Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-01
RADIO GOSSIP AND NEWS

An era Of usefulness, rather than OF
mere entertainment, is ahead of radio
in 1928, according to NJ, II. Ayles-
worth. president of the National Broad
casting Co. Mr.. Aylesworth makes
this statement in n review just issued
Of radio development in the United
States in 1927 and n look ahead at
1928. The new era of radio, he says.
comes as result OF progress both in
the facilities and the art of broad.
casting.
Improvement and expansion of the
physical equipment for broadcastinE
and reception within the past year.
Mr.. Aylesworth declares, has been un-
paralleled. But Of even greater inn
portance to the future Is the final ac-
ceptance of radio by the finest artists.
the greatest scholars and educators
and the most gifted entertainers as
the medium through which they can
reach the greatest national audience
This. added to a new realization on
the part of radio broadcasters that the
most effective as well ms the most
popular programs are those with IA
distinct educational. cultural and en-
tertainment value, has won for radio
pretige and support not even dreamed
OF year or two ago.
Our first year OF operation Ayles-
worth says. has been year OF preia'
ration and of self-education. IT has
been year OF learning aud OF
building.
Through the company's Red. Blue
and Pacific Coast networks. covering
practically the entire United states,
approximately $4,000. 900 was spent In
1927 in presenting radio programs.
I'm addition to this amount, over
s.. 900 900 was spent for talent alone
on sponsored programs presented by
some SO American Industries. who are
clients of the company. The com
pany itself spent over 100000 for
talent utilized in sustaining programs
presented by itself.
Wire service tolls alone. for special
circuits to hook up the stations assoc
ciated with our networks, we've III
excess OF $3.50. 900. We were The
largest user of the American Tele'
phone & Telegraph Co.'S telephone
wire service. our permanent specially
constructed wire line facilities utilize
10 40 miles OF wire and on numerous
occasions during the past year. when
broadcasting over a Nationwide hook
up. we have used more than 10000
miles OF wire.
Great strides also have been
made by our engineers. thus allowing
what heretofore seemed the impossible
Improvement In the quality of trans
mission and the commendable achieve.
ments OF the Federal Radio Commits
sion. together with the installation of
permanent and improved wire line
facilities furnished US by the American
Telephone 4 Telegraph Co. have all
been n remarkable aid to this era of
expa nsIon,
prior TO 1927 the linking together
Of "A chain OF stations from the Allan
tic to the Pacific and from the Gulf
to the Canadian border was regarded
as stunt broadcasting. Today, how
ever. this is q frequent occurrence. The
demand for programs OF excellence
together with the adoption OF broad
casting by big business as medium
of maintaining good will contact with
the public. has made ii possible for
the National BroadcastinG 90. 20
serve additional stations and thou
IA nds of listeners who otherwise could
| not have heard these programs salts
| factoriiy."
FIFTY stations. Mr.. Ayiesworth
points out. are now regularly assoc.
| ctafed with the three networks Of
these. however. only ~WEAF, In
New York-~is owned by his company
Two others~~WJZ. In New York and
WRc. In Washington by the
Radio Corporation Of America. are
ma mayed and operated by the National
Br0adcnstins Go.