Tape Network, 1950-1953 (1) (1950-1953)

Network Report «— 2 each season of in-school distribution, the week-to^week distribution rises in order to take advantage of our'tape supply. However you look at it, the flow of weekly series programs is uneven; at one time a station may receive twenty-two tapes a week from Headquarters, at another only 15* and having once had the larger number of tapes made available to them, they must be inclined to expect them in the future and to plan their programs accordingly. The Network had hoped to have more equip- mant by early this fall and to so increase its output that this rise and fall would be relatively insignificant. As it is the Network must devise a way of evening out the week-bo-week flow of general radio programs and still circulate the in-school programs in a satisfactory manner. 4 ) n UNPRQGRAMMSD» RECORDINGS . In the past Network Headquarters has taken a great deal of n raw w tape-recorded material, written opening and closing announcements, recorded, dubbed, edited to sisa, cut timely references, etc. In short the Network has taken raw material and created programs. It now has no tiros to do ‘this work. Stations have been urged to submit complete packages, ready for duplication, and more of these have been received; but still a great deal of time must be spent on the preparation of recordings for duplication. 5) HEADQUARTERS AUDITION OF PROGRAMS . Network Headquarters was long ago asked to audition every program before releasing it. This was attempted but in time proved to be completely impractical: Auditing plus the attendant editing often cut our n desk ,f staff down to less than one full-time worker. (See Conclusion s Stations .) 6 ) DRAMA PROGRAMS . The Network still lacks the drama programs which many have requested. We have the BBC programs scheduled by the Network, of course, and the WAYS OF MANKIND series at present affords drama of a sort. We may get a small amount of good drama from ‘the FAE grant-in-aid material. But on the whole the Network distributes very little of any kind. Stations ask for its they do not supply it. We are sure the Network Acceptance Committee will welcome good drama. 7 ) QUARTER-HOUR PROGRAMS . The Network seldom has more than one quarter-hour program series running at a time. At present it is the PAYNE COMMUNICATIONS AWARD programs produced through the facilities of Radio Station WILL at the University of Illinois o Previously it ran an assortment of programs from UNESCO. Unfortun¬ ately quarter-hour programs of quality seem to be more rare than one might think. It 8 s a difficult length to work within. Sine© four quarter-hour shows (good ones) can be put on two half-hour reels. Headquarters would like nothing better than lots of good 14:30 programs to distribute. 8 ) COMMITMENTS TO DISTRIBUTE PROGRAMS . The number of programs from member sta¬ tions which the Network is distributing is low. A number of such programs are available at the present moment. But it must be remembered that various represent tatives of the Association have been commissioned to acquire programs from outside sources. The Network is committed to the distribution of these programs, and, of course, su.ch obligations must be fulfilled: series from members must talc© second place. We hope that expansion of Network production facilities in the near future will allow us to widen the ratio of member station-produced programs to programs from outside the association. (From outside sources: the several French series, the Intsrlochen series, and soon some Italian programs.) 9) MUSIC FROM INTERLOCBEI o This fall the Network carried four hours a week of MUSIC FROM XNTERLOCHEN for eight weeks. Admittedly, this is too much. Originally, a lighter load including a couple of half-hour series, which Headquarters never received, were scheduled. It was decided after some consideration the Network would run all Interloehen series immediately, thus fulfilling Idle Networks committ¬ ment and freeing time and tape for the distribution of in-school programs. Unfor~