EDITORIAL NOTES.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 12, 16 November 1928, Page 6

EDITORIAL NOTES.

‘A RATHER curious position has arisen in connection with the broadcasting of the Auckland Municipal Band concerts. Up to recently both band concerts and organ recitals from the Town Hall were broadcast, in terms of an agreement between the company and the City Council, but just prior to the expiration of the agreement the Broadcasting Company advised the City Council that it did not wish a renewal, so far as the organ recitals were concerned, as they were not popular with listeners. : THE municipal concerts are not a financial success for the City ) Council, and when it came to the opening of negotiations regarding the band entertainments, the figure quoted to the Broadcasting Company for the right to broadcast the band concerts was £750 for a year. The council fixed this price in order to make sure that the concerts would pay their way, but in making the proposition the council did not take into account the Broadcasting Company’s viewpoint. HE council’s offer comprises 37 concerts, which would average more than £20 a concert. In addition, 26 of the concerts would be given in various parks in the city, so that in addition to the sum paid to the council, 1YA would have to face relay expenses to three different parks, one of which is over. three miles from the studio. THE City Council has been adamant in the attitude it has taken up, | and will not accept less than £750, which figure is, of course, impossible from 1YA’s point of view. Labouring under a misapprehension, due to viewing the municipal concerts from a wrong angle, the City Council blames broadcasting for the unsatisfactory financial results, and in setting such a high figure for the right to broadcast the council evidently wishes the company to guarantee it against loss. The figure in question is £250 higher than the bandmaster’s salary,.so that the council would have:to stand very little loss in the event of the attendance at the concerts being practically nil. The council overlooks the fact that for the figure asked 1YA could form a band of its own with a first-class conductor. Broadcasting is not to blame for the losses incurred by municipal concerts. There is room for further investigation by the council.