New Plans for Pleasing all Listeners at all Times

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 22 February 1935, Page 6

New Plans for Pleasing all Listeners at all Times

_, Broadcasting Board’ New Schedule

W ITH the issue of the new schedule of programmme arrangements for the four maiti national stations | and their alternatives, published for the first time on pages 30 and 31 of to-day’s "Radio Record," listeners will be provided with a generally more satisfactory plan for broadcasts in New Zealand. No doubt there will be those who think that too much additional time is to be given to this or that feature on programmes, but it must be conceded that the Broadcasting Board has made a_ serious and thoughtful effort to provide forall tastes at all times, and it is to be commended for the decided advance shown on the plan which lapses on February 28.

From March 1 onwards the.most no‘ticeable difference in: the programmes will probably be in the dance sessions. Exclusive, of Sundays, the proportion of high-brow music and low-brow music is evenly balanced, although, if the dance sessions allowed for after 10. p.m, be. excepted, ‘there is a. preponderance ‘of quality music, But half-hour sessions have ‘been eliminated and the light music concentrated into longer sessions at more suitable times for ‘the benefit -of dance music enthusiasts. ~ One Saturday in each month each station broadcasts an ‘extended dance session from 9 p.m. to- 11.80. p.m., thus giving the listener with, ‘a suitable receiver a ‘two and a-half. hour dance session once 2 .week, Provision has also been made fora regular. alternation of modern and old-time :dance music, The over-all percentage of dance music has been slightly. increased, by the provision of the extra. Saturday night hours. An.increase has also. been made in the percentage of classical and symphonic music, and each station now has one night a week, in addition ‘to ‘one Sunday a month, devoted to this type of entertainment, Hitherto, symphonic musi¢ has been confined; in the main, to Sundays, Additional ‘provision for operatic music has also been effected,

as is the case with major works, and the total time devoted each week to chamber music has been increased from 160 minutes to 200 minutes. Programmes of a purely miscellaneous type have been considerably curtailed. Better service for the man who is mainly interested in talks has been provided for in the rearrangement of the times of presentation. In future talks will be presented from 9 o’clock to 9,20 from 1YA and 8YA, and from 8.40 to 9 o’clock from 2YA and 4YA. This gives listeners the oportunity of selecting from a wider choice than before. Interstation relays between Christchurch and Dunedin have been reduced to 26 a year. The board’s aim is to relay the cream of the talent in either centre, including local music societies. A definite allocation has been made for occasional

band music on Sunday evenings Hitherto, no definite provision had been. made, with the exception of 1YA. Midweek band sessions are the same as last year, ° After the programme guide has reached all listeners-delivery is to start through the post offices within a few’ days-the board’s stations will broadcast an explanatory announcement to elucidate the details of the plan, a scrutiny of which will enable listeners to select at a glance the programme they desire. Contrasting types of programmes have been allowed from the alternative stations respectively in each centre, so the comprehensive schedule as published in this issu should be valued for quick reference b‘ all listeners, whatever their likes and dislikes.