Views and Suggestions of a Listener

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 51, 5 July 1929, Page 3

Views and Suggestions of a Listener

Various Controversial Points Discussed

THE ‘writer of the letter below first forwarded his article to the Radio Broadcasting Coy., which duly . replied to him. We are therefore able to present both sides for the views of readers. , A Review. LANCING over last week’s issue of "the "Radio Record," I noticed t) article "dealing with the present " @Pism of the Radio Broadcast Co., its work. The article referred to’ sets out various points, and in its way is a very fair commentary. There is, however, another side of the matter, and as listeners-either past or present, are invited to give their views, the following remarks are submitted :- Taking my own case first: I have been a listener for over two years. I have not renewed my license for present year, and do not intend to while the conditions continue as at this writing. Now for reasons :- First-No variety to speak of-all programmes possess the "sameness" of the average boarding-house breakfast. Select any programme at random and compare it with another ‘of 18 months back; what general difference or improvement is there? Some time back the .R.B.C., through the "Record," took a vote to find the popular tastes in the different centres of New Zealand. This test certainly showed how fond the listening public is of "jazz," heavy operatic items, etc., and gave the verdict in no uncertain manner. What notice was taken of this "vote"? Apparently none. Secondly.-Too much gramophone. This averages nearly half of total time. Now, most of us have- machines of our own and can use them to suit our tastes; Le.: what we like, and when we like it.’ To run a four-tube set costs in my case £8 per year, including license, batteries, valve replacements, and sundries, entirely too much to pay for the privilege of listening to somebody else’s records. Thirdly -In changing children’s hour and replacing it with more gramophone, ‘you have lost many friends. This children’s hour appeals to thousands of parents, who now ch home of an evening (from work) ‘tog late to listen to ‘what, in my very humble opinion, was the brightest, happiest, and most "real" part of the entire day's programmes. ‘To these folks the "Aunts" and "Uncles" were real, living friends, who they now rarely if ever hear-they are moved away to'make room for another dozen gramophone records of very doubtful tausical quality. , Fourthly.-Too much "jazz." Some listeners, of course, like this sort of thing, but many more detest. it--each

pays the same license fee and is entitled to consideration in proportion to their numbers; still I would suggest keeping the different classes of music separate, so that the many who dislike what a friend of the writer calls "musical garbage’ will know when to switch off the set. Probably someone will suggest to switch in another station; but the majority know this cannot be done with the ordinary’ commercial set while 2YA is on the air-so they either have to accept what this station puts out, or shut down altogether. Question: Why should this station, with its huge power, be permitted to "poison the ether" for listeners who do not like its items. This phrase is not

original, but was used in conversation by a party to whom the writer was introducing a modern four-tube set. His remarks were: "As I see it, I am compelled to pay 30/- yearly for programmes that I do not want, and pay this to help 2YA poison the ether so that I cannot receive the other New Zealand and Australian stations that I do want, the latter of which get no part whatever of this fee?" These are not exactly the writer’s ideas, but they certainly represent the opinion of many hundreds in Wellington at least. Reduce the power of local station It is not necessarycrystal users had better reception when 2YB was broadcasting from local station some time back on the lower power. If a cut were made it would allow all set owners to operate in comfort; at present many valve set owners fee] they are being squeezed out for the sake of crystal users and are re-sentful-very. What this interference really means is shown by adver-

tisements in the "Record," specially featuring the fact: "Will cut out 2YA" as the: strongest inducement to buyand it is! In another part of the "Radio Record" joy is expressed at the number’ of licenses already issued this year, and this is taken to mean approval of the R.B.C’s. policy. Good; but how many of these are normal new licenses? How many are due to the "Southern Cross" accident (and rescue), ete.? Then, consider how many of the older class of licenses are xot being renewed, and the crowd who are dropping out of the "radio" circle for some of the reasons set out above. Personally the writer knows of a very great number who are disgusted and SS EEE EE: Bee

disappointed and refuse to re-license. Here, undoubtedly, is to be found the reason for the various societies lately coming into existence, most of which are frankly antagonistic to the R.B.C. and its work, or policy. The agitation for B class stations in the country is largely due to same cause. People are not satisfied, they think the company is "getting into a rut’ and needs some competition to stir it up. New Zealand ought to have 65,000 listeners’ licenses or more. We are making no progress. Why? In conclusion, the writer believes that the company is really trying to make a success, and actually endeavouring to please the public. Possibly some facts from the listener’s side may help, and it is with this in view that these notes have been written.-‘Hos." . Company in Reply. JN reply, the General Manager of the , Radio Broadcasting Coy. wrote in detail :-~

