Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-05
CANADA SEEKS WAY
TO BAR j. S. RADIO.
Dominion Commission Is to
Study Plan to Combat
American Programs.
BY ROBERT MACK.

Canada is going the limit to find a
way of slamning the door in the face
of American broadcasting, its unlimited
guest which has won over the Canadian
audience almost to the exclusion Of the
Dominion's stations.
The latest effort is to establish a
network of stations that would cover
the Dominion from coast to coast and
offer sponsored programs comparable
to. those Of American stations. But
science as yet has devised no means of
making radio waves recognize interna-
tional boundaries and probably never
WILL
What Canadian officials want to do is
prevent the monopolization of the air
in Canada by American jazz, American
propaganda and American manufac-
turers." A royal commission, appointed
by Premier Mackenzie King, is now in
veStigating Canadian radio conditions,
and will make recommendations for the
future. This commission is to deter
mine whether the Dominion government
should take over the operation of broad
casting and in that way rectify the de-
plorable broadcasting conditions, or
whether other steps should be taken.
Pleads for Canada.
A candid open statement of the Ca
madam situation is made by r. w.
Ashcraft, manager of Trans-C Canada
Broadcasting Co., the Dominion's
closest approach to national chain.
In an address before the Advertising
Club of Montreal, Mr.. Ashcroft dag
noSed the broadcasting ills of his coun-
try, and made fervent plea for the
commercial support of Canadas broad
casting system. He admits that Cana
dian listeners are dead against the ex-
clusion of American programs unless
they are offered Canadian programs
just as good, but adds that mo true
Canadian wants radio in this country
to be Americanized to the extent that
our movies and our theaters have al
ready been Americanized, If 1t can be
avoided"
1--WE cannot prevent American radio
programs from coming into Canada over
the air-and we are truly grateful for
many OF them-but we can provide Ca
as they are," he continues. I'VE admit
that until about a year ago Canadian
radio was huge joke-a traveSty. None
| of us would, until recently, think of
listening in to Canadian station If
We could get satisfactory receiving from
an American station"
But adds Mr.. Ashcroft, the situation
is different today in Eastern Canada
and can be still further improved, be-
| cause there are some high grade spon-
sored programs of Canadian origin.
Points Way to Solution.
Mr.. Ashcroft suggests the creation OF
| Dominion radio commission to regu-
late commercial broadcasting, which
would have the 6 exclusive and II
shared wave lengths to deal with. II
doubt if the United States will ever
voluntarily give us any more, as they
have their own troubles to deal with -
Licenses should be granted to six
stations Of not less than 5000 watts Gin
| contrast to the two such stations now
operating), spanning the Dominion, he
suggests. Licenses then should be
granted to relay stations of not less than
500 watts capacity which would utilize
the IL Canadian-shared wave lengths
and these IL main" stations would be
hooked up as a network for chain pro-
grams of a sponsored character. In
this way, he suggests, Canada can win
| back its radio listeners, and provide
them with first-class Canadian enter
tainment.
mot dial would need to be turned
to tune in an American station. In
fact, hundreds of thousands of Ameri-
can liSteners-in would be tuned into
Canadian stations" says he.
Copyright, 1929, by the Consolidated Press. }