WHY NOT PUSH ON BROADCASTING?

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 41, 24 April 1931, Page 4

WHY NOT PUSH ON BROADCASTING?

JNFORMATION was published this week regarding the progressive development of the system of regional stations by the "British Broadcasting Corporation. The new North Regional Transinitting Station being erected at Slaithwaite, on the Yorkshire moors, ata cost of £160,000, is shortly to be opened. Its purpose will be to provide alternative programmes for listéners in this area. It "will serve not only as a medium, for the transmission of London broadcasts, but will develop a life of its own in portraying and express-‘ing-local culture. Another regional station at Falkirk, Scotland, is in she course of erection, so that the completion of the Corporation’s full . ‘régiorial system is almost in sight. . Some two years ago the Radio. Broadcasting Company submitted to: the: Government a scheme for the establishment of relay. stations in main provincial towns. These were designed to. relay selected ‘programmes from the main stations, with all of’.which they would be linked up, and also through their own studios to give opportunity for the talent in the towns concerned to be utilised.. That scheme; of "course; was dependent upon a readjustment of the terms’ of the -Company’s contract with the Government. No public action was taken »by. the Government in connection with it, but last session announce‘ment was made by the Postmaster-General that, on termination of the Company’s contract, it was intended to take over the service and embark upon the provision of a system of provincial stations throughout the Dominion, much on the same lines as the scheme submitted by the Broadcasting Company. Action: was suspended pending sub- — ‘mission of final details to Parliament this year: Since that time the economic situation of the country has suffered a drastic change. —

To-day the Dominion looks forward to an anticipated deficit of — less.than £5,500,000.in.its accounts for the financial year just begufi, This fact seems to us to have a material bearing upon the broadcasting situation, and to make it expedient for the Government's ideas to be re-cast. From the radio point of view an expanded service is wholly desirable,.and valuable time has been and is being lost. Particularly in times of depression is radio important. It provides cheap _and\effective: home amusement and instruction, What is required ‘now to make radio-of. more tise to the Dominion is. the provision of more stations, linked in a. comprehensive way, which will permit of a . bigger population being served: The whole point is, who is to provide that expanded service? ; . ‘We suggest: that the Government should face the facts. With a’ drastic deficiency of £5,500,000, the Government obviously ‘has but little. money to spare for: buying out the present’ Company and for additional capital. Apart from that fact, we believe it is increasingly recognised that it is better for the radio service to be in the hands of ‘an authority other than the Government, in order to secure fullest promptitude of action and economy. Where Government administration is involved, there inevitably grows up a system of involving much red tape. The population as a whole would be glad to see the broadcasting facilities extended in every way possible. The expansion indicated would make available the best of provincial talent for relay to town audiences, and town programmes for relay to country audietices. All parties would thereby benefit. The whole question is, has the present system failed and wherein can it be improved? There is also the economic situation as. it stands making it extremely undesirable for the. Government to add to its capital expenditure and administrative responsibilities and the jettisoning of six years of steady and progressive development of a service carefully planned‘and regulated by the Government of the day-all for what? an