TELEVISION BROADCASTS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF N.Z'S CENTENNIAL

Radio Record, Volume XIII, Issue 11, 21 August 1939, Unnumbered Page

TELEVISION BROADCASTS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF N.Z'S CENTENNIAL

Minister Is Evasive, But Sydney Report Says Wellington Will House "World’s Most Modern Equipment"

MOST New Zealanders who have followed the slow development of television in other countries are pessimistic about the chances of inaugurating a television service in this country within the next decade. . Some months ago there were rumours that the NBS intended installing television at the Centennial Exhibition but they were pooh-poohed by Mr. E. C. Hands, business manager of the NBS. However, this article, the result of independent investigation and inquiry, seems to suggest that there may have been something in the rumours after all. We understand, as we go to press, thet arrangements have been finalised for setting up television equipment at the Centennial, and that the English company concerned will be sending experts out to New Zecland in the next few days.

® Ahead of the world in many respects, New Zealand promises to earn fresh fame, ‘along with the United States, Britain, and certain Continental countries, as a pioneer in television. @ Only a few months hence, if plans go right, New Zea-Janders-or Wellingtonians, at least-wiil be able to enjoy the thrill of "'telecasts," ® For television is coming to the Dominion ... if no hitches occur. It is likely ‘to be exhibit No. 1 at the Centennial Exhibition. Plans are yet to be finalised, but if they come to fruition, the Capital City will possess equipment second to none in the television world, capable of operation not only in the exhibition area, but in various parts of the city.

THIS project is being formulated with a singular lack of publicity. In fact, had it not been for casual reference in a Sydney journal we might still have been in blissful ignorance of the experience that is likely to be ours, Sydneysiders were frankly told a few days ago that "New Zealand is to have television before the end of the year." The installation would be only temporary-for the purposes of the Centennial Eixhibition, but there was a belief that when the exhibition came to an end, in May next, the Government would take over the. equipment and continue to operate it. THERE IS A FEELING, SAID THE REPORT, THAT IF TRANSMISSIONS AT THE EXHIBITION ARE SATISFACTORY, THE GOVERNMENT © WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE TELEVISION HQUIPMENT. IN ANY EVENT, IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT EXPERIMENTS WILL BE MADE TO ASCERTAIN THE LIMIT TO WHICH TELEVISION CAN BE USED IN NEW ZEALAND WITHOUT THE SETTING-UP OF SECONDARY STATIONS. EXPERTS ARE CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE NO DIFFICULTY IN GETTING SATISFACTORY RECEPTION FROM ONE SIDE OF COOK STRAIT TO THE OTHER.

The Sydney writer, who appeared to be well informed, declared that the present plan is for the equipment, described as one of the world’s most modern television units, to be set up at the Exhibition ground, four miles from the city, and to transmit impressions of scenes, crowds, entertainments, buildings, and courts.

THESE TRANSMISSIONS WILL BE PICKED UP ON THE LATEST RECEIVING SETS, PLACED AT SUITABLE INTERVALS WITHIN THE GROUNDS, FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE EQUIPMENT WILL ALSO BE

USED FOR TELEVISING EVENTS IN THE CITY FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE WxHIBITION.

... But will hopes be realised? Wili the peculiar antennae of television rear themselves among Wellington roofs? Or will the "vision" that has prompted the preliminary negotiations be doomed to disappointment? Statements [MMEDIATELY the Sydney report came to light, it was submitted in its entirety to Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, as Minister of Broadeasting, together with a request for information on certain points-but chiefly to determine the authenticity or otherwise of the story. Iliness intervened before Mr. Savage could reply, but from the Hon. F, Jones, acting for the Prime Minister, came an interesting statement. "SO FAR AS I AM AWARB," declared Mr. Jones, "NOTHING DEFINITE HAS BEEN ARRANGED IN THE MATTER. ‘I UNDERSTAND IT WAS THE INTENTION OF A LOCAL RADIO COMPANY TO IMPORT APPARATUS TO BE EXHIBITED AT THE EXHIBITION, BUT I AM NOT ABLE TO SAY DEFINITELY WHETHER THE COMPANY IS PROCEEDING WITH ITS PROPOSAL." In reference to the Sydney suggestion that, after May, the Government would assume control of the equipment, Mr. Jones’s statement was brief and to the point: "THERE HAS BEEN NO UNDERTAKING BY THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER THE EQUIPMENT AND OPERATE IT AFTER THE EXHIBITION." The Minister regretted that this wae ali the information he could give, (Turn to Page 2.)

TELEVISION FOR CENTENNIAL

(Continued from Front Page.) And there, at least officially, the matter seems to rest. But it is apparent that circum. stances may upset arrangements. It is obvious that the apparatus must be importedpresumably from England (though the United States, of course, should nat be ruled out). . IMPORTS REQUIRE CREDITS ... BUT CREDITS ARE NOT BEING LAVISHLY DEALT OUT -PRESUMABLY EVEN FOR A CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. ELECTRICAL. APPARATUS, TOO, HAS COME UNDER THE SWEEP. OF THE IMPORT CONTROL ADMINISTRATION. WILL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED"ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST MODERN TELEVISION UNITS" -COME UNDER THE BAN? Apparatus ‘of the kind is expensive, and it may be on these grounds that the plan wili meet with a premature death, for equipment not utilised after the exhibition might mean a lass for the importer, Yet need it, when there is no dearth of radio-minded engineers and youths to whom a first-hand knowledge of television.would be invaluable, not only for themselves, but for the future of the Daminion? }

Overseas question arises, how much progress has television really made? In England it has become a recognised part of the activities of the BBC, and reports indicate that viewers far beyond the official service area have obtained satisfactory results. A BBC picture has been picked up across the Atlantic, and it is no longer uncommon to receive in America the accompanying sound signals. This year the Derby was again televised with complete suceess; several plays have been presented, and a number of theatres regularly receive television programmes. throughout the British Isles. When Mr. Chamberlain returned from Munich, televiewers saw him hold aloft the famous new "scrap of paper’ which the Fuehrer had signed. By the end of last year both studios at Alexandra Palace were, with outside broadcasts of football, and other sports, providing a schedule of 16 or 17 hours a week. It. is confidently asserted that "the: mystery has been solved," the period of apprenticeship on the. production side passed, and that England is in the forefront of television development.

America has taken the hint, and to-day, especially in the New York area, there is no dearth of experimental! transmitters, though the Federal Communications Commission has so far declined to issue a commercial licence. In effect, the providing of a definite service along the lines of the BBC has not been attempted, though the companies operating the stations maintain fairly definite .schedules, Advertisements in radio journals invite the reader to "build your own television sight and sound receiver," the kit costing 80 dollars without tubes or cabinet, or 190 dollars complete. A popular receiver sells for £30 at Home. Dr. Baker, of General Hleciric, Schenectady, U.S., recently paid a tribute to British progress, which had clearly indicated the path, as interesting programmes had been created at reasonable cost. | No other actual or potential industry on the business horizon today, he said, equalled television for tremendous profit opportunities. In the next five years hundreds of receivers would be built. |