B.B.C. Ran A Special Train To Opening of Droitwich

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 17, 2 November 1934, Page 20

B.B.C. Ran A Special Train To Opening of Droitwich

Mr. L. R. C. Macfarlane, Member of Broadcasting Board, Returns from Great Britain

"The British Broadcasting Corporation ran a special train to Droitwich from. London for the opening of its new high-power transmitter, and more than 400 pressmen made the journey," said Mr. L. R. C. Macfarlane, the South Island member of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, to a "‘Radio Record" representative this week. Mr. Macfarlane returned by the Rangitiki from London last week and had several interesting observations to make on the Progress of wireless in England.

"T WAS one of the people who went down to the opening ceremonyDroitwich is in Worcestershire, about 100.miles from London-and we were shown over the station in groups of 12, everything being explained in a very thorough way. The new. station is of 150 kilowatts power and is giving a very satisfactory coverage to the British Isles. The transmitting station is a tremendous building and also houses the generators, as the B.B.C, is generating its own power for the station. Broadcasting House, in London, is still used as the studio, the items being conveyed by land line to Droitwich for dissemination to listeners. "The B.B.C. has a splendid reputation and it is drawing on some of the finest talent in the world for its programmes. Actually, however, New Zealand is giving a longer service-in fact, the national stations in this country are on the air for almost double the number of hours that the English are. The average English listener hag 2 choice of two programmes, whereas some New Zealand listeners have a choice of three or four, The pro-

sTamme arrangement in England, however, is wonderful and is admired by broadcasting authorities in every part of the world. "I found some interest in New Zealand’s service 2: Home, mainly becanse We are practically the only country that is pursuing the same policy as Britain’s. The B.B.C. is giving a lot of attention to its overseas service and ,its programmes are looked for, not only in the Empire, but in such places as South America and the Rast; where there are thousands of English residents. Broadcasting House is a most interesting place, and I was able to give it a very close inspection. Colonial visitors with an interest in wireless are very courteously treated there. I was most impressed by the men wno have charge of England’s broadcasting interests-men of tolerant outlook and actuated by broad and sympathetic motives. ~ "There is no doubt, too, of the new interest in good music that radio has awakened in the young people. I went one night to a "prom" concert ‘in. the Queen’s: Hall, The seats had been

inerieatins — "{ taken out of thé stalls so that greater numbers could be accommodated and the place was packed-and mostly with .men and women'under 30. Nenr me were 2 couple én ‘hiking’ shorts and dusty shoes. They had walked in from the country to hear Sir Henry Wood and the B.B.C. orchestra-and the concert was ‘certainly worth it. During the season of the promenade concerts.‘ hundreds were turned away évery evening. "Television? Well at the moment the British broadcasting people are working on a new process, but they’ ate very, very guarded in their statements and it is difficult for the average person to discover just how near-or how far away-television feally is. Actually the B.B.C. is giving two television programmes a day, and I saw one of them -two girls singing and playing q piano. But the range is limited to 20 miles and the difficulty is that two sets are needed-one for receiving the sound and the other for the picture. "T went to Radiolympia in London. but there was nothing revolutionary there in the way of wireless equipment. There were lots of refinements for sets -gadgets for this and that-but nothing that was likely to mark a great change in receiving or transmitting. The Post Office had a display dealing with anti-interference devices, showing the ordinary householders how to deal with electrical equipment in their homes that was likely to cause interference.. I also saw a portable wireless set that weighed exactly seven ounces !"