Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11
S5,3oO,OIlD OUTLAY
ON RADIO PLANNED
Entertainment of Unequaled
Quality to Be Furnished,
| Says Broadcasting Firm.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, January 1.-THE Ma
tional Broadc1sting Co. announced to-
day that it would spend S3S00 900 in
the next II months to supply to radio
fans entertainment of character
which viii cost the listeners-in
throughout the country nothing.
In addition, $1,000, 600 will be spent
for talent alone by commercial firms
sponsoring programs over the com
pany's hook-ups.
THE expenses for the year" said
Merlin II. Aylesworth, president of
the company, will be greatly IN eX-
cess of the receipts
And due 10 the fact that all broad
casting stations in the United States
are operating at a loss, and because
tne pubic Will not permit pronscuous
plugging the trade broadcasting
expect to see many of the smaller
stations among the 500 to 700 in the
country gradually disappear as their
owners inter ests wane and the big
deficits appear
Reaches Whole Country.
The company reaches by wire so
per cent of the radio population OF
the United States and RELAYS leading
programs, by air. to the other 20 per
cent
Mr.. Aylesworth said there would be
no let-down of the policy of excluding
advertisers except as their message
takes the simple form of announce
ment of the firm, person or organiza-
ton sponsoring a program No de-
Scrlptive talks of commercial prod
ucts. such as is permitted in some
small stations viii be permitted.
We expect to put on all important
material of every kind, and the only
censorship of the air will be that eXer
cised. not through controversy, but in
terest. We expect to guarantee a full
representation of any subject, gov
erned only in the interests of the
100000 listeners"
Since the first Of the year the
company has broadcast somewhat
cohtroversially speaking, Gov Smith,
president Green of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and Norman Thomas,
FORMER Socialist candidate for Gov
ernor of New York
Big Expense for Wires.
The company this year will paw
100000 for wires, telephone service
and special engineers to help with
the hook-ups.
ats main outlets are WEAF and
NcLs ANNN Ioi anu w III WASH
1ngton. Twenty-Five stations are regu-
larly associated with the company.
Programs sponsored by commercial
organizations viii occupy 1000 hours
during the year. This will be only
one-tenth of the time the National
Broadcasting Co. will be on the air
In explaining the Intention of the
National Broadca sting Co to continue
its musical development work, Mr..
Aylesworth said:
"As an example of what we are
trying to do, grand opera will be
broadcast out of Chicago for the first
time on a big scale Friday evening,
January Il. Chicago has previously
broadcast opera, but only within a
small radius. This time two-thirds of
the country VIII probably be able to
listen that night to the second act
or Faust" over a hook-up of greater
magnitude than opera has ever had
before.
300 Persons on Staff.
There has been some discussion
on whether the organization should
put on controversial subjects. We
believe there is as much controversy
In music as in politics, and letters we
get on the classics and jazz prove it,
The organization extends it's met
r0pol1tan programs from Atlanta to
Montreal and from New York to st.
Louis and Kansas City, where they
are picked up and shot by air to
the West Coast. The company has
taken over the Hastings, Nebr., sta
ton.
The staff comprises 300 individuals,
Management expenses, gross, for this
year are expected to consume So.
100000. 1t will spend 100000 for
talent for it's programs
BY June it expects to be in new
quarters, at Fifty-fifth street and
Fifth avenue, where 1t will utilize
eight studios and four floors One
auditorium will be capable of seating
q broadcasting orchestra of $50 rnu-
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