METHODS IN BROADCASTING.

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 37, 27 March 1931, Page 4

METHODS IN BROADCASTING.

THE discussion in the British Houses of Parliament upon the service and programmes of the British Broadcasting Corporation serves to emphasise the real merit of the work of that body. Probably the greatest tribute to its outstanding éfficiency, and the genuine service being rendered by it to the community, is contained in the statemeut that there are now 3,500,000 licensed listeners in Great Britain. This means that approximately half the population contributes to the revenue of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and benefits by its activities. THE only point upon which criticism apparently fastened was the allegation that there was a.tendency to introduce political bias into the programmes. This charge, however, was not sustained. Speaking on behalf of the Corporation, Lord Gainford, the actingchairman, declared that programmes were prepared to give a maximum of interest and entertainment, and he declared there was no justification for the charge of bias or propaganda. This declaration may be taken at its full value. Under its constitution, the British Broadcasting Corporation is set apart from political interference, and is free from any vestige of Government control. The Corporation has provel itself to be imbued with high ideals of service to the community and the listening public, and, blessed with an abundant revenue, has set itself to fulfil its function of giving entertainment and instruction to the community. As Lord Crawford emphasised, no country in the . world enjoyed more varied programmes than did Britain, and nowhere were there more remarkable men contributing the best of their knowledge to broadcasting. The list of names of notable men who regularly appeared before the microphone is indeed impressive, and emphasises the wonderful service secured by British listeners. "THE point of particular interest to New Zealand listeners in connection with this debate is its bearing upon the system of control of broadcasting services. In large part the ideals and procedure of the British Broadcasting Corporation have been adapted to the Dominion. ‘Here there is a unified service operated by one authority. Certainly this is controlled by private enterprise under contract from the

Government. That is advisable in the special circumstances of tite country,.as it,secures efficiency in administration and a comprehensi organisation of available talent. The British method is in outstanding contrast to that which has developed in America. There, as listeners know by the extracts which appear in our columns from time to time, there is no real homogeneity in the programmes presented to the public. Entertainment, because of the competitive nature of the various services, dominates the situation, and broadcasting is failing to give that educational service of which it is capable. In New Zealand the educational factor is being developed to some extent, but has not been over-emphasised. There is, of course, not available that galaxy of talent of which Britain is possessed, but, to their credit, many leaders of thought in the Dominion have willingly given service before the microphone. The debate in the House of Lords comes as a triumphant vindication of the general methods of the British Corporation and their application in practice.