Programmes.-The sources from which talent for ‘our programmes is drawn are limited, particularly as we are not in a position to send artists on tour among our stations or import, special, entertainers from overseas. Such an arrangement is one. worthy of consideration when circumstances permit, but in the meantime we are of the opinion that as a result of ¢ooperation between the Company and the available artists at each of the centres, including those from overseas who are visiting the Dominion, considerable improvement is noticeable in the programmes. Since the inception of the Company it has been apparent to us that it is an impracticability to please everyone at all times. It is evident that each listener is entitled to consideration in that his license fee contributes to the service, but it is an unfortunate circumstance that as promoters of @ public utility we are unable to individualise in arranging our pro grammes, but must formulate our plans generally in accordance with the

requirements of the majority. To this end a thorough investigation is constantly conducted of every possible source of talent. Then again it must be remembered that we are unable to choose our audience. Unlike the promoter of a eoncert for stage purposes, who arranges and provides his items in accordance with the requirements of a particular type of audience whom he knows will attend, we must of necessity bear in mind that each one of our programmes is broadcast to an audiénce which we cannot number and which is representative of possibly every shade of musical temperament. Thus we endeavour as far as we possibly can to co-ordinate the programmes of each station such that whilst each broadcasts a different definite type of programme on each night oft the week, the programmes are so arranged that a listener with a suitable receiving set can choose one of four different types of programmes on each night on which our stations are operating simultaneously. For listeners who are able to tune in only one station, the programmes vary from night to night, and in addition to this we arrange for relay or re- broadcast transmissions when circumstances permit for the purpose of adding variety and novelty. More recently we have been featuring long distance relays which, having been made practicable by the co-operation of the Post and Telegraph Department, have enabled us to broadcast entertainment and functions which would otherwise have been unavailable for this purpose. An investigation is constantly conducted of every possible source of broadcast entertainment, Gramophone Records.-With the exception of dance programmes broadeast during the evening sessions ,the period devoted to the broadcasting of records during the evening is less than 25 per cent. of the total evening

broadcasting time. ‘This provision is stipulated by regulation, but apart from this, we may assure you that we have no desire or intention to utilise gramophone récords where we are able to provide similar items with reasonable artistry from the studio. In the ease of dance programmes we have found that records adapt themselves admirably for this purpose, and further, offer a very wide selection of items. As far as we can gather from the mail which passes through this office, this practice is approved, although as we pointed out above, it is not our intention to utilise gramophone records unnecessarily, particularly where studio items of a similar type are available. Dinner Music.-This has a wide appeal both to the farming community and. the town folk. Circumstances will not permit of the farmer listening to either the afternoon or the evening concert session, and ‘the dinner session provides an hour of musical entertainment in his particular interests. Unfortunately it was necessary to move: the children’s hour forward one hour, and although there has hardly been opportunity to investigate thoroughly the acceptability of the extension of schedule’ and re-arrange-ment, we have considerable evidence of their popularity. The children’s session is, of course, broadcast in the particular interests of the children themselves, thus whilst we appreciate the interest which is manifested by many of the adults in this session, we had more especially to satisfy ourselves that any change would not adversely affect the entertainment derived by the younger listeners. Power of 2YA-There can be litile doubt that listeners within the vicinity. of 2YA have to take special precautions to cut the high powered station out to permit reception of outside stations and to avoid overloading —

and consequent distortion. This condition of affairs cannot, however, be regarded entirely as a fault of the transmitting station, which serves a much wider area than that represented by Wellington city. Persons who have not receiving sets are not obliged to take out licenses, and in view of the fact that there are selective receivers on the market and we understand that demonstrations of any set can be made, it would seem desirable that an intending purchaser should listen to the set he proposes to buy prior to actually purchasing it. We are of the opinion that every license fee is amply repaid, even by the programmes from one station, but a prior demonstration will dismiss any misapprehension as to the capabilities of a particular receiver should reception of outside stations be desired, Our service is cumulative to the extent that its development depends upon the patronage which is associated with it, and we may assure you that we are doing everything possible with the means at our disposal. A public utility service cannot be promoted and developed successfully to its fullest extent over-night, but to indicate. that progress is being made we might mention that at the present time there are some 40,000 subscribers to our service, whereas at the corresponding time last year the licensed radio listeners in New Zealand numbered 33,000 odd. Further, the above figures would suggest that by far the majority of last year’s listeners have renewed their licenses. Our experience has proved that the growth in licenses ig'- a natural one and accelerated very slightly, if at all, by such individual features as the transmissions dyring the Tasman flight, the election broadcasts, overseas rebroadcasts, and long distance relays. Such broadcasts contribute to the efficiency of the service as a whole, but the latter is the basis upon which the Company’s work must be judged.