Kinematograph year book (1944)

220 The Kinematograph Year Book. TELEVISION 'T'HE implication of Television as a medium of popular entertainment and A its effect on the post-war kinema are subjects already exercising all sections of the Industry. At the moment most of us are in the dark, although an awareness exists of amazing scientific progress made in respect of the basic principles which is being directed to work of the first national importance. It is possible that within a relatively short while after the war home television may be so popularised that it will constitute, for a time at least, a serious competitor of the kinema in a similar way as wireless did in the early twenties. The duration of the defection was only temporary although until within recent years certain peak listening periods were frequently reflected in reduced attendances at those times. It is certainly doubtful whether the film could have successfully withstood this mass competition had not " talkies " invested the Industry with a much needed new vigour. It is estimated that before the war there were something under 100,000 families with television sets in this country, very soon after the war this figure is likely to jump several hundreds of thousands. Experts have prophesied that a television set may be marketed from £20, and will be in terrific demand soon after the resumption of telecasting. For a time it might result in lessened attendances at the kinema, but that the habit of enjoying entertainment in the mass, amid agreeable and often sumptuous surroundings would be reasseited to the benefit of the exhibitor. Moreover, it is pointed out that if the renters pre-war policy of non-cooperation is resumed the programmes, which would then be confined to direct transmission of costly live shows, news events at definite times, etc., are unlikely to be of a quality which will attract the home viewer to sacrifice his visit to the films. It is not to be expected that the kinema trade which has contributed so greatly to the early development of television will readily forgo its application as a public entertainment in a competitive struggle with the popularity of the home television. When the war is over we shall probably witness amazing advances in large screen television as the result of the researches of the " backroom " boys both of the services and of the various television companies both here and in America, which will be rapidly turned to account. But even if an efficient theatre equipment competent to challenge comparison with the normally projected picture becomes available the question of product is not likely to be easily surmounted — in this country at least. Even when the large screen demonstrations were given in London before the war there arose certain sticky problems of copyrights, licenses and other snags found to exist when the kinema took their televised subjects from the B.B.C. radiation. Indeed, it is not difficult to imagine a situation analogous to that with ordinary wireless, the re-diffusion of which, except under special circumstances, is prohibited to the kinema. These are some of the points, apart from the purely technical factors, which must be considered by exhibitors in planning for the post-war period. Unless the progress of Television is carefully watched, Mortimer Dent points out, it may be sprung upon the Trade at so short notice as to bring in its train difficulties comparable with those which marked the advent of talkies. The main trouble at the present time is that we can foresee neither the ultimate line of development nOr the precise manner in which Television will be used by the Industry. Similar uncertainty probably exists and will exist in Government circles until they have considered the report of the Committee appointed in January to advise them on the future of telsvision. The Committee includes scientific experts and representatives of the Post Office and B.B.C.