 1927, will long bé yemembered by the sport-loving public, being red letter days in the history of broadcasting in New Zealand. Three days of racing and two of Association football! And what made it more notable was, of course, the manner in which 2YA burst upon radio life of New Zealand. The new statjon me a sensational debut, which, curiously enough, was the broadcast of a sporting event-the Ranfurly Shield match, Wairarapa v. Hawke's Bay. This event adds yet another historical. inilestone in sporting broadcast, and. inust be well remembered by fhe many who heard it. And here jet it be recorded that in these early efforts, as well ag on all sybsequent occasjons, the Post and Telesraph Department,

through the courtesy and efficiency of its officials responsible for the pyovision and preparation of the requisite lineg, etc..2 has contributed in large measure to the success achieved. QHORTLY after the opening of 1YA in August, 1926, the sporting progdcasts commenced in Auckland, and among other things relays of poxing and wrestling fron the Town Hall --ere well received. However, the first real sport. "poost" took place when the company featyred the whole of the A. sland Cup carnival at Ellerstie and Epsom, and during the same week broadcast the. boxing mafeh Parker vy. Thuru. From this time Auckland has never looked back in sporting proadeasts. It is worthy of note that in Auckland a Rugby Union officia] broadcast a description of a Soecer test match, which was played on the Rugby League ground. On this c.egsion three usually conflicting elemeyis were united with mutually pleasing and satisfqctory results. Mr. \Ieredith was the narrator of the Canadian v. New Zeqland Soccer mateh, which was played on the Carlaw Park League: ground, SPORTING broadcasts from statiois 4¥:A, Dunedin, commenced when this station vesumed operatians in June, 1926, at the close of the Dunedin lixhibition. The first broadcasts of a sporting nature were the football and hockey results transmitted on Saturday afternoons. This service has steadily improved. In addition to the events recorded in the above resume, the following outstanding sporting attractions were broadcast :- Boxing contest. King Hdward Biftrracks, Christchyrch, between Charlie Purdy and the Filipino, Jamito. . Rugby.-Ranfurly Shield — match, Cauterbury v. Hawke's Bay, 1927. ty. Rugby--Nepresentative fixture, Caug terbury y. Wellington. — . Trotting.--Duke of York's meeting, Addington. During the visit of ILRIL the Duke of York, 1027,

tughy.-One fixture in the Canterbury Union’s senior Rugby competi--tions, 1927. . Rugby.-Ranfurly Shield natch, Vairarapa v. Hawke's Bay, at Masterov (1927). One of the longest longdistance relays recorded in history of broadcast in New Zealand. Rugby.-Ranfurly Shield match, Canterbury v. Manawhenua, at Palmerston North. Another long-distance relay. « Championships -Short-wave from U.S.A., Jack Dempsey vy. Gene Tunney for ‘the world’s championship. The results of this contest were on the air within: three minutes from the couclusion of the fight. Boxing contest.-Leckie of Dunedin and Mark Carroll, of Wanganui. 4YA. ‘Results of Timaru to Christchurch road race-An annual event of importance in long-distance cycling. Australian amateur athletic cham-pionships.-2YA. — Results of golf championships at Hamilton broadcast from all stations. Rugby.-All Black trials, South Island. . Probable v. Possibles. 3YA. Rugby.-All Black trials, North Island vy. South Island, from Athletic Park, rebroadcast by 3YA. Rugby.-All Black trials, Eden Park, Auckland. Rugby.-All Black Trials, Carisbrook, Dunedin. | Racing and. trotting.-Christchurch Carnival Week.: Canterbury Jockey Club’s races at Ricecarton and trots from Addington. Athletics.-New Zealand championships. Auckland Carnival Week.-Auck-tand Racing Club's meeting.at Ellersie New Zealand Tennis championships. _ Cricket. -Broadcast vf extracts of

the cricket games on the occasion of the Australian Cricket Team's tour of New Zealand, by courtesy of the Cricket Council. Broadcast of official farewell tendered to All Blacks (1928) from the Wellington Town Hall on the occasion of their departure for South Africa. Broadeast of actual leave-taking at 'ship’s side on the day of the departure of the All Blacks (1928) for South Africa. Broadcast of results of All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. WE give here the titles of some out: standing addresses given by Sports ‘ critics other than the company’s ofiicials, which have been broadcast from the various stations :- , MeRaLE, W. E. Merritt and R. Blunt-The N.Z. Cricket Team in Britain. ‘Mr. Read Masters. a member of the 1924 All Blacks. Mr. Ii. ‘Amos,.on the Olympic: Games. . Mr. ’V. Richardson, Australian crickto eter-Experience and Impressions of the. Australian Cricket Team. Talks on Golf by Mr. Donald Grant. : M.A., who is one of the greatest authorities in the Southern

