EDITORIAL NOTES.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 30, 8 February 1929, Page 6

EDITORIAL NOTES.

CONGRATULATIONS may be extended to Mr. Allan Wilkie fo: his courtesy and breadth of vision in acquiescirig in the broadcast of two Shakespearean excerpis from next Friday evening’s performance at the Opera House, Wellington. Not only will 2VA interrupt its ordinary programme for these two items, but station 3YA will pick up the features and rebroadcast. By this means it is considered likely that some 80,000 people on that evening will hear the first broadcast in New Zealand of a stage performance of Shakespear. It will be interesting to have the views of listeners on this event. 4 THE British Broadcasting Corporation is now adopting the practice ' of issuing a regular annual report. From the copy just to hand some items of interest and value may be taken. The Corporation now operates twenty stations, serving a population of 42,000,000. The licensees number 2,400,000, an increase of 200,000 on the year. The liours of transmission over the 20 stations totalled 68,000, but approximately 85 per cent. of the important programmes are relays from 2LO or other major stations. The staff of the Corporation now totals nearly 1000, some 400 being on the technical and engineering side, and the balance in office and administrative capacities. As is but to he expected the general body of listeners are not slow in airing their views, and the Corporation received in the twelve months some 60,000 letters from listeners in reference to programmes alone, while no fewer than 26,000. letters were written to the technical experts pointing out deficiencies in transmission, etc., which the listener could detect, in spite of the best efforts of the technical staff to give perfect transmission. It would be interesting for our own Radio Broadcasting Company to supply similar comparative figures. The New South Wales Broadcasting Company, in a commentary upon the British figures, admits that it received in the past twelve months 5000 letter from listeners dealing with technical matters and 36,000 letters in connection with programmes. Allowing for the difference in the popu: lations served, therefore, it is very apparent that the Australian is either very much more prone to express himself, whether satisfied or dissatisfied, or else that he has more occasion to write than his British

confrere. The former is probably the more correct assumption. A comparison with the New Zealand figures would be particularly ra interesting. ’ [N one field the British Broadcasting Company has made noteworthy advance, and that is in connection with educational work in schools. Some 4000 schools are now linked up with wireless and receive regular instruction in various subjects by means of radio. This matter is being kept in view in New Zealand. Tests as between the YA stations and the Education Department were carried: out over a year ago, and a definite measure of success recorded in the various reports available at that time. Certain difficulties, however, it is understood, hedge the Department about in recommending a general adoption of the system. The offer of all facilities has been made by the Radio Broadcasting Company, and it awaits only official acceptance and the solution. of the problems presented for the system to be inaugurated here. JN the matter of news, two regular bulletins are issued, one ‘at 6.309 and the other at 9 pm. This news is gathered mainly from: official sources and from Reuters. In the main, it is understood, the British Press, which, of course, goes to great expense in securing news for itself, is reluctant to pass on to the British Broadcasting Corporation even summaries of the stories to be. given by it: This is understandable enough, but is in point of fact a little in contrast with the more liberal American policy, where the great news agencies not infrequently supply radio stations with the points of coming news items. In New Zealand, the Press, while naturally preserving and guarding its own interests in the matter of news, frequently extends generosity in news items. Summed up, the report of the British Broadcasting Corporation's activities covers a tremendous range of subjects, and indicates the growing magnitude of a modern broadcasting service if it.is to fully cater- for all the interests of listeners. More and more features require to be added in order to maintain and extend the popular use of radio. TTTTRLOSTTTTTITTILTTTITTT LTT T AEH ii tii eerie eee ECE