2YA AND THE SILENT NIGHT.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 46, 30 May 1930, Page 6

2YA AND THE SILENT NIGHT.

A STATEMENT has been put into circulation that a promise was given that the silent night would be abandoned this year by 2YA, and also that the hours of service would be extended. We are somewhat at a loss to account for the origin of this statement, and would appreciate information from those using it, as to their authority for their statement. As readers will understand, we are closely in touch with the position, and at this writing have no recollection of any promise of this nature having been given by anyone in authority. We have been sufficiently interested to endeavour to trace the matter back, and have searched our own files for the last six months for any possible basis for the statement being made. As far as we can see, the genesis of the idea would seem to lie in an editorial published by ourselves on December 20 last. . In that editorial we discussed the growth of the Company’s service, and pointed out that it had voluntarily expanded the hours of service to approximately four times those it had contracted to give. We went on to say: "Even yet the service is not perfect-nor, we imagine, will it ever be! There is still the silent night. There are still some hours not filled with broadcasting! So some demand extensions and more extensions. We join them in so far as the silent night is concerned. Listeners, now substantially won to the policy of sticking to the local station and not ranging far afield with its risk of static and distortion, would like that abandoned. This is a matter of economics, and we imagine that it will be the next major concession to be granted Jisteners. It will, of course, represent a definite extra cost in the items of operating and programme provision, but looking back on the advances made over the last twelve months, we strongly hope that the incoming twelve will see the abandonment of the silent night." HAT expression of hope of our part would seem to have been construed as a definite promise that the silent night would be abandoned. It is, of course, quite apparent that it is not a promise. The decision as to the abandonment of the silent night lies entirely in the hands of the Radio Broadcasting Company. The "Radio Record"

pany to abandon the silent night and give continuity of evening service" That hope on our part, however, does not bind the Radio Broadcastivg . ‘Company, which must cut its coat accorling to its cloth, From our knowledge of the Company, we appreciate to the full its preparedness to expand service as revenue permits, and we sincerely hope that the» support of listeners will be sufficient to warrant the continuity of service in the comparatively near future. . endorses the hope of listeners that it will be possible for the