Radio in England

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 38, 5 April 1929, Page 31

Radio in England

Model for Other Countries RREPRESENTATIVES from many countries in Hurope-members of the Union Internationale de Radiophonie, the wireless parliament started 8} years ago at the instigation of the B.B.C. to discuss: broadcasting in all its aspects-have been in Hngland studying the production methods of the B.B.C., and comparing them with those of their own country, says the "Daily Mail." The side of the British work at which they have looked most closely is the dramatic and art side, and most of all the wonderful control board for dramatic productions. In this control board as many as seven independent studios may be linked up on one production. Seated in control the producer warns each studio by a flickering light when it must come in, brings in perhaps a band to accompany the actors in another studio, starts the effects room and tunes all three so that the listener hears each in due proportion; then, a sudden quick movement, and all three are "faded out" to bring in another studio. This control board is considered to have no equal in the world. Later in the year it is expected that a commission from Canada will arrive to study British methods. An official of the B.B.C., who was in Canada during the summer, said :- "The whole broadcasting scheme of Sanada is to be overhauled. It is not successful at the moment, and they will probably adopt a mixture between the Hinglish and American styles; that is, allow advertising for revenue purposes, but also have the tax on licenses as in Dngland."

UGO GHRNSBACK, editor of the New York "Radio News," sayst "So far, large radio manufacturers have turned out no radio set which can be sold to the public, capable of being tuned as readily on the short waves as it can be on the high waves. But it is safe to say that most of the large manufacturers are keeping a weather eye on the short-wave situation, and, if one or more break the ice and a good set that makes tuning on the short waves easy is developed, we will have another silent revolution in radio." TRUE to type, Viennese listeners have decided that symphony is preferable to sport-at all events to those who from choice or necessity must spend their Sunday afternoons at home. Recently tests were made with a view ‘to relaying commentaries from a well-known winter-sports centre in Austria. The idea of following these tests up by actual transmission was, however, dropped on representations being made that the minority who would be definitely interested would themselves probably be on skis or skates far from their receiving sets. HE old proverb, that there is no telling where lightning will strike next, lost somethiing of its application with the discovery of the lightning rod, It has been further limited by the discovery, according to a correspondent of "Wireless Age" (London), that French tests have shown that limestone soils are less visited than rocky or mineralised areas. This is attribute ed to the fact that the air over the latter is more highly ionised; and thig may also have its effect on vagaries of radio reception at different loca« tions, ,