Evening star., 1933-12-31
RADIO BROADCAST
BUSINESS BETTER
Industry Enjoying Relative
Prosperity After Deep
Depression.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

BY MARTIN CODEL.
TROM Spring and Summer OF
H deepest depression, the radio
broadcasting industry in most OF
its branches emerged early thi'
Winter, along with many other
industries. into a period OF relative
prosperity whose continuance appar-
emily depends essentially upon the gen.
eral national program Of recovery
Broadcasting was one of the last in
dustries to feel the depression and one
of the first to recover.
This being the usual period OF stock
taking, it is perhaps apropos to recount
the major developments in radio broad
casting during the year just ending
and to indicate, so far as possible
whittier radio Is going. Considering
broadcasting itself first. probably the
Of 1888 were these:
Programs.-The trend toward more
variety shows, especially those featur-
ing noted comedians, continued but
sponsors evinced a new and gratifying
interest in great concert aggregat1ons
Ilt TtSulI lldS Dccll d WlQCl ldll6C OA
selection for diverse tastes, with stage
artists like Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn
AL Jolson, VIII Rogers and Jack Pear
commanding but little more time on
the air than the Philadelphia SYM
phony, the New York Philharmonic
and like organizations. Concert stars
too, were heard more often than be-
fore, and Metropolitan Opera returned
this month to cap the better offerings
Drama enjoyed something of a come
back though still failing to command
the interest 1t has abroad. Crooner.
were much heard, but did not enjoy
nearly the popularity Of last year.
Watch Super-Pover Work.
Wave Lengths.-Most marked here
was the increase in the number o!
50,000-watt stations to about Is, coin.
cident with the definite threat that
more clear channels will soon be dupli-
Gated by the Radio Commission, al
least if they are separated by tht
breadth of the continent. Threats oi
reallocation did not materialize, but
the whole broadcasting world was
watching with tremendous interest the
super-power experiments shortly to bt
undertaken by WLW, Cincinnati, with
its new 500000-watt transmitter.
Regulation.-Them most significant de-
velopment here was the Radio Com
missions action this month in widen.
ing the broadcast band to embrace
the 1500-1 600-kilocycle channels, al
lowing three 20-hlocycle channels fol
experimentation with high-quality
transmission and reception. Those who
risk establishing new stations on these
waves (Which will be done by perhaps
a oy7fc in HOY
on the future. for all but recently
manufactured radios cannot tune down
so far. Not only must the set makers
be induced to coil radios to take in
these waves, but the audience must be
offered something attractive in the way
Of programs In order to want to tune
them in
Public Service.-Perhaps the great
est service rendered by the radio tc
the American public this year, aside
from the usual run Of educational and
cultural programs, was the throwing
open OF its facilities to President Roose-
welt for his several "fireside chats
with the people. and its hearty coop
Grafton in the national recovery drive
Foreign - Americans watched with
particular interest the activities of the
Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commis.
sion, which not only frightened regula.
tions for more efficient technical op.
Grafton Of Canadian stations, but linn.
tied advertising on the air somewha
and actually took over the operation
Of of Canadas 68 radio stations. II
Europe there was considerable anxiety
over the apparent unwillingness of Ger
tain nations to abide by the Lucern,
wave ALLEGATION plan, scheduled to e
into effect January Is, but complicated
by national jealousies and political un.
certainty.
To the foreign situation might b,
added the failure Of the North Ameri
can wave-length conference at Mexico
City last Spring, where Canada anc
the United States, already in agree
ment on the ALLEGATION of wave lengths
were unable TO secure an agreement
with Mexico which they wanted predi
Gated upon the refusal of the Mexican
government to give haven to so man!
persona non grata" American broad
casters along the Rio Grande. Tn,
Mexico City conference. however. die
come to agreement on the use of The
short wave lengths to the satisfaction
of all
In the radio set and equipment man
ufacturing field, there was little new
than a growing demand for all-wav'
receivers so that foreign and short
wave programs could be tuned in d.
rect. There Was q marked trend 10.
word modernistic cabinets and con,
"cigar-box" radios. Sales went up to.
ward the end of the year, but the re-
placement market hardly promises tina
the halcyon days of 1929, when nearly
81 ,000, 100000 worth of radios were
sold, will ever return. 1t is estimated
that 100000 radios are in use in tht
whole world, with about 100000 O.
them in the United States, or one il
every two American homes.
Progress in Television.
Television continues to be labeled a.
experimental, and even a prosperous
1884 may not see it emerge from the
laboratory. The leaders in the field
though pushed hard by those who want
visual radio introduced at once, are
unwilling to put receivers on the mar.
ket which may be rendered obsolete
overnight. They fear public i'll will il
they do, and there are many who still
day is up to an acceptable standard
Progress is being made, without doubt
but television still needs far to go.
World d-wide relays of radio programs
to and from various countries became
commonplace this year-so easily dont
are they today, that the inaugural O.
Radio City in November was marked
by Is relays from as many countries
during the one week. Regular weekly
broadcasts from Admiral Byrd's flag
ship, en- route to Little America, wer'
carried on a network, and the new
year will see the beginning Of broad
cast accounts by explorers like Byrc
direct from the scenes of their grea'
adventures.
The opening Of Radio City gave II
the United States the most elaborate
broadcasting set-up in all the world
AS the N. B. c. and c. B. S. networks
progressed, various other network prof
ects were discussed and one was &C
tuallv undertaken. headed by Ed WYNN