Distinguished Visitor

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 9, 12 September 1930, Page 6

Distinguished Visitor

A Radio Writer ( ® AN interesting visitor to Wellington dt the present time is Mr. Malcolm A. Frost, special correspondent of "World Radio," one of the publications of the British Broadcasting Corporation, London. Mr. Frost is a writer of plays and short stories of distinction, and. has specialised in the production of radio plays. In this field he has produced a number of his own works for both the British Broadcasting Corporation and Continental stations. Recently he was engaged by the National Broadcasting Company in America. to demonstrate English methods of ploduction in their studio. In the couysey of a month, in association with that company, Mr. Frost studied American methods, and gave their staffs an insight into the methods of production utilised by himself. One of the features which struck Mr. Frost in connection with his American experience, was the manner in which he was asked at three days’ notice to pro-

duce one of his own plays. To enable this to be done, the National Broadcasting Company scrapped a previously selected programme throughout its chain of stations and arranged for the production of Mr. Frost’s play. .° orchestra of 35 and a choir of 16 specially engaged for the production. Fixpense was no object, as is indicated by the fact that the whole of the musical score had to be specially written for the orchestra and choir from Mr. Frost’s own pianoforte MS.. Incidentally, it is of interest to Know that the National Broadcasting Company, which, with the Columbia Broadcasting Company, is one of the (Concluded on page 29.)

— Distinguished Visitor ee

(Continued from page 6.) two big factors in American broadcasting, does not own the whole of the stations through which its programmes are disseminated. It works on a2 system of supplying programmes to these privately-owned stations. The stations can utilise their programmes or not, as they prefer. If they are used payment is made. On the other hand, if the National Broadcasting Company undertakes for a comprehensive pavment a publicity venture, then each of the stations linked up in that venture receives its share of the fee paid. Mr. Frost is visiting New Zealand partly by way of holiday, but also to tudy broadcasting systems throughout ine world. By special arrangement ith the shipping company owning the vessel by which he is travelling, Mr. Frost is earrying his short-wave receiving equipment with him, and is concentrating upon records of the reception of 5SW in various parts of the world. In New Zealand he is. finding reception not particularly good. From New Zealand Mr. Frost proceeds to Australia, where he will also investigate the Australian broadcast methods. Immediatély on his arrival in liagton Mr. Frost visited 2YA, and was promptly commandeéered for participation in the Children’s Session. With Mr. Ball and Aunt Molly a general conversation was enjoyed, which was broadcast to the children on Friday evening last. On other occasions, too, Mr. Frost was heard over the air. One feature in connection with New Zealand radio which has greatly struck Mr. Frost is the fact that British manufacturers of radio apparatus havé negietted the colonial market. The amount of American radio apparatus sold in New Zealand was a surprise to our visitor, and on his return to England he purposes impressing upon DWnglish manufacturers the desirability of studying the needs of the overseas countries in radio apparatus. Not only is theré the New Zealand market, but that represented by Australia, South Africa, and the Argentine. Mr. Frost was in the Argentine twelve months ago, and was greatly struck by the possibilities of that country from the radio point of view. Many of the larger estancias have their own short-wave receiving sets, with which they can be in contact with thvir principal markets and other parts of the world.