Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

New Network Cables Improve Service A. T. and T. Circuits Lessen the Risk of Interruptions, Protect Tone Values and Greatly Reduce Distortion BY GEORGE G. BREED American Tel. & Tel. Co. tECENTLY, cable facilities of an nproved type have been placed in ervice on certain important networks furnished by the American 'elephone and Telegraph Company 0 the NBC and the CBS. The use f these new circuits greatly imroves the quality of a program ent over a network and gives reater assurance against interrup m. As a result of the introduction of his circuit, the radio program goes ut to the listeners along a chain nth little impairment of the tonal alues of musical instruments, oices and sound effects. The new facilities have been put ti service over the Red and Blue networks of NBC and the CBS network between New York and Chiago. These chains cover two outes between the two cities, one hrough Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland nd Toledo, and one through Indianapolis, Dayton and Pittsburgh. 1 In addition to these, the improved ype of circuit has been put in serice on various supplementary legs j f the radio networks : between ; )ayton and Cincinnati, Detroit and 7oledo, Danville, 111. and St. Louis. In the near future they will be perating over the New York-Boson networks, along the New YorkVashington route, and over the reater part of the New England fankee network operated by the 5hepard Broadcasting Company. Soon on Entire Net ,|T IS EXPECTED that the improved facilities eventually will be ntroduced over the entire cable jietwork of the A. T. & T. Company. This network is the main trterial system of the country's L elephone and private wire service. ]Fhe new circuit can be used in jmderground as well as aerial gables. r The new type of circuit owes its ligher efficiency to what is known is B-22 "loading." Loading, which :onsists of putting copper coils iround the circuit at given internals, reduces the losses in transmission over long distances. The number of loading coils on the new Channels has been doubled, being JOnstalled every 3,000 feet. The cir... >uits have also been equipped with nore efficient vacuum tube "repeat;rs," spaced along the circuit about :very 50 miles, which re-energize he current. J j The quality of transmission is urther improved by devices which automatically compensate for inac:uracies in individual repeaters, since every impulse is successively nagnified by each repeater, it will )e obvious how delicate must be jJ-She adjustment for this in a line MAIN CABLE ROUTES American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and Associated Companies SALTLAH£ -KEY Existing Routes as or Oct I.193L CONTEMPLATED FUTURE CABLE EXTENSIONS. 1,000 or more miles in length. Other devices automatically compensate for changes in temperature. Such changes, without this regulation, produce blurred tones, since they change the speed of transmission of tones of different frequency or pitch in varying degrees. The new facilities materially reduce distortion. Distortion results in blurred tones and occurs when tones of different pitch are transmitted at different speeds. It is, of course, most noticeable in musi cal programs. This does not take place on the new circuits. Not the least important feature of this new development is the fact that it permits transmitting radio programs over much longer distances in cable. This is, at times, of paramount importance, since it greatly reduces the risk of interruption due to storms or other damage. These cables are practically storm-proof. Putting the circuit in cable reduces the cross-talk and other noises picked up by open wire lines. Will BBC Go Commercial? British Columnist Says Amendment of Charter May be Asked to Permit Some Advertising Hours WHILE certain groups in this country are agitating for "reform" of American radio by adoption of the so-called British system of government controlled broadcasting, a movement is under way in Great Britain for "reform" of its radio methods through the adoption of the so-called American Plan of advertising on the air. "Commercial advertising is bound to come" the columnist "Detector," concludes in the November issue of "The Melody Maker," British musical periodical. The columnist says the report is current that the British Broadcasting Corporation is contemplating suggesting legislation to amend its charter so that it might be permitted to sell occasional hours for commercial broadcasting. "Detector" says that America as a whole is satisfied with its broadcasting and that the "fierce industrial competition" which animates broadcasting makes for better programs. Despite the objections against commercial broadcasts in the United States, he declares the programs are of "a very high quality" and that the system affords the listener "a maximum of the finest possible radio entertainment." The comments of "Detector" follow: "For some time past a story has been getting about that the B.B.C. is contemplating sponsoring the necessary legislation to amend its charter so that it might permit the selling of occasional 'hours' for commercial broadcasting. "In spite of the persistence of the rumour, it does not appear to have much foundation; at least, there have been official denials. "The main official objection to commercial broadcasting is that advertising programmes such as are given in the United States are irritating to listeners, and that the 'air' becomes choked with publicity slogans and recommendations to buy this or that commodity. "It is an objection which, in the States, holds some little water, but it does not dispose of the fact that the commercial broadcasts are of a very high quality, and that by the system the listener is given a maximum of the finest possible radio entertainment. "True, the American press itself December 1, 1931 • BROADCASTING banters the system, but I have never heard any serious suggestion from the other side that the merits are outweighed by the defects. In other words, America as a whole is satisfied that, on the balance, its broadcasting is all the better for the fierce industrial competition which animates it. "But, even if this were not so, our B.B.C. cannot reasonably use it as an argument, because no one suggests in this country that commercial broadcasting should go to any such length as it does in the States, where an enormous number of transmitters are all given over to the system and the big industrial concerns dominate the air through lack of official direction and discretion. "In Great Britain, wireless is under a unified control, and a system of limited commercial broadcasting can be contemplated with equanimity. "The B.B.C, for instance, could easily limit the number of hours which might be sold, and the number of transmitters which, at any one time, would be available. "What is of foremost importance is that shortage of funds is retarding the development of broadcasting in this country. One can rail as much as one likes against the present radio programme quality, but it requires almost unlimited funds to offer unlimited entertainment, and the B.B.C. purse is by no means inexhaustible. "A real, smashing programme by first class artists, such as an advertising concern would, in its own interests, be obliged to offer, would more than compensate for any unlikely irritation that a few testy listeners might feel at hearing occasional tactful trade announcements. "Advertising is a very intricate science, and its practitioners are fully alive to the psychology of gaining the good will of their public. They would neither offend the tenets of good taste nor overstep the limits of listener patience if they decided to invest large sums of money in radio advertising. "Here are some very cogent reasons why the B.B.C should introduce 'Commercial Radio': "1. It would be good for industry by opening up a new and quick sales-medium. "2. It would produce extra revenue for the further development of British broadcasting. "3. It would lead to vastly better programmes. "4. It would offer highly remunerative work to a large number of artistes and musicians. "5. It would bridge some of the empty hours which at present creep into the daily programmes. "6. It would obviate British money passing out of the country to foreign transmitters which are prepared to sell out commercial hours. "7. It would stimulate programme competition. "8. It would help to regularise and legalise the present surreptitious advertising which now cankers British broadcasting. "These are powerful and insistent reasons against which can only be raised the one insignificant objection which I have already mentioned." Page 15