Broadcasting in South Africa

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 2, 19 July 1935, Page 16

Broadcasting in South Africa

S broadeasting to remain a commercial enterprise in South Africa or come under some form of State control? Battle is likely soon to rage about: this issue as the result of the publication of the report on broadcasting by Sir John Reith, Director-General of the B.B.O. Last ‘year Sir John Reith visited South Africa at the invitation of the Prime Minister in order to advise the Union Government as to broadcasting policy and development. His long: awaited. report has now been issued. Tt is likely to be the centre of considerable ‘controversy. It is a forthright document; for Sir John knows his own mind. His yea is yea and his nay is nay. . These are some of the issues that his .report raises: Should broadcasting be privately owned or State controlled? Should politics be allowed "on the air’? Should broadcast programmes "give the public what it wants" or attempt to lead popular taste?.. South Africa has: had both public and private enterprises. concerned in broadcasting. It was started as a municipal enterprise-and failed. The municipalities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban found themselves nursing expensive and unruly babies. They looked about for a convenient doorstep on which to deposit their unwanted children. Mr. I. W. Schlesinger provided the doorstep, adopted the foundlings and has, in the guise of the African Broadcasting Company, brought up a healthy and now prospering family. But Sir John is convinced that. the time has now come for the family that Mr. Schlesinger adopted to become the wards of the State. But when Sir John Reith recommends in his report that there should be State control of broadéasting he does not sugvest a Government monopoly such as that of.Germany. His suggestion is that broadcasting should be put into the charge of a ‘public utility ‘corpora-

tion similar to the B.B.C., a form of State-promoted organisation familiar to South Africa in the Dlectricity Supply Commission. The great advantage of this type of organisation is that it can be publicly controlled and yet free from political or partisan influence; it can develop a great national ser- _ Vice without danger of the conflicting motives of personal gain. Here are the words of the report: "There are many misconceptions of the recommended system-for instance, that under it broadcasting is controlled by the Government. It is in fact essential to the system that it is not controlled by the Government. Public control over major policy (and none the worse for being somewhat remote) is sécurable by statute which, in general terms, defines the responsibility. So long as the terms of the authorising document are observed, so long. as the service is efficiently conducted, the question of further or continuing control does not arise. If the situation be otherwise, if the terms of the statute be infringed, if there be any real cause of dissatisfaction with the’ ser‘vice, machinery must be available for its ventilation -and rectification. This situation need’ and should never arise, the responsible board being able to proceed with the.same initiative and .freedom as if the body were commerGially constituted." . Sir John Reith suggests six or seven people, at least one a woman, free from political. allegiances, and appointed by .. the Governor-General in Council, and adds: "Their remuneration should not be itself attractive; they will not be . executive, and, for a comparatively small financial return, they should gladly devote the necessary time and care to the policy and oversight of the business in view of the nature and magnitude of the service they can render to the community." ; This report gives careful and detailed consideration to what is called "coverage’-the covering of South Africa with a network of transmitters that will give to every listener, no matter how isolated or remote, good, ‘reliable reception on simple apparatus. That, says Sir John, should be the ideal kept steadily in view. South Africa is yery far from that’ ideal to-day. That this is so is no fault of the African Broadcasting: Company, but: is. due~to «

the size and geographical formation of the country. The fact, however, remains that South Africa is, as yet, far from enjoying nation-wide coverage. And then, apart from irregular Or poor-reception, listening. is .expenSive; license fees; receiving sets and the keeping up of batteries in districts not supplied with. electricity cost money..:: The ideal set: in- this -report is that of nation-wide coverage and cheap, good reception-broadcasting that reaches not the few, but the South African people as a whole. Should politics be permitted at the microphone? Sir John Reith says "yes." He sees in broadcasting a valuable means of communication between the centre of government and people. In the Greek City States, the statesman could meet the citizens face to face. The modern State is too large and too complex for that. simple and personal relationship. The modern Pericles must go to the micro-phone-as indeed President Roosevelt does, and most-effectively. Sir John’s report sets out his faith in this aspect of broadcasting in an inspiring pas‘sage: "The microphone: can achieve what the printed word and the philosophic formulation of doctrine have failed to bring about. It.can familiarise the public with the central organisation which conducts its collective ‘busi‘hess and regulates its inner and outer relations. It establishes a quiet and secure linkage with the stoep or fireside audience; and it is not the printable scheme of government but the living and doing which will interlock governors and governed in a real ensemble. The nervous system of modern democratic government is admittedly imperfect,. The modes of liaison are highly developed, but are separate and unrelated. An integrating element is required, and it is this which broadcasting, rightly conceived and rightly used, can supply. It may make democracy safe for the world." Should programmes be highbrow or lowbrow? Should the broadcaster chase the elusive will-of-the-wisp of popular approval? Sir John does not believe in "giving the public what it wants." He says: . ' "The policy should be framed in the assurance that a supply of good things, well presented,’ will create a demand for. them, ‘that- without: mintmising the

os. purely entertdinment obligations, it should be remembered that broadcasting is the royal road to enlightenmeut and responsibility," and late in. his report he adds: "A vight appreciation of listeners’ needs is a particular requisite if there are to’ be listeners, but this does not necessarily imply the expressed wishes of a quarter of a million listeners, nor even the presumed wishes of an average listener. . Broadcasters are appointed to execute a high commission

and they cannot bend.to every breeze of criticism that blows." Although Sir John Reith made only i short visit to South’ Africa he saw . with sympathetic understanding the cruel isolation and deprivation so often suffered in the rural districts, and says of the broadcasting service... that he visualises: "The loneliest plattelander may hear the statesmen of his own and other countries. He may be present at the functions and participate in the erises

of his day. He may hear the finest musie and the greatest exponents of Jearning in his own home-enjoy in fact many of the amenities of metropolitan life and culture, and farm his land with better return than ever before. He may be in touch with and able to take a real interest in the movements of thought and the processes of action which determine the destiny of his country and of the world."