"B" CLASS STATIONS.

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 30, 6 February 1931, Page 4

"B" CLASS STATIONS.

VARIOUS developments of interest have been reported in the past week in connection with the position of B class stations and the Australian Performing Right Association. As indicated last week, many B Class stations felt themselves compelled to close down because of their inability to meet the requirements of the proprietors of the copyright. In one case, however, it'is reported that a separate agrevment has been reached between a local station and the Performing Right Association. This is in connection with the Manawatu Radio Club and its station 2ZF. This station is on a different basis from the ordinary B class station run by a proprietary organisation. It is controlled by the Manawatu Radio Club, the subscribers to which . support their local station for the sake of its local value and service. The nature of the agreement reached is not indicated, but in the cir‘cumstances of the club it may be assumed to be of a reasonable character. "ARRANGEMENTS have also been completed in Dunedin between the committee of the Otago Radio Association and the Australian Performing Right Association for Station 4ZB to work under a. license from the Association for the ensuing year. This will permit that station also to restume activities on the air. Prior to the foregoing agreement being effected, it was reported in the Press that the New Zealand Radio Listeners’ League Executive had decided to ask the Government to undertake the payment from listeners’ fees of a sum to be agreed upon by the Postal Department and the Performing Right Association in satisfaction of the Association’s demands, until the expiry of the license for transmission at present held by the

Broadcasting Company of New Zealand. This resolution is ineffec- Y tive from the start, because a definite contract is in existence between the Government and the Radio Broadcasting Company which does not. permit of variation. If the Government likes to make any payment from its own funds on the lines asked by this executive, that would be within its rights; but the proposal to raid the funds of listeners for this purpose is at present out of court, and in any case would, we believe, be strongly opposed by the great majority of listeners. This action, however, raises an issue of which we have always seen the danger in connection with B class stations. Started initially as commercial enterprises for the benefit of their sponsors, it was patent to most that, after a period, the cost of maintaining those stations would become burdensome upon those responsible, and that relief would be sought at the expense of the revenue provided by listeners. Because of the danger thus presented, we have always opposed" the undue development of B class stations, and have pointed out to listeners the possible danger. Division of the revenue provided by listeners % the maintenance of a first-class broadcasting service into two part® would have the immediate effect of doubling overhead, increasing capital outlay and maintenance, and creating two weak services instead of one strong one. We do not see any likelihood of any Government in its senses agreeing to this proposal. The Government may he able by some other negotiations to lighten the burden of copyright payments, but to raid listeners’ funds for this purpose would not be in the interests of broadcasting in general. | ANOTHER danger presents itself to broadcasting in the certainty that some B class stations will use the position that has arisen in connection with copyright to urge that they be given the right to sell advertising time on the air. Fortunately the Postmaster-General, the Hon, J. B. Donald, is alive to the danger that would be presented by this course, and has declared himself absolutely opposed to a policy of allowing the air to be used for advertising purposes. The detailed danger to broadcasting, by any permission to allow the ether to be thus used for advertising is ably pointed out by a contributor in an article in another column. .His objections are valid and will be. definitely seconded by all concerned with the best interests of radio.