Hemisphere .on this. fascinating outdoor game. He was a plus one man at Edinburgh. Talks on Athletics by Mr. J. K. Moloney, well known Christchurch solicitor and Rugby enthusiast. Reviews of Outstanding Personalities in Australian Cricket, by Mr. A. Varney. a Talks on Athletics by Mr. D. G. Paris. DURING the winter months Rugby and football are in full. swing throughout the Dominion, and besides announcing the results of all fixtures from all stations, descriptive narratives of the events are broadcast from Kden Park, Auckland; Athletic Park, Wellington; Lancaster Park, Christchurch ; and Carisbrook, Dunedin. . a Some other fixtures which have Deen broadeast from the. various centres, on relay, are:---1¥A. Rugby and Football: Canada vy. Auckland, South Canterbury v. Auckland, Wairarapa v. Auckland, Hawke’s Bay vy. Auckland, Auckland vy. Otago, Auckland v. Wellington. Racing and Trotting: Takapuna Racing Club’s Meeting, Auckland Racing Club’s January Meeting at Ellerslie, Otahuhu Trotting Club’s February Meeting, Auckland Racing Club's rreat Northern Meeting at Ellerslie, Auckland Trotting Club’s Winter Meet-. ing. Cricket: Results of Plunket Shield Cricket, Cricket Test Match, Australia vy. New Zealand, rebroadcast by 3YA. 2YA. | ; Rugby and Football: Wellington v. Manawhenua, Otago v. Wellington, Canterbury y. Wellington, rebroadcast

by 38X¥A; North v.- South Island match, rebroadeast by 3YA. Racing and Trotting: Wellington Racing Club’s Spring Meeting at Trentham, rebroadeast by 8YA; Wellington Trotting Club’s September Meeting, Hutt Park; Wellington Racing Club’s March. Meeting; Marlborough Racing Club’s Meeting at Trentham; Wellington Trotting Club’s March -Meeting rebroadcast by 3YA; Wellington Trotting Club’s September Meéeting, Hutt Park. SYA. . Rugby and Football: Rugby Chal-. lenge Cup, North v. South’s Sub-Uni-ons, Canterbury v. Taranaki, Canterbury v. South Canterbury, Canterbury vy. Otago. Rebroadcast of 2YA on occasion of Canterbury v. Wellington match. a Racing and Trotting: New Zealand Cup Carnival (1926); Easter Race Meeting (1927); New Brighton Trots; New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Meeting at Addington; Canterbury Jockey Club’s February Meeting, Riccarton ; Metropolitan Trotting Club’s. Easter Meeting at Addington; Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter Meeting at Riccarton, 1928. Rebroadcast of Wellington Racing Club’s Spring Meeting from 2YA, and Wellington Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting from 2YA. Cricket: Rebroadcast from "1YA of results of the Test matches between Australia and-New Zealand teams. Description on relay of the Test match Australia v. Canterbury from Lancaster Park. Cycling: Cycling Championships. we broadcast from English Park. A. : Rugby and Football: Southland v. Otago; All Blacks Trials. Racing and Trotting: Dunedin Trot-

4 ting Club’s Meeting, Worbury Park $ Dunedin Trotting Club’s May Meeting, Forbury Park. Sricket: Test Cricket--Australia Ve New Zealand; Australia y. Otago. — Boxing: Griffiths v.- Gillespie, . Drill Hall, Dunedin; Gillespie v. Leckie, Drill Hall. | "THE average listener can have little idea of the amount:of detail work entailed in arranging these fixtures, as, after securing the ‘necessary permission, suitable announcers -have‘to be found, lines laid and tested by the Telegraph Department, apparatus taken to the field and: many minor details attended to. We could not conclude this report without a .word. of uppreciation of the officials of the Post and Telegraph Department, who are responsible for the installation of the relay lines and who have been of the greatest assistance.to the company in seeing that everything is in order before the broadcast actually takes place, They have. at all times proved themselves courteous and obliging, and both the public and the Radio Broddcasting Company are very largely indebted to them for the efficiency of the relays.

No. Hours. Racing and trotting 6+ 3034 Rugby footpail 71 124} Criclet 20 'Tennis Boxing Notor icports 1 1 1 Swimming Soccer Rebroadeasts 12 41_ 206 574}