Radio Broadcast (May 1928-Apr 1929)

IS RADIO BROADCAST NOVEMBER, 1928 A MODERN RADIO INSTALLATION ABOARD AN ITALIAN LINER New Nationwide Picture Transmission Service A HEADLINE in the New York Times, announcing a nationwide television service, proved upon analysis to be the announcement of a proposed extension of commercial stillpicture transmission by the R. C. A. A 5000-cycle signal, transmitted over a special carrier, is used for synchronization. The image is thrown upon a ground-glass screen and there photographed. The device was produced in the laboratories of the Westinghouse Company and may be used by the R. C. A. in competition with the A. T. & T. system. This is neither television nor broadcasting. Otherwise, the headline was correct. Need for Defining Television Practices SINCE many broadcasting stations appear to be groping toward television, it is desirable to reduce to a minimum the number of scanning disc apertures and their different combinations, and to agree upon the direction of disc spiral and disc speeds to be used. These factors are being determined in a very unscientific and haphazard fashion. Each individual television transmitter, being put into operation, seems to work according to the whim of its builder, with the result that any television receiver now built is capable of receiving from only a single transmitter, although it may be within range of two or three signal sources. The variables are not confined merely to the number of holes in the disc. Some transmitters scan their subjects in such a manner that the first sweep of the disc makes the top line of the picture; others start at the bottom. Some require the receiving disc to run clockwise; others counter-clockwise. Still others, intending that universal or direct-current motors be used for driving receiving discs, are not operating at closely regulated speeds so that standard synchronous motors may also be used for reception. It is too early to propose standards for these factors because standards imply agreement upon practical constants. Television is altogether too crude to be standardized. It would have been no more ridiculous, in 1904, to standardized upon 28 x 3 inch automobile tires, than to decide today upon 24 or 48 line scanning discs for television. But it is worth agreeing upon temporary standards of (1) disc speed, (2) direction of spirals, (3) common multiple for number of holes, and (4) direction of disc rotation. Newspaper Has Radio Picture Transmitter THE Edinburgh Scotsman, a leading newspaper, claims the distinction of being the first newspaper in the world to own and operate its own photo-telegraphic service for the regular transmission of news pictures. The time of sending pictures from London to Edinburgh has been cut from eight hours to eight minutes. The costliness of the several systems in use for commercial picture transmission in the United States have precluded their routine use by newspapers. The A. T. & T. system is well organized, but newspapers complain that they have to wait so long between the filing of pictures and the time they are actually sent that airplane delivery is more rapid and desirable. The R. C. A. transoceanic service is useful only in the case of pictures of extraordinary interest because transatlantic transmission of pictures is difficult. Commercial Broadcasting Increases AVERY healthy trend in the strengthening of the economic foundation of broadcasting is indicated by the growing percentage of national advertisers using commercial, goodwill broadcasting, as reported by the Association of National Advertisers. The figures represent investigation of the activities of 352 leading advertisers. For that number, the percentage using radio grew from 1 1.6 per cent, in 1927 to 14.5 per cent, in 1928 and the actual number from 41 to 51. Broadcasting is the only one of the eight classifications, into which national advertising falls, that has shown a marked increase in the number of users. The greater the number of national advertisers, seeking to please the public by goodwill programs, the greater the competition for public attention, and consequently the higher the program standards. Better commercial programs also mean further improvement in standards of non-commercial programs and a very happy outlook for the radio listener. Another field which is developing is broadcast advertising by local stations. The peak of direct advertising by the local broadcaster is passing and more intelligent and serviceable use of the radio announcement is being made by the smaller stations. Here and There A NEW chain is again announced on the Pacific Coast, comprising kjr, Seattle; kex, Portland, kga, Spokane; kya, San Francisco; and kmtr, Los Angeles. Rival chains to the N. B. C. Pacific Coast network which did not materialize have been announced before. Perhaps this new one will. \A R. OSWALD SCHUETTE, professional radio agitator, employed by the Radio Protective Association, offered a petition to the Commission that the licenses of weaf, wjz, WGY, WRC, KOA, KGO, KDKA, KYW, KFKX, WBZ and w Bz. a be revoked on the grounds that the companies operating these stations constitute a radio monopoly. Louis G. Caldwell, counsel for the Commission, pointed out that, until the companies called are found guilty of monopoly in the courts, licenses cannot be revoked on that ground; that there being no point-to-point communication, and therefore no competition between cable, wire, telegraph or telephone systems involved, the Commission is powerless, under Sections XIII or XV, to take the silly action proposed by Mr. Schuette and his excited associates. This proposal is even more drastic than Judge Robinson's suggestion that the power of these stations be cut to 5000 watts. It might prove a healthy lesson to carry out such a threat, just to witness the storm of listener protest against the disruption of broadcasting service from favorite stations. AS EVERYONE perforce knows, radio has come to its own as a political medium. The Democrats are spending about half a million for radio, using six half-hour periods a week, including a liberal appeal to the women's audience. They are also spending $100,000 for individual programs over independent stations. Entertainment is being broadcast in connection with political features. The Republicans are using the network three times a week, the entire country being covered once a week by the inclusion of the Pacific network. Also, 43 half-hour programs are being sent over the Columbia network, thus insuring the listener of no rest from political blasting. Aircraft Radio CAPTAIN S. C. HOOPER pointed out the importance of using the 500-kilocycle distress frequency on aircraft making over-water flights. This enables flyers to establish communication with ships at sea and shore stations, while utilizing the high frequencies, permitting long-distance transmission, often pre