Radio annual (1938)

mission authority to act in matters of policy and administration were combined in one body whereas in the Canadian Broadcasting" Corporation the board of governors will deal with questions of policy and administrative matters will be conducted separately. Broadcasting is considered a business controlled by a public service type of corporation (government-owned) rather than an activity under an administrative governmental 01ganization. The Corporation reports to Parliament through the Minister of Transport. Operations are financed by license fees for receiving and broadcasting sets and by revenue from commercial radio business. Further, the Act provides that by order-in-council up to $500,000' may be borrowed from the government for the extension or improvement of broadcasting facilities. In addition, working capital not to exceed $100,000 may be advanced by order-in-council. Although the nationalization of radio in Canada is in the transitionary stage, government policy has consistently favored the operation of radio as a public utility and all private broadcasting licenses have been issued with the understanding that the State may take over the facilities and that no value attaches for good will. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation took over the network established by the Radio Commission which now comprises eight basic stations, namely, CRCV, Vancouver; CRCW, Windsor; CRCT (CRCX), Toronto; CRCY, Toronto; CRCO, Ottawa; CRCM, Montreal, CRCK, Quebec City ; and CRCS, Chicoutimi, Quebec. Coverage of the network has been extended through agreements with 20 or more private commercial stations which carry the network program throughout the country. Licenses for broadcasting are issued by the Department of Transport after the application has been referred to the Corporation for recommendation. The new radio law also specifies that the Minister of Transport will receive recommendations from the Broadcasting Corporation in connection with new private state licenses, change of channel, location or power. The Broadcasting Corporation has recently completed a detailed survey of the coverage afforded by existing stations and in accordance with the conclusion that additional high-powered outlets were required, two stations are now under construction, both to be 50 kilowatt units. One is , to be located at Hornby, near Toronto, Ontario, and the other at Vercheres, near Montreal, Quebec. It is expected that two more key stations will be erected within the next few years, one in the Maritime area and the other in western Canada. Consideration is also being given to a proposal to erect a powerful short-wave transmitter to permit Canadian participation in direct overseas broadcasting. Programs — Programs broadcast in Canada may be classified under four categories : First, material presented by the Broadcasting Corporation, which contains no advertising and may be compared with sustaining programs which United States stations offer; second, commercially-sponsored programs which contain direct or indirect advertising and are released on a paid-time basis; third, sustaining programs broadcast by privately owned stations; and fourth, exchange programs from sources outside of Canada, chiefly the United States and the United Kingdom. Commercial programs have much in common with the type of advertising programs employed in the United States except that the limitations of the Canadian, market do not permit the elaborate continuities and high-priced talent which is possible with national coverage of a larger consumer market. Canadian programs on exchange with United Sttcs stations have become increasingly popular. Advertising — Radio advertising from privately owned stations and outlets controlled by the Broadcasting Corporation is conducted in the usual manner under established regulations. The advertising contenl of any program is limited to 10 per cent of the program period and specific regulations rover permissible material in advertising continuities. Transcriptions — The use of transcriptions is genii, prohibited between 7:30 and 11:00 p.m., but at other hours they are extensively employed by broadcasting stations. The recording of incoming overseas broadcasts is frequently undertaken to permit more timely release of programs. Special recording apparatus of the Marconi-Stille type has been installed in the Broadcasting Corporation's station at Ottawa for recording important events for rebroadcasting at later dates. Special short-wave receiving apparatus is located at Ottawa. Regulations — Statutory authority to suppress radio interference is contained in the Canadian Broadcasting Act. Detailed regulations for control of programs, station operation, news service and advertising were issued by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, effective Nov. 1, 1937. In addition the 1936 radio statute itself contains regulatory provisions regarding chain broadcasting hookups and political broadcasts. Technical requirements for station equipment are promulgated by the Department of Transport. Federal jurisdiction over radiocommunication was determined by a ruling of the Imperial Privy • Council, Feb. 9, 1932. Sets in Use— 1,672,000. Stations — 83. © CHILE Short Wave — Reception in Chile of American short-wave programs is not at all satisfactory. Too much interference is encountered, primarily with German broadcasting stations, which appear to be more powerful than the American. It is estimated for 1937 that 60,000 sets were in use. Advertising — Radio advertising is still in the initial stage in Chile and has yet to be placed on a sound commercial basis. Rates are definitely subject to bargaining and the practice of exchanging produce for advertising time still continues. In the broadcasting of programs, the public complains of the repeated interruptions by the announcer for the purpose of advertising the products of the company or firm sponsoring the broadcast. Phonograph records still comprise most of almost every program. Foreign Competition — Besides the American made radios, the Philips from Holland, and the Telefunken and Blaupunkt from Germany are now in the market. No great inroads in the local market have as yet been made by these products. However, with the differential of 70 to 75 per cent existing between exchange for Germany and to a lesser extent for other compensation countries, as compared with 35 pesos per dollar which the American product must pay, there is an excellent opportunity for the German as well as other machines of European manufacture to greatly undersell the American. The real essence of the market is the problem of foreign exchange. Patents — Sufficient protection both for patents and trade marks is available under the Chilean law. The law is specific and providing that the manufacturer is careful to comply with it, there is little danger of infraction. That constant vigilance is necessary is witnessed by the ever present tendency to attempt to steal foreign trade mark rights which may have lapsed. Duties -Duties remain at the same rates as in 1935, or 5 gold pesos per legal kilogram. The official exchange rate for Chile has remained at \Yi pence throughout the year. Television — Nothing has been done either in experiment or utilization of television or facsimile transmission. Transcriptions Xo electrical transcriptions are yet used for advertising purposes, although there is no restriction, other than the economic one, against their use. Sets in Use — 60,000. Stations — 56. 940