B.B.C.'s Big Moment Is Near

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 26 April 1935, Page 13

B.B.C.'s Big Moment Is Near

King’s Jubilee Broadcasts Biggest Task in Corporation’s Career-wWill Princess Elizabeth Talk Over The ialr?-N ew Afternoon Service : For N.Z. ;

(Special to the "Radio Record’ by Ai Mail.) This page was written specially for the "New Zealand Radio Record," by L. Marsland Gander, a well-known broadcasting writer in London. London, April 4. LANS for the silver jubilee celebrations are, at the time of writing. still uppermost in the minds of the B.B.C. programme builders. While final arrangements have yet to be made, I can reveal that a most ambitious Empire "hook-up" is planned. It is

\ proposed to create the biggest Empire network yet brought into existence. On May 6, the actual date of the King’s accession in 1910, it is intended that u great round-the-Empire broadcast shall lead up to the event for which British peoples in all lands will — be waiting,, his Majesty’s talk from ‘Buckingham Palace. Incidentally, this 4vill be the King’s first talk from the palace. Loyal greetings will be offered from each part of the Empire in turn by the head of the State wherever this is possible. Not only will the Dominions and the greatest of Britain’s overseas possessions pay tribute in this way, but also such places as Fiji, Gibraltar, and the Channel Isles. This unique personal and representative demonstration of affection will end with remarks from the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, speaking for the Home Gountry. Finally, it is almost certain that the Prince of Wales will ask his father to accept the Empire’s felicitations. The B.B.C. would very much Jike to include a breadcast by Prilicess Mlizabeth

in the jubilee celebrations. I understaud, however, that there is small likelihood of this taking place. The girdle round the Empire wil follow the special review of the chief events of his Majesty’s reign which, as I have already announced, will be a feature of the broadcasts. This is being prepared by an eminent authority, Dr.’ Harold Temperley, professor of modern history at Cambridge University. .He wrote a particularly successful programme for the B.B.C. on the occasion of the twentieth auniversary of the outbreak of war, compiled from original documents, blending scholarship with considerable dramatic skill. In this he was associated with a former pupil, Mr. Laurence Gilliam, now one of the most hopeful of the B.B.C.’s young hopefuls, who will also assist in the production of this jubilee © programme, WILL the power of the Empire trans. mitters at Daventry be raised? At present the maximum power used is 20 kilowatts, while on the shorter wavelengths it is considerably less. America is building a 50-kilowatt station, and the tendency is to use greater power on these short-wave broadcasts It is an open secret at Broadcasting House that the B.B.C. would like to use more power. "Well, what stops’ them?" you ask. Money! The B.B.C. has a fabulous income-£2,000,000 a year. Yet the corporation declares that it has no capital. reserve and must meet fres) eapital expenditure out of income. It has also to find another £90.000 in th» next twenty months for the new hig definition television service All the same B.B.C. finance is something of a mystery. Only skeleton accounts are issued ; huge sums are lumped together under general headings. without ant details whatever. In spite of this plea of poverty, the B B.C. has just made an important.extension of programme hours in the Hmpire service. Transmission VI has made its debut, and the call sign GSL--lL. for Liberty-bas come on the air. This experimental. transmission. given from 2,30 aa. to 3.80 a.m:, G.MT., is intended to provide . an evening progeumme for Western Canada, which the B.B.C, claims is the only part of the Empire not catered for in this way In addition Transmission VI will provide an-afternoon programme for Australia and New Zealand, a morning programme to Hong-Kong and Shanghai, and breakfast time music to India. The extra transmission is being given on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It brings the total hours of transmission up to 110 a week on the Empire service. (THERE have been mruly reports con- . cerning the future of Mr. . Cecil Graves, B.B.0. Empire and Foreign

Director. He was the favourite nephew and heir of Viscount Grey of. Fallodon. For some months Mr. Graves has been on sick leave, and it was reported that he intended to resign. I- understand, however, that Mr. Graves has no such intention. He is to visit Newfoundland this summer and will resume his duties at the B.B.C. in the autumn. Mr. Graves must have a considerabie private income. Having launched the Empire service successfully, he coud retire with honour.. But he is | obviously determined to. do a "worth-

ovhile" job. The Empire service is his religion and bis life. He will hate nie ior suying so-but he is a great fellow -ua super enthusiast and one of fhe inost popular men at the B.B.C. DByerybedy hopes that be will recover fuily and carry on the Hmpire service to fresh triumphs.