Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

26 RADIO DAILY Tuesday, February 9. 1937 & Views From Varied Viewpoints & Frowns on U. S. Rule Of Radio Air Waves rpHE future of radio in education depends on the intelligence and farsightedness of the radio industry, the Federal Communications Commission, and the educators themselves. I have always been a supporter of the American idea in radio broadcasting. I don't approve of government control. When you look at what is going on in Europe, the radio propaganda that is on the air, you begin to see what I mean. Though the broadcasting industry had, on the whole, been interested in the development of new opportunities in the educational field, and that, though it had sometimes been too eager for profits and had sometimes underrated the intelligence of the audience, the general level of programs had improved. I've always taken the view that all broadcasting is educational, good, bad and indifferent, in the sense that it raises or lowers the level of our national culture. Among the chief problems yet to be solved in radio education are those of technique in presenting educational material and of the raising money to support educational programs. As to the first problem, educators must realize thai they can't put dry rot on the air and expect people to listen to it. The financial angle is very serious. Advertisers will present educational programs of a spectacular nature, such as the Met Opera and symphony orchestras, but no sponsor has ever tried to put on an educational program more academic in nature. Insofar as the experience with institutionally owned broadcasting stations, they have been in a large part unfortunate but this is a field which may be developed. Television will increase the problems of radio education and will also increase its opportunities but it is too early to talk about it yet. Radio broadcasting has called to our attention the importance of the ear. Until movable type was invented, all teaching was done by word of mouth, so it is only in the last four or five centuries that we have become ear minded. Radio may swing us back. It is bringing to the fore again those techniques and traditions of the time when all learning came by ear. All the great teachers, Socrates, Christ and all of them, taught by word of mouth. Of course, what television is going to do, by way of bringing us back to the eye again, remains to be seen. — DR. LEVERING TYSON, in Herald Tribune. Television Was Visioned "Way Back" in 1884 EIGHT years ago a famous European television expert said to the author during a visit to the former's vast laboratory filled to the ceiling with television devices: "The principles of television have been known since 1884 when Paul Nipkow applied for his basic television patent. Consequently, we are now looking back upon an evolution of nearly fifty years, and it is not an exaggeration to say that television will be in general use in less than a year." This, remember, was in 1928. Is it any wonder, then, that the public is beginning to doubt that there is any such animal as television? Actually, television is here today, but not for public use. Practical television was demonstrated successfully at the recent Olympic games in Berlin. Transmission with a definition of 180 lines brought complete "newsreel shows" of the most important contests directly into the homes of Berlin listeners or, shall we say, "lookonners," as suggested by Bernard Shaw. — WILLIAM F. SCHRAGE, in Coronet. Broadcasts and Radio Confused by Public DUE to the popularity of broadcasting and its major interest in the public mind, there is danger of confusing radio and broadcasting to the extent of making the two synonymous. This is far from the truth. In fact, no less an authority than George Henry Payne, of the FCC, is responsible for the statement that broadcasting is but one of 27 services of radio. We are familiar with some of the more common uses of radio in connection with telegraph and telephone to foreign countries and also in maritime service, including radio telegraph and radio telephone communications between ships at sea and between ships and shore. In the field of aviation, radio has become indispensable and, as a method of increasing public safety, the police radios are now in operation in nearly every city. Again radio is used in the transmission of news to newspapers by what is known as a multiple address radio telegraph service. And, in addition to these, there are of course many less known uses of radio in regular and experimental services, including television and facsimile. — Editor & Publisher. FCC Head Champions Freedom of the Air ANY educational system on the air would be but a hollow thing if it were not fundamental in that those participating in the program were free at all times to seek the truth wherever it might be found, and, having found it, to proclaim it, secretary Ickes told the conference. Unless the people in their might stand firm to protect educational broadcasting from the witch hunters, then it had better not be undertaken at all. Freedom of the press, freedom of assemblage, freedom of speech, and that academic freedom which is implicit in freedom of speech, constitute the piles driven to bedrock upon which our institutions securely stand. These rights must, as a matter of course, extend to and be inseparable from any program of educational broadcasting that is worth the snap of a finger. It is my personal opinion that American listeners would not stand for the payment of a receiving set tax. It is my judgment that it would be most unpopular in this country. It is not the American way of accomplishing things.— ANNING S. PRALL. Radio Plays Leading Role In American Social Order SPECIFICALLY, and in the light of recent history, what is radio's part in our changing social order? The influence of radio in the field of entertainment needs only a passing reference, but emphasis should be placed on the fact that radio has made it possible for the humblest dweller in this land to listen to programs of entertainment ranging from presentations of grand opera taken directly from the stage, down through the various strata of quality and selection, until today every family will find available for its enjoyment just the type of entertainment it prefers. Broadcasting is undoubtedly the most revolutionary factor ever brought into the field of entertainment, and while some programs will probably always be open to criticism, yet on the whole, the value of its contribution to the American home can never be adequately estimated. — FRANK A. ARNOLD, in Editor & Publisher. Sees Power Lines Static As Bad Radio Headache INTERFERENCE of electrical appliances and power systems with the reception of broadcasting systems and communications has become so serious that it will be necessary for Congressional acts to require manu facturers and users to equip their products with shielding devices. Improvement in reception can be accomplished in two ways. First, the signals sent out by broadcast stations can be strengthened by giving them authority to step up their power. Second, the amount of noise made by electrical equipment can be reduced so that listeners will not need to turn their sets as high to get good reception. Equipment makers could be licensed, for example, and restricted to one particular frequency. This would naturally set off a blast from doctors, and from makers of therapeutic devices because they have many different ideas on what frequency is the best for medical use or for particular types of cases. Local laws have been passed in some places requiring shielding of electrical equipment or correction of faulty transmitter lines by power companies. New Jersey had the police wage a campaign against operators of diathermy appliances which interfere with police radio operations. In England laws giving the government agencies the power to prevent interference with broadcast and communications service is well on its way through Parliament. This whole subject is described as a headache by government experts who are in charge of the project to eliminate man-made static. Meanwhile they are piling up data on interference and interference is piling up still faster.— DR. L. P. WHEELER in Kansas City Star. Lohr Scouts Television Spike in Retail Volume PICTURES of 441 line definition are much clearer than those of 343 lines, the definition employed in previous tests from the Empire State. Another significant advance has been made in our work of television development. As we proceed in this fascinating adventure of bringing radio sight to distant eyes, it is encouraging to be able to report this substantial progress. The development of television service promises to be orderly and evolutionary in character and is a tribute to the radio industry which enjoyed public favor on a scale that is most encouraging to its future. The public may purchase present day radio receiving sets with confidence as to their continuing serviceability. Television receiving sets cannot precede a television program service of satisfactory quality, which will be available at the beginning only in sharply restricted metropolitan areas following the eventual solution of technical, economic and program problems. — MAJOR LENOX R. LOHR, NBC Prexij.