Radio annual (1938)

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overseas reception is not as wide-spread in Switzerland as in the United States. Patents — The situation with respect to patent litigation instituted by the Philips-Telefunken interests against various importers and dealers continues substantially unchanged. It is understood that 28 law suits are pending before Swiss Courts but that the proceedings are being deliberately drawn out because the Philips-Telefunken interests fear that the final outcome might be unfavorable. The fact that imports of American radios have declined to approximately 4 per cent of the total demand tends to detract from the importance of the pending litigation. Television — In the field of ^ television very little headway has been made in Switzerland. Use of Records — Various manufacturers of phonograph records, contending that the broadcasting of records injures the sale of their products, have instituted a suit against the Swiss broadcasting companies. Sets in Use — 439,356. Stations — 6. © URUGUAY General — Uruguay has 39 broadcasting stations, or one to 50,000 persons. Montevideo, the population of which approaches 700,000, has 24 stations and the remainder are fairly well distributed throughout the interior. The power of these stations ranges from 50 watts to 10,000 watts, mostly between 250 and 10,000 watts. All but one of the stations broadcast on middle waves, between 201 and 526 meters. One shortwave station operates; it is CXA4, on the 6,125 kilocycle channel (49.95 meters) and authorized power of 1,000 watts. Authorization has also been granted for the establishment of another short-wave station, CXA2. Broadcasting is permitted to private interests, which devote much of their programs to advertising. Sets — There are no accurate figures available on the number of radio receiving sets in Uruguay (no tax on sets is levied, and no registration required) ; however, it is estimated that about 115,000 receivers are currently in use. The market for all-wave sets is general, no one-wave sets being imported at present. Short-wave reception from Europe is reasonably satisfactory, although local interference frequently mutilates British news transmissions. American stations are almost entirely blanketed by German ones. Customs Duties — The duty on radio sets and loudspeakers is 120 per cent of a fixed valuation of one peso per kilogram, or 1.20 pesos per kilogram; 25 per cent of this duty must be paid in gold or in currency to the equivalent of the Uruguayan gold par, and for the months of November and December 1936, the premium of gold over paper was 2.915. A computation shows the actual amount of the duty to have been 1.7748 pesos per kilogram. The premium is changed monthly when exchange fluctuations make it desirable. The duty on spare parts and accessories is 120 per cent of a fixed valuation of 80 centesimos per gross kilogram. Tubes up to 10 watts pay 120 per cent on 50 centesimos rjer tube; and those of over 10 watts pay 20 percent on 10 pesos per tube. In all cases 25 percent of the duty must be paid either in gold or its equivalent, as in the case of radio sets. Foreign Sets — In 1934, the United States contributed 93 percent of the sets imported into Uruguay. Argentina, Holland, Germany, Japan, and Great Britain are attempting to secure a foothold in the Uruguayan field, but have met with little success so far. Sets in use — 115,000. Stations— 39. 958 UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA Including the Rhodesias, Bechuanaland, South West Africa, etc. General — The Union of South Africa commercial area includes the Rhodesias and South West Africa. According to the Post Office Department, there were 176,337 listeners in the Union of South Africa as of July 31, 1937. This is approximately one receiver to every 11.4 white inhabitants of the country. The Corporation estimates the ultimate capacity of the country to be 250,000 receivers. Market for Sets — As the monthly sales of approximately 1,900 will show, the market in South Africa is an excellent one. The demand is universal and well distributed throughout the year. . Standard type sets with 5 to 11 tubes are favored. The importance of the rural business may be judged from the fact that an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the sets sold are battery operated. _ Reception of local programs on the usual broadcast waves is fair at most seasons of the year, but coverage is not so complete as to give all districts clear reception at all times. This fact and the lack of attractive programs emanating from South African stations have built a demand for all-wave sets and for combination radio receivers and phonographs known as radiograms. Sources of Supply — Chief United States competitors here are the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The United Kingdom supplied about 15 percent of the imports in 1936, and even some of that amount was made up of products originating in the United States and assembled in the United Kingdom for export to South Africa. Holland's position in 1936 does not compare favorably with that of 1935. Although South Africa's total imports increased considerably, Holland's share dropped from approximately 16 percent in 1935 to 8 percent in 1936. All other suppliers to this country furnished about 2.4 percent of the total. United States now controls slightly more than 75% of the market. Short Wave — Because of the general lack of appeal in local programs, practically all receiving sets in use in South Africa are all-wave sets. The Continent can be received fairly well here all the year round, particularly those stations in England, Germany, Italy and France that transmit in South African direction. American shortwave programs can be picked up but not with sufficient clarity to recommend them to the majority of listeners. It would appear logical that in order to preserve the excellent trade, American interests should cater to South African listeners by taking steps to provide them with suitable programs. A high power station with a directional aerial broadcasting a daily program designed for this country at such a time that most listeners here could listen in would do much good. Advertising — Sponsored programs are not broadcast in South Africa and the Broadcasting Corporation is definitely against them. There is provision in the Radio Act to permit the operation of commercial broadcasting but it is unlikely that the Government's radio control board will allow such a development in view of its general plans for the next few years' developments nor is it likely that any private organization would risk the necessary investment in view of the Corporation's ambitious _ plans for the future development of its services. Transcriptions — Transcriptions form an important part of the broadcasting material in all the Corporations' studios. Rebroadcasting of local events is resorted to from time to time. English recordings of broadcasts are losing favor in comparison _ with American chiefly because their quality is mediocre. The accepted procedure at present is to substitute South African continuity on imported albums of recordings. Turntable speeds are 78 and 33 r.p.m. Regulations — Licenses are required for the ownership and operation of receiving sets, the fees