Empire Wireless Service

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 19, 18 November 1932, Page 5

Empire Wireless Service

Christmas Programme to be Broadcast

"THE British Broadcast Corporation has now completed arrangements for its scheme for supplying all parts of the Empire with a wireless service, from December 19 next, on a_ short wavelength from Daventry. Programmes of two hours’ duration will be transmitted at the following times :-- Australian zone (including New Zealand) : 9.30 a.m, to 11.30 a.m. Indian zone: 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. West African zone: 8.30 p.m, to 10,30 p.m. Canadian zone: 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. One innovation is the provision of a list of programmes recorded on gramophone dises for transmission from local stations throughout the Empire. Mr. J. H. Whitley, chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation, formerly Speaker of the House of Commons, speaking at a wireless exhibition in Manchester in September, in reference to the Empire service, said that the building was complete, the plant almost ready, and in a few weeks’ time tests would begin. They hoped to be able to broadcast to the Empire a part of the Christmas programme, though it

might be some months longer before the complete service was established. The outlay.on the big British shortware station, with its seventeen aerials, is expected to be £40,000, and its annual running cost £50,000. The present intention is not to seek Dominion contributions to this big sum for upkeep, but there is a possibility that the Crown colonies, for whom the new transmissions will be an inestimable boon, may be asked to contribute a license fee of 5/+ per set. The new venture may be regarded as a definite challenge to static. It will mark a vast improvement upon the service given by 5SW, and will provide something far better than a fragmentary snatch of music or speech fighting 2 losing battle with Morse and electrical uproar, such as has previously passed for Empire broadcasting. Perfection will not be achieved immediately, but future prospects are regarded as decidedly bright, and a new virility will be infused into broadeasting in many parts of the world through this patriotic effort of the B.B.C. The programme will be heard in New Zealand from 9.30 p.m. to 11.30 pm. (summer time).