Empire Short-Wave Broadcasting

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 11, 26 September 1930, Page 6

Empire Short-Wave Broadcasting

eT To be Considered by Imperial Conference -_--- =e

QNE by one the obstacles which have ‘ stood in the way of the establishment of Empire broadcasting have been overcome, until now we learn that the last excuse for delay, mamely, the problem of funds, has been solved by the Colonial Conference. We understand (says the "Wireless World’) that the establishment and maintenance of an Empire ‘short-wave station at an approximate cost of £238,000 has been agreed to, the cost to be borne by the Colonial Office, which will also be responsible for the maintenance of the station, while the B.B.C. will staff the station and conduct its, transmissions. The British Broadcasting Corporation, it will be remembered, had recently expressed their willingness te 4 I aN Oe ES eS eT OY i TS ee eres

run the station, provided out-of-pocket expenses were met, and it is therefore assumed that the sum now agreed upon to be furnished by the Colonial Office is intended to cover these out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the erection and maintenance of the station. Reuter’s News Agency, we understand, has been approached and has agreed to provide a special news service for the Dmpire station at an’ annual cost of £3000, to be involved, as the B.B.C. has undertaken to relay its programmes day by day.

This ts exceedingly welcome news, and, since the final decisions have now been taken, there should be no further delay in the establishment of the station. The transmitter will in all probability be erected in the neighbourhood of Daventry, in proximity to the existing B.B.C. stations there. As soon as the station is erected it will no doubt take over the service at present being conducted through 5SW at Chelmsford. Just how long it will be before the station is ready for service must largely depend upon the enthusiasm shown by the B.B.O., but in view of the generous attitude which they recently adopted toward the scheme as soon as they learnt that

it had strong support from the repre-. sentatives of the colonies meeting in London, we do not think that the period for the erection and inauguration of the station is likely to. -be prolonged. We have previously been informed that the aim of the B.B.C., in the event of funds for the cost of the station being provided, would be. to conduct a twenty-four hour service. Just how this is going to be arranged is not clear at present, but no doubt the B.B.C. will find some means of overcoming any difficulty in the way of conducting such a continuous transmission. . We may perhaps expect that the first efforts in this direction may take the form of recording the day’s programme and rebroadcasting from the record during the night hours. Such; an arrangement would provide the 24

hours’ continuous programme and enable listeners in all parts of the world to participate. How unanimous must have been the support given to Empire broadcasting by the Colonal Conference is indicated by the fact that it is understood that the question will not be raised again at the Imperial Conference, as it is considered that the matter has been virtually. settled. After so many years of hoping and urging for the establishment of an Hmpire service, it is intensely gratify- | ing to learn that the accomplishment of this ideal now approaches fulfilment. The value of an Dmpire broadcasting service can scarcely be overestimated, and perhaps no more opportune time than the present can be found for its inauguration. p=