The "Fetish of 8 p.m." Out of Favour

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 40, 12 April 1935, Page 50

The "Fetish of 8 p.m." Out of Favour

To the Editor Sir,-I have no fault to find with our announcers, they are as good as any I listen to. and a lot better than many, but they are so hedged in with rules and regulations that they become automatic. I am advocating more freedom for announcers, and particularly during the breakfast session, One of the first duties of the radio is to spread the news of the day and what a great opportunity there is during the breakfast session, I don’t want an announcer to stand for hall an hour reading off the news, but in d chatty style to give the highlights of thé day’s news between records, Never mind what the newspapers have to say. They put the town crier out of business, and the Broadcasting Board should have a world news service of their own,

Another point is this "fetish"? of 8 p.m.! In my opinion again this breaks the evening up too much, and everything Seems to have to give place to $ p.m. The programme should be continued from ut least 7 p.m. The National Anthem should find its place in the programme at 7 a.m., and I would ask the stations to copy 3¥.A, Christchurch, in their selection of a record for the National Anthem! Now, Sir, none of this letter is in a fault-finding spirit, but a few of my ideas of what would improve broadecasting in New Zealand. The New Zealand Broadcasting Board should not follow Wngland or any other country, but blaze a trail of their own! It is this stately and stiff attitude that is driving many listeners to the B stations, where there is an atmosphere of more freedom! Altogether there are just too many old men running broadcasting in New Zealand, and surely two out of the coming seven at least could be young men! And better still, why should we not have at least two women on _ the

board, seeing that receivers are mostly a home affair.-I am, etc.,

SANS

SOUCI

Te Asvamutu.