Radio Broadcast (May-Oct 1925)

The Story of Broadcasting in England 179 (2) The Broadcasting Company to receive a maximum of js.6d. instead of 55. — out of the license fee, subject to the operation of a sliding scale under which the payment per license would decrease as the number of licenses increased. (3) The method of deriving revenue on royalties on the sale of " B. B. C." apparatus to be discontinued. (4) Effective measures to be taken to prevent evasion of the license, and certain additional statutory powers to be obtained to strengthen the Postmaster General's hands. (5) The gradual extension of the broadcasting of news to be allowed under proper safeguards. (6) The broadcast band of wavelengths (hitherto from 350 to 425 meters) to be increased so as to include wavelengths between 300 and 500 meters (except those from 440 to 460 meters which are used for maritime purposes. (7) The Broadcasting Company's license to be extended from the end of 1924 to the end of 1926, but the Government to keep its hands free to grant additional licenses if considered desirable. The Committee paid a well deserved tribute to the excellent service provided by the Broadcasting Company — a tribute which, when the Report was published, was generally echoed by the press. SOLVING A DIFFICULT PROBLEM WHEN the then Postmaster General, Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, received the Report in August, 1923, he immediately initiated further negotiations with the Broadcasting Company. He found the Company, as might have been expected, unwilling to accept the Report as it stood, in view of their strong legal position. They met him, however, in a very reasonable spirit and a compromise was arranged without serious difficulty. This compromise had been tentatively suggested while the Committee was sitting, and both parties, as well as the public, were well satisfied with it. Under this compromise, which was announced about the beginning of October, 1923, it was agreed that up to the end of that month a special form of license, known as the "interim license," should be issued in order to "whitewash" the many unlicensed receiving sets which, it was believed, had come into existence during the period of the deadlock. The fee for this "interim license" was to be 1 55. a year, out of which the Broadcasting Company was to receive \2s.6d. In addition to this form of license, the broadcast receiving license at 105., applicable only to apparatus bearing the B. B. C. mark, was continue to be issued; and a constructor's license at 1 55. was to be introduced, applicable to apparatus made or put together by or on behalf of the licensee himself. The only special condition of this license was to be an undertaking by the licensee not intentionally to use, in the construction of his set, material or parts made elsewhere than in Great Britain. ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND RECEIVER LICENSES IN ENGLAND THERE was immediately a very large demand for the "interim license," and some 200,000 of these were issued up to the end of October. The constructor's license also proved popular, being issued in the proportion of about two to one B. B. C. license. The total number of licenses continued to grow at a rapid rate, and by the end of the year it had reached about 500,000. Each month of the new year also saw a rapid growth, THE MASTS OF THE NEW BRITISH STATION Which will soon be opened at Daventry. This station will use 1600 meters and about 25 kilowatts and will originate programs of its own as well as broadcasting programs from the main London studio of the British Broadcasting Company. The site of the station is 600 feet above sea level and the ground itself is about 300 feet above the surrounding territory. The two masts are 500 feet high and 800 feet apart