Radio Broadcast (Nov 1926-Apr 1927)

THE MARCH OF RADIO ^ews and Interpretation of Current cRadio Svents Radio Regulation in the Great Game of Politics TWENTY million broadcast listeners are being auctioned in the game of politics. If their fate has not been determined by the time this appears in print, radio might as well be written into the bad debts column of this year's entertainment budget. To the radio industry, Congressional failure to provide sorely needed legislation would be little less than a catastrophe, though, fortunately, one from which eventual recovery is not impossible. The 1926 season might well have been radio's best and biggest year. Reception conditions have been extraordinarily good; without wavelength tangles, nationwide listening, even during fairly early evening hours, would have been within the capabilities of almost any good five-tube receiver. Instead of rising to new levels, Christmas sales were below normal. The year's loss of sales, resulting from chaotic broadcasting conditions, is not less than $175,000,000. This estimated sales loss is based on the assumption that the number of sets sold this season would have been ten per cent, larger than last year, had there been no wavelength troubles. Owing to higher average sale price and profit per set and a The photograph forming the heading above shows a wireless station among the Japan rice fields. The station is at Keniskawa, eight miles from Tokio. reduced number of large producers, most radio set makers, however, are in a stronger position than last year and gross sales figures for the industry will probably equal last year's total. The number of sets sold this year is probably twenty per cent, smaller than last year. The public's apathy to the depreciation of radio entertainment should teach the industry a cruel lesson. Radio, instead of being the most important interest in the life of the broadcast enthusiast, second only to affairs of the heart and to the means of gaining food and shelter, is now apt to be easily displaced and forgotten. If radio reception is not good, the listener now takes to his motor car or to the movies, while the radio industry bites its nails impotently. Those professionally interested in radio have, of course, been much aroused, but the resulting action has been largely confined to optimistic public statements about how good business is or to the general effect that radio reception is not bad. No industry, shivering from a vital blow, has ever demonstrated less ability and less initiative in arousing public support. V On the other hand, radio has held too firm a place in the public estimation to suffer long from its present ills. Regulation is bound to come sooner or later, unless the moguls of radio are willing to go back to hemstitching, running errands, and repairing bicycles. Telephotography as a hobby for the home constructor looms imminent, offering him the trials of experiment and the thrills of true achievement. Radio showmanship improves steadily and quality of reception attainable with modern receivers rises to new heights. The one real cloud on radio's horizon is the overcrowded ether, which can be dispelled only by real leadership on the part of the industry. Had public opinion been aroused by such leadership, radio legislation would not now be settled entirely on political considerations. Let no one be fooled by the political buncombe emanating from Washington about the "defense of the peepul against monopoly and autocracy." The real issue is that the White Bill is the Administration measure, supporting the successful handling of broadcasting problems by the Secretary of Commerce and proposing to continue it with the aid of an advisory committee, while the Dill Bill is the opposition measure, designed to detract from power of the Secretary of Commerce and to take from him credit for the regulation of radio. To smooth the way for the Dill Bill, its regulating commission provides attractive and comfortable feather beds for political casualties. The radio industry's Coordinating Com