Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26
RADIO CENSUS NOW
L|STS4,168,51OSETS
Final U. S. Total Expected
to Be Under Estimated
100000 Outfits.

With nearly two-thirds of the States
and the District of Columbia already
accounted for, it appears that the
radio population" of the country,
taken as part of the decennial popu-
lation census last year. will fall far
short of the industrys estimate OF 49,
900, 900 sets.
The analysis of the United States
Census Bureau discloses that "a States
and the District. thus far tabulated, had
only 4.168,5l0 sets on April l Of last
year. They had an aggregate Of H.
GAL $50 families, of whom 1922 per cent
reported sets. Since last year Of course,
the number Of sets in use has in
creased considerably, but so has the
number Of families.
The final count, however, still remains
highly speculative. Numbered among
the States which have not yet been tab
ulated are many densely populated
areas known to be we'll advanced in
radio. These include New York, New
Jersey, Massachusetts,, Illinois, Califor-
MIA, Ohio and Missouri.
May Be 10000, 900 Sets.
1t is estimated officially, on the basis
Of returns thus far received, together
with the expectancy" in those States
unaccounted for, that between 40 and
so per cent of the families have radio
sets. 1t is difficult for these officials to
see how the number of sets will exceed
present industrial estimate OF about 49,
100000 and the estimate Of 13,500,000
made last year.
Although the statistics when finally
computed will be nearly two years old,
they will be Of great value to the man
ufacturing industry, broadcaSterS and
to the Federal Radio Commission. For
the manufacturers the compilation will
be an index to new markets and will en-
able them to concentrate IN the areas
shown to be the most delinquent in sets.
Broadcasters will have at hand more or
less accurate information as to the ex-
tent of their listener coverage, since
they will know the approximate number
Of sets in their respective service areas.
The commission. as the radio licensing
authority. will utilize the information
to advantage in the ALLEGATION Of
broadcasting facilities and presumably
will base its assignments in such a way
as to most effectively cover the greatest
areas Of radio population" as shown
by the set census.
Michigan's Average High.
The latest releases by the bureau
cover Michigan, Virginia, Minnesota
and North Carolina. Michigan achieved
an average Of more than SO per cent,
placing it fourth among the areas thus
far tabulated in point Of radio popula-
ton Minnesota approaches the same
mark. with 47.3 per cent of its families
reporting sets, but Virginia and North
Carolina lowered the national average,
with 1872 per cent and 11.2 per cent, re-
spectively.
Michigan had total of 1,1S3,157 fam
lilies on April l, 1881, with 599,196, or
sos per cent Of the total, reporting sets.
Aggregate number of families was $780,
092, with 96,569, or 1872 per cent, hav-
ing sets, and in North Carolina the
number Of families was 645,245, with
72.329, or 11.2 per cent reporting sets.
The set survey was the first ever I'M
dertaken on a comprehensive basis. In
their houSe-to-houSe canvasses census
enumerators asked the question, do
you have a radio set?" Up to this time
the only data available on set distribu
ton and the size Of the radio audience
have been industrial estimates, which
were little short of guesswork.