Development of Wireless in Australia

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 13, 23 November 1928, Page 4

Development of Wireless in Australia

=mOTABLD developments A) have taken place lately in Australian broadcast- . ing. Six months ago By preity Ti there were in Australia make! eirht broadcasting stations designated "A" class; the revenue collected from listeners’ license fees was divided among these eight. To-day, seven of the "A" class stations are under united control. The eighth is 4QG Brisbane, which is owned and operated by the Queensland State Government. From the beginning of broadcasting in Australia, the two principal stations, 83LO Melbourne and 2FO Sydney, were owned partly by the same interests. For years the rivalry between 8LO and 3AR Melbourne, and between 2FC and 2BL Sydney was keen-at times almost bit-ter-and the competition certainly had the effect of stimulating the companies concerned to give listeners their best. The Royal Commission on broadcasting held last year was asked by many interests to recommend that the Commonwealth Government take over broadcasting in Australia, This advice was not acted upon by the Commission, which, however, pointed out the necessity for the companies to cooperate at least to the extent of not duplicating their programmes. Never-. theless, until recently, complaints continued to be made that 2FO and 2BL sometimes broadcast jazz music, talks, etc., simultaneously. A few months ago the Postmaster-General, whose Department supervises broadcasting, urged upon-the proprietors of the various stations the necessity for co-operation.

Station Amalgamation. ATELY things have happened rapidly. First 3LO Melbourne bought up 6WE Perth. Perth is the smallest capital in Australia, with the exception of Hobart. In the whole of West Australia, only 3740 listeners’ licenses have been taken out. 38LO Melbourne, with its greater revenue, has been abie to send comparatively highlypaid artists on the two thousand miles’ journey to 6WF, and the programmes of this station have in consequence been greatly improved. In Tasmania broadcasting was in a bad way; with revenue from less than 3000 licenses to keep 7ZL Hobart in operation, the programmes left much to be desired, and most Tasmanian listeners depended upon the mainland stations for their entertainment. TZU, however, has now been acquired by 8LO, and ‘here, too the position has improved. A month ago it was announced that in future 3LO would also control 5CL, the South Australian station at Adelaide. In the meantime the directors of 2170 and 2BL Sydney had been in conference, and first "co-operation," then "omalgamation" was announced, the New South Wales Broadcasting Company being formed to take over the two stations. Now arrangements have been made for the Melbourne and Sydney interests to combine, pringing under unified control all the "A" class stations except 4QG Brisbane. One result of the amalgamation has been to facilitate an interchange of

artists, and many listeners have welcome dL the new arrangement. In the past neither 2FO nor 2B Sydney feit justified in incurring the expense of n high-class orchestra. This has now been done, and the New South Waies Broadeasting Company’s Symphony Orchestra is really a delight to listeners to both stations. At present the new orchestra consists of sixteen performers, and it is to be strengthened to twenty-six. The five-year licenses of the "A" class station will all expire in about twelve months’ time, and the Government has been asked to renew then. Future Control. EN July the Commonwealth Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, announced that the Federal Government is to take over at valuation the plant, equipment and mechanical means of broadcasting of all "A" class stations and relay stations. ‘The provision of programmes will be let out on three years’ contract by the Government, but the Postmaster-General will have full power, should the programmes not be up to standard, to withhold a portion of the fees payable to the contractor, or to cancel the contract. The system so far adopted-that of paying to broadcasting companies a proportion of the listening fees-had generally worked satisfactory, it was stated, but because of the greater concentration of population in some States results had beeen irregular. Applieations will be invited for the provision of news and entertainment for

the whole of Australia on thrée-year licenses, for which payment yill be made on the basis of a percentage of the license fees received. PNT mechanical work of broadcasting will either be carried out by technical organisations under contract with the Government. or the station will be leased to the entertainment contractor for the period of the coniract. It is proposed to give all "B" class stations which do not participate in license fees equal opportunities to "get on the air." Advisery Committee Appointed. A N honorary committee has been formed; its members are: Mr. H. P. Brown, Director of Postal Services; Mz. Hammond, §K.C., chairman of the Royal Commission on Wireless; Professor J. P. B. Madsen, of Syduey University; and Mr. W. H. Swanton, who was business adviser to the Post-\master-General during the first two years of the Bruce-Page Government. The committee will advise the Goyvernment on regulations affecting broadcasting, on the location of main and relay stations, on research and its application, and will generally supervise programmes in the interests of the public. The location of stations, including relay stations, and of wavelengths, will be investigated, and con- tinuous research will be carried out and financed with the balance of license fees, after payment has been made to the entertainment contractor A Federal election is to be helt shortly-probably before the end of the year-and the National Government’s policy will be challenged by the Opposition (Labour), which favours State ownership, control and manageinent.