11 JANUARY 1930, Page 15

THE PROFITS OF BROADCASTING.

Radio broadcasting in the United States which began nine years ago and is, of course, conducted on a commercial basis, has not proved a profitable business hitherto. That it begins to be so, however, is indicated by analysis of returns received from three hundred and forty of the six hundred odd stations in the country and tabulated by an official of the Radio Commission in a report to the Senate. This shows that nearly half of the reporting stations have begun to realize a credit balance. The chief source of revenue is from adver- tisers who " sponsor " programmes, and the report shows that the total time paid for in this way is equal to approxi- mately one-third of the whole broadcasting time.

New York, Wednesday, January 8th. IVY LEE.