Rebroadcast of "All-Black" Match

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 51, 5 July 1929, Page 7

Rebroadcast of "All-Black" Match

Highly Successful Venture

REALISING the great interest which would centre round the "All-Black" matches, the first of which took place on Saturday last, the Broadcasting Company arranged for the broadcast of a running description of matches. Negotiations were set in train and the use of the shortwave station 2MH was contracted for, but the use of this station applied solely to the transmitting. Relay lines, an announcer, operators, and many other important factors stil. had to be arranged. Mr. Harris for some time seriously considered incurring the heavy additional expénse of sending to Sydney the company’s representative, to make the necessary arrangements and do the announcing. By the courtesy of 2BL, Sydney, however, this great difficulty was overcome, and it was arranged that 2BL and 2MP should broadcast simultaneously on the same relay. In this way the problem of the Syuney matches was solved, but those which are to be played in Brisbane. and Melbourne are still beset with difficulties. Mr. Harris is keenly anxious to arrange for shortwave transmissions in regard to those matches, and negotiatious are still proceeding. Saturday last the first of these broadeasts took place and listeners throughout New Zealand were able to listen in to the first match of the tour played by their team. During the afternoon it was announced that about 4.45 the stations would relay, or attempt to relay, 2M. At about this time the local programme was interrupted and the broadcast commenced. For a while it seemed that conditions would spoil the rebroadcast for a

slow fade and static were present. When, however, the listeners were switched over to the ground and interest properly aroused, conditions fortunately improved. ‘The shortwave station came in like the local. Volume and clarity were all that could be wished for, and the rebroadcast turned out to be one of the most successful yet. In opening, the sports announcer stated that the day left much to be desired. "Listen," he said, "and you may be able to hear the pit-a-pat of the rain falling on the umbrellas." One listened and there was certainly a background of noise, almost indistinguishable from light static. It was no doubt the rain. One could picture the huge, cheering crowd, the falling rain, the umbrellas and the besplashed team as they fought that hard, even game in the mud. New Zealanders are gratified to know their team were, under these conditions, able to draw their first match. When they strike form the matches will be even more interesting, and thanks to the enterprise of the Broadcasting Company, the co-operation of the Australian stations, 2ME and 2BL, and the technicians who enabled the New Zealand stations to rebroadcast, listeners can look forward to the broadcasts yet to come. The remaining fixtures which it is hoped to broadcast are: July 6 v. Australia, at Sydney. July 10 v. New South Wales, at Sydney. July 13 y. Victoria, at Melbourne. July 20 y. Australia, at Brisbane. July 24 vy. Queensland, at Brisbane.