Radio annual (1938)

CANADA--A SURVEY This official, authoritative survey of Canada is based upon latest reports compiled by the Electrical Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, United States Department of Commerce. General — With population extending over a distance of 3,000 air-line miles, the transmission of radio programs involves numerous outlets, heavy wire charges and timing difficulties due to the existence of five separate time zones in the country. Purchasing power is relatively high in Canada. The length of the winter season, coupled with the centering of much of social activities around the home, tends _ to promote demand for radio entertainment. Similarly, the great expanse of the country presents a good field for commercial radio communication. Sets in Use — According to law, an annual license (fee $2) must be obtained each fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) for radio receivers. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1937, the number of radio receiver licenses sold was 1,038,500. According to a survey by Radio Trade Builder, a trade journal, the number of receivers in use in homes in Canada at the end of 1936 was 1,672,000, an increase of 13 1/2 per cent over the estimate of sets in use at the end of 19'35. Toronto is the primary radio center of Canada as the majority of radio manufacturers are located in Ontario ; Montreal is second as a manufacturing and distributing center and Winnipeg and Vancouver serve regional markets as jobbing points. Secondary commercial centers include Halifax or Saint John, in the Maritimes, and Regina, Calgary or Edmonton in western areas. Smaller cities serve localized market areas. Demand — During 1936 members of the Radio Manufacturers Association of Canada reported total sales to dealers as numbering 239,777 with a list value of $22,347,329, of which A. C. receivers numbered 167,018 valued at $17,384,591 and battery sets numbered 59,739 valued at $4,182,933. Following official statistics of radio sales since 1933 clearly reveal that a widespread market for receivers exists in Canada. It is estimated that the number of sets in use equals 69 per cent of the number of Canadian families. Domestic Production — Twelve companies manufacture radio receivers in Canada and because of patent control and electrical inspection requirements these firms dominate the market. Patents — For several years the more important Canadian radio patents have been under the control of a patent corporation known as Canadian Radio Patents, Limited. This corporation, which has its head office at 159 Bay Street, Toronto, Canada, originally took over for licensing purposes thousands of patents formerly held by individual concerns such as the Canadian General Electric Company, Limited, Northern Electric Company, Limited, Canadian Marconi Company and Standard Radio Manufacturing Corporation, Limited. It has since acquired patents and patent rights on its own account. Canadian Radio Patents Limited hold that radio receiving sets manufactured by others, or imported into or sold in Canada embodying the following features: (a) Regeneration, feed back, or oscillation ; (b) Tuned radio frequency ; (c) Grid leak detection ; (d) Neutralization of interelectrode capacity ; (e) Power amplification and power supply ; or (f) Superheterodyne circuits ; are infringements of the patents controlled by the corporation. The privilege of the Canadian use of the patents controlled by Canadian Radio Patents, is given only to those firms which take out a license with the company and which manufacture in Canada. Even though a firm's receivers may be licensed under United States patents owned by firms also represented in Canadian Radio Patents, Limited, a license under the Canadian company is also required. Tube Patents — A second patent holding corporation entitled Thermionics Limited, also at 159 Bay Street, Toronto, has announced that it owns or controls numerous basic Canadian patents covering the manufacture and sale within Canada of radio tubes to be used only in the non-commercial reception of public radio telephone broadcasting. Tariffs and Restrictions — Canadian tariff information is subject to change and should be verified in advance of doing business in Canada. Electrical transcriptions imported into Canada are subject to special administrative orders relative to the acceptable valuation for duty purposes. Collectors are instructed to appraise electrical transcriptions containing advertising matter imported from the United States at a minimum value of $7.50 per transcription, which is held to include the^ United States excise tax of 5 per cent. Transcriptions without advertising matter, usually furnished on a contract basis as a "library service" are valued for duty at a minimum of $4.00 each. Television — This development is definitely in the experimental stage in the Dominion and its early practical application is discounted. Amateur Radio — Amateur radio communication in Canada is organized along similar lines to conditions in the United States. The hobby has attracted many residents and in the last fiscal year a total of 2,821 amateur experimental transmission licenses were issued by the government. A good part of the conversations are with amateurs in the United States and equipment, prices and hookups are often under discussion, thus promoting demand for American lines. Short Wave — Canadian broadcasting on the short wave bands is chiefly confined to commercial and police services aside from two stations (Toronto and Winnipeg). United States stations are picked up readily and at times when standard band reception from American outlets is unsatisfactory the programs often can be picked up from associated outlets using the short wave. Broadcasting — Under the Canadian Radio BroadCasting Act, 1936, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Nov. 2, 1936, took over governmental operation of the national broadcasting service and the control of all radio programs from the former Canadian Broadcasting Commission. Technical control of broadcasting stations reverted to the Department of Transport under the Radiotelegraph Act. The government-owned corporation is headed by a board of nine honorary governors and a general manager in charge of operations. The legislation charges the corporation to carry on national broadcasting in Canada and authorizes it to establish, maintain and operate stations, to acquire or make operating agreements with private stations, produce programs, and otherwise function as a governmental radio agency. The legislation envisages gradual extension of public ownership of radio 419