Radio annual (1938)

sets are also sold each year. It is reported that the local dealer for Philips is now carrying a more complete line than in previous years. Patents — No patent situation exists in Haiti. Tariffs — Radio receiving appliances, equipment, and parts are classified under paragraph 11033 of the Haitian Customs tariff and pay an import duty of 30 percent ad valorem, plus a surtax of 5 percent of the duty. Short Wave — A great deal of interest is being shown toward foieign broadcasting, especially Paris, as French is the official language of Haiti. American short-wave programs are easily received. Short wave station HH3W is owned and operated by Ricardo C. Widmaier, Jr. Long-wave station HHW works simultaneously with shortwave station HH3W. Transcriptions — Transcriptions are not used in Haiti to any great extent because of cost. Local importers of phonograph records let broadcasting stations use new records in return for advertising. Station mentions number of record, title and stores where it may be purchased. Regulations — All forms of communication by radio, (radiotelegraph, radio-telephone and broadcasting) are under the control of the Department of Public Works. Sets in use — 3,000. Stations — 3. using parts and accessories United States exclusively. imported froi the © HONDURAS General — Although under strict Government supervision, radio broadcasting in Honduras is in private hands and is commercially operated for profit. Advertising is the principal, if not the only source of revenue, and consists of short paid announcements interspersed between numbers. These latter, as a rule, are recordings. No complete sponsored programs are used. Short Wave — Although European short wave programs are clearly received throughout the major portion of Honduras, the difference in time makes them rather unsatisfactory. Short-wave programs from the U. S. are year-round favorites and during the dry season (November to April) long-wave is received very satisfactorily. Owing to the diversification of these programs and the high standards of entertainment offered, they are very popular in Honduras, although the fact that they are announced in English constitutes a distinct handicap. Re-broadcasting of American or other foreign programs is rarely, if ever, undertaken here. Regulations — -The Government has the exclusive right to maintain and exploit the radiotelegraphic and radiotelephonic stations in the country, which are necessary for public service. The private stations established or those that may be established must not disturb the functioning of the national stations, and in the future they are subject to these regulations. It will be noted that the erection of broadcasting stations is subject to governmental permit. No permits are necessary, however, for receiving sets, nor is there any fee or tax on their use. Receiving Sets — There are no official statistics as to the number of receiving sets in use. The estimated number is approximately 12.000. Sources of Supply — It may be said that practically all the receiving sets in use are of American manufacture, although there are a few foreign sets in use which have been imported directly by their owners. There are no radio manufacturing plants in Honduras, but sets are sometimes rebuilt by dealers having complete workshops, Transcriptions — Although little use has been made, so far, of transcriptions, this practice is said to be gradually growing and there appears to be a limited market here for these records. For completely satisfactory results they should, of course, be in the Spanish language. The inclusion of advertising is not objected to, in fact it is recommended. Patents — There is no difficulty as regards patents. Import Duties — Radios are assessed a duty of 0.75 lempira per gross kilo in the Honduran customs tariff. (2 lempiras equal $1.) To this must be added a surcharge of 10 percent of the duty plus various small taxes; wharfage, stowage, municipal tax, etc., amounting to fractions of a cent each. There are no import quotas. ■ The varying nature of the electric current supplied throughout this Republic, the absence of easy transportation and the high cost of bringing goods to the ultimate consumer, all create their own particular problems here quite different from those encountered in the distribution of radios in the United States. S?ts in use — 12,000. Stations — 3. © HUNGARY Advertising — All the broadcasting stations are owned by the Royal Hungarian Postal Department, which permits no advertising through radio broadcasting. Receiving Sets — The number of radio subscribers in' Hungary on Dec. 31, 1936, was 365,354 as compared with 352,907 on Dec. 31, 1935. The radio trade association estimates that the annual sales turnover of its 540 members was slightly over 5,000,000 pengos during 1936. With the exception of 50 radio sets for automobiles imported by a local wholesaler from United States, there appear to be no American radio sets for sale in this market. Transcriptions — Wax disc records are used by the local broadcasting company for short-wave programs. The turntable revolves 78 times per minute. Announcements are usually made in Hungarian, German and French. Customs Duty — Radio sets are assessed at the rate of 800 gold ciowns (about $180) duty per 220 pounds, plus 9 percent import sales tax ; receiving tubes pay 1.50 gold crowns ($0,335) duty per unit, plus 12 percent import sales tax, and broadcasting tubes 30 gold crowns ($6.70) duty per unit, plus 8 percent import sales tax. Regulations — Radio broadcasting has been developed as a Government monopoly, under control of the Royal Hungarian Postal, Telephone and Telegraph Service, and under the supervision of the Royal Hungarian Ministry of Commerce and Communications. All receiving sets require an operating license in Hungary and the monthly subscription fee is 2.40 pengo ($0.46), which is collected by the mail carriers. Sets in use? — 365,354. Stations — 6. © IRISH FREE STATE General— According to official figures there were 104,000 licensed receiving sets in the Irish Free 948