Radio Round the World

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 21, 4 December 1931, Unnumbered Page

Radio Round the World

© "falSe fancies about the possibilities ‘of television are entertained by the Italian broadcasting authorities. We learn that, jn an official letter sent to a number of Italian listener's who were clamouring for’ the establishment of a "Television Theatre," it is declared-that, having regard to the present state of television, such theatre would only bring discredit io the art and serve no useful purpose. The authorities give the assurance, however, that television developments are being closely watched, and that an experimental television station may soon be erected in Turin. . * *

R. O. H. CALDWELL has been telling the American public a little more about the future of radio. On the last occasion the ex-member of the Federal Radio Comission wrote of the benign infinence of the loudspeaker in the chicken-coop; this time, in the September Journal of American Military Mngineers, he foretells the inevitable extinction of the regimental brass band. In future, it appears, the troops will march to victory behind a band wagon fitted with thermionic "toobs" and a "phonograph" amplifier. This should soon put an end to war. * * e ° ‘H'OR the purpose of making its programmes more interesting, the broadcasting station at Palermo, Italy, recéntly initiated a music-guessing competition for its listeners. livery Friday, at 9 p.m., three gramophone reeords are broadcast without any announcement whatever as to the identity of the music and the composer. Those sending in correct solutions draw lots for the three records of-. fered as prizes.

MBERICAN genuis for choosing the right word is shown in the description of the proposed broadcast relay station at Washington. It is called a "booster." It is believed that this 250-watt station may be the forerunner of a chain of "boosters," leading to single wavelength working all over the United States. A new battle is breaking out between America’s two rival broadeasting chains-the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia system-each of which is making frantic efforts to buy up stations Whose owners are wiable to make them paying propositions. * % By HE Columbia broadcasting system recently inaugurated a new plan of religious broadcasting. Formerly transmissions of this kind were paid for, but the commercial basis will now be removed, and time will be placed at the disposal of the Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish communities on cach Sunday free of charge. The relative numerical strength of the principal religious organisations of

America determines the time to be allotted to each. Fo # * J SALOSY and mistrust among rival radio interests were referred to by M. Guernier, the French P.M.G., in a recent speech in counection with the opening of the Autumn Radio Salon at the Paris Colonial Exhibition. M. Guernier said that the delay in regularising French broadcasting was due to the corflict of two schoolsone wanting a State radio monopoly and the other a measure of private liberty with State supervision. To abolish jealousy between large centres of population, each of which demands its own station, M. Guernier proposes to set up high-power regional stations of 60 k.w. or more, which would cover not merely individual towns but definite areas of country. He revealed that the 1931-22 Budget allocates £520,000 solely for the development of broadcasting, The main fear in French wireless circles is that this ‘adio-minded P.M.G. will be dethroned from his post before the proposals

materialise, The Government has already been in power for several months -a long period for a. French Mini- _ stry. . * % * ($ZECHO-SLOVAKIA has set a new fashion by dedicating a Sunday to the popularisation of broadcasting, The affair took place on September 20, when special programme were’ broadcast and public demonstrations were held. The colebrations actualla began on the previous evening, which was marked by "a model radio programme" in which the best artists and the most notable speakers took their share in spreading the gospel of radio. On the Sunday afternoon a radio-equipped aeroplane flew oyer Prague and maintained a spirited conversation, which was broadcast, with ground: stations. The postal authorities co-operated by giving letters a special postmark as "Radio Sunday." * * = "THE King of Siam, who is ibhicn to be one of the world’s most radio-minded monarchs, has just. purchased a television receiver from the Jenkins Television Corporation of New Jersey, During his recent stay in America King Prajadhinok visited several hroadeasting stations. radio traffic offices. and radio factories. hesides purchasing a collection of shortwave sets with which to keep in touch with the world at large on his return to Siam.