Television at Mercy of Builders

Radio Record, 31 July 1936, Page 9

Television at Mercy of Builders

Newspapers’ Forecast of July 1 as Opening Date Was Well AstrayCable Costing £1000 a Mile to Link Alexandra Palace With Broadcasting House-Relays to Birminsham.

London, July 4. K\ARLY in the year Gerald Cock and Sir Noel Ashbridge, chief engineer of the B.B.C:, gave an inheerview to a largejpress gathering. The main query of the pressmen was "On what date will the new television service open?’ But Sir Noe! remained mute, Pressed, he admitted that it was possible that the new station at the Alexandra Palace might _begin experimental tests in July. Radio editors promptly nailed July 1 as the opening day for the new: television service, Sir Noel had every reason for caution. He knew that a large section of the Alexandra .Palace would be in the hands of the builders for some time, and that until they had evacuated the premises the giant mast surmounting one of the towers of the palace could not be installed. Further, he did not intend to press any of the contractors in their ‘work and risk jeopardising the success of this highlytechnical and pioneering venture. However, while July 1 did not see the new station in operation, such progress has been made that it is safe to say that experimental tests will be going on during August, and that a regular programme service will’ be in operation before the end of the year. AS I write the engineers of the Byitish Post Office are just completing the co-axial cable which will link Broadcasting Yalouse and the Alexandra Palace Ss: television purposes. This "able has cost more than £1000 a mile to construct. While the majority of programmes will ‘originate from the B.B.C. studios, actually now completed in the Alexandra Palace, the B.B.C. will have one studio in Broadcasting House linked to the transmitters at the Alexandra Palace for special occasions. ~ In addition, the co-axial cable between Broadcasting House and the Alexandra Palace will make it possible to televise such events as the coronation by installing an additional short length of cable between the Abbey and B.B.C, headquarters. The British Post Office has already. installed a co-axial cable between London and Birmingham, which at the moment can handle 250 different telephone conversations simultaneously . without interference with one another, . .

Television Relays [ ALSO learn that a second cable of similar technical characteristics has now been installed capable of relaying the London television programmes to Birmingham. This would appear to be an indication that Birmingham will be the second city in the British Empire privileged to possess a regular. television broadeasting station. At a later date these cables will be extended to Manchester and to other important cities in Great Britain. Test Matches THE B.B.C. is making elaborate plans to provide both British and empire listeners with a daily

review of the cricket test matches which are to take place in-Austra-lia during the course of the coming northern winter, It has already been in communication with the Australian Broadcasting Commission and has made arrangements for a daily commentary to be given by Mr. Alan Kippax from each city in Australia at which a match is being played. These commentaries will reach London via the radio telephone circuits of the post office and will be relayed in the Home and empire programmes. It is probable that the actual commentaries will coincide each day with the empire programmes in transmission 1, but recordings of Mr, Kippax’s talks will be made and broadcast.