Radio annual (1938)

and the imported American sets on sale are as a rule boot-legged into the market. Some American manufacturers have overcome this difficulty in part by manufacturing in England. The pool has no objection to licensing branch plants of American firms, provided the terms of the license, described below, are adhered _ to and also provided the conditions regarding British content be complied with. British manufacturers have rather opposed the policy of the pool in granting licenses to American firms manufacturing in this country. The pool has invariably replied that there is no reason in law or otherwise why licenses should not be granted in these cases, providing the conditions are accepted and unfair competition eliminated. To support this policy the pool has brought legal action against many American makes of radios. Members of the pool are the British ThomsonHouston Co., Ltd.; Electric and Musical Industries, Ltd. ; Hazelpat, Ltd. ; Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd.; Standard Telephones & Cables, Ltd., and the Western Electric Co., Ltd. The operating member is Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd., with offices at Electra House, Victoria Embankment, London, W. C. 2., to which all applications for a license should be addressed. The importation of American sets into Great Britain in a satisfactory way is rendered _ extremely difficult by the pool, and American Manufacturers seeking outlets in this market should be warned that a patent situation exists, that a powerful pool is in active operation, and that their dealers, if any appreciable volume of sale is reached, will probably be sued. American manufacturers should also be advised to inquire carefully into the financial position of any British firm applying for a radio agency. Tariffs — It must be understood that information tion regarding any foreign tariff rate is especially unstable and should be verified as nearly to the date of importation as possible. The current import duty on radio receiving sets in the United Kingdom is 20 per cent ad valorem, on tubes 33-1/3 per cent, and on radio-phonographs 33-1/3 per cent. These duties are levied on landed cost values. Television — See Television Section. Government Control — Broadcasting in the United Kingdom is operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation, a semi-governmental organization operating under a charter granted by the Postmaster General with the approval of Parliament. Early in the year, the charter which expired at the end of 1936 was renewed for another period of 10 years. No commercial or sponsored programs are permitted by the charter of the B.B.C., which is responsible for all programs transmitted through the National and Regional stations and the Empire transmitters as well. Programs — The. program policy of the B.B.C. remains with a few slight changes the same as in past years. Greater empasis is being placed on broadcasts to schools and talks than hitherto. Recorded programs are used principally during the earlier hours_ of the broadcasting day and are widely used in the Empire broadcasts. The departments of the B.B.C. are Music, Variety, Drama, Outside Broadcasts, Dance, News, School Broadcasts, Religion, Program Planning, Television, and the Empire Services. Advertising— As a policy of the British Broadcasting Corporation, no advertising is broadcast. There is no other restriction, however. Regulation — Every owner of a wireless set is required by law to obtain a license which costs 10 shillings annually and is good for 12 months. One license will cover any number of radio sets in one house but a separate license is required for car sets. The only exemption from this license fee applies in the case of blind persons. Receipts from the license fees are applied to the cost of programs after a percentage has been deducted for the use of the National Exchequer. It is estimated that this year the B.B.C. will get 6 shillings 4J^ pence net of each 10 shilling license fee. Sets in Use— 8,269,000. Stations — 18. VENEZUELA General — Radio broadcasting in Venezuela dates from 1926, when a station was established under a monopoly that had been granted 2 years earlier. The monopoly included, besides exclusive broadcasting rights, the importation and merchandising of all radio apparatus. Short Wave — American short-wave programs are easily received throughout Venezuela on standard receivers, broadcasts coming through more clearly in the evening and at night than during the day. During the winter, American long-wave broadcasts are also regularly heard. European short-wave programs from England, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, in the order listed, are also easily picked up here, while almost all Latin-American countries can be heard. Transcriptions— The use of recorded programs for broadcasting is generally prevalent, especially in morning broadcasts, and from the smaller stations in the Interior of the country. According to a ruling of the Ministry of Labor and Communications, however, recordings may not occupy more than 90 per cent of any Venezuelan program. Sets in Use— 80,000. Stations — 31. © YUGOSLAVIA General — According to figures published by the Radio Control Office of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs, there were on May 30, 1937, 103,683 receiving sets in actual use. It is estimated that there are actually about 125,000 sets in operation. Sources of Supply — Foreign competition is confined to a few large firms. Philips has about 31 per cent of the present turnover in imported sets, followed by Austrian firms with 20 per cent, German with 20 per cent, Hungarian with 11 per cent, and the United States with 7 per cent. In 1932, the United States led in the Yugoslav radio market, but it has since lost position to Holland, Austria, Germany and Hungary. European manufacturers of radio appear to have a great advantage over the American manufacturers as regards quality and price and can fill orders more promptly. Patents — Patents are controlled by the local firm Siemens-Halske A. D., associate of Telefunken A. G., Berlin, which owns the most important radio patents. There are also numerous American patents registered but only Siemens is enforcing its patent rights. Tariffs; Import Restrictions— On June 25, 1936, the Yugoslav Government placed into effect an order prohibiting the importation from countries having no clearing agreements with Yugoslavia (this includes United States) of certain types of merchandise including radios and parts. Since the placing into effect of this order, the National Bank has withheld the issuance of permits for imports from the United States. Permits will be only granted upon condition that the wouldbe importer undertake to export to the United States a compensating amount of Yugoslav products. As dealers are generally not in a position to organize an import trade on such a "compensation" basis, the importation of American radios and parts has decreased. Advertising — The Yugoslav stations broadcast some advertising, but the total is limited by the stations as a matter of policy. Transcriptions — Records are extensively used in broadcasting, amounting to about 20 per cent of the total program time. American dance music is popular but difficult to obtain in satisfactory records on account of the unsettled copyright questions. Sets in Use— 103,683. Stations — 4. 960