A National Institution

The B.B.C. Handbook 1929. (The British Broadcasting Corpora- tion, Savoy Hill, London, W.C. 2.)

WHEN we reflect on the British Broadcasting Corporation we are always astonished at how much better this institution is than we might have expected, or than, to judge from our other institutions, we deserve. Whatever its shortcomings, the B.B.C. does attempt to maintain a level of good sense, decency, and broad-mindedness.

In this handbook we find a comprehensive account of what the B.B.C. is, a survey of what it has done in the last year, and an explanation and defence of its. policy. There are also a number of articles which tell the listener how to listen ; for it is rightly emphasized that the part of the wireless listener, if he is to get anything like full enjoyment out of his set, must be very much more than a passive one. There is also a large and interesting series of articles on the mechanical aspect of wireless.

To this reviewer, most editorial articles on the policy, aims,

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and ideals are the ost interesting. The great development which is promised in the future- is the provision of alternative programmes.

" The original system of programme-building, in which an attempt was made to satisfy on one wave-length the varying tastes of an audience of some seven million individual listeners, has always been open to the charge of being ' bitty' and superficial. ' Your system may be as efficient and smooth-running as you like,' a critic would say, ' but so long as you try to cater for all tastes on one wave-length you will be doomed to failure. You try to make the best of about thirty worlds, with the inevitable result that you are uncomfortable in them all. What is the use of trying to frame a Symphony Concert so that it will appeal to the music-hall enthu- siast, or of singing ballads to a man who wants Beethoven ?' That is an exaggerated statement, a caricature, of what is taken to be the truth, that in the ideal -state of broadcasting, specialization in

both serious and light programmes will take the place of compromise, even more than is the case to-day. But this cannot happen until alternative programmes are possible, and the choice between, two or more types of programme available at a given moment is left to the individual listener. The provision of such alternatives was seen to be the main problem to be tackled, and a scheme of broad. casting from regional stations has been prepared which, it is hoped, will have the desired effect."

As we all know, there is one experimental alternative pro- gramme station, 5GB, in operation already ; but the principle is now to be widely extended. The technical and engineering difficulties have been largely overcome, and London is to have a twin-wave station which will give South-Eastern British listeners a choice of two programmes. A difficulty greater than the technical one has been to find a principle by which the alternative programmes could be differentiated. The principle of the spoken word in' one programme, music in the other, was rejected, as were majority and minority appeals, highbrow and lowbrow, and so on. The most useful test, it was finally decided, was to provide one programme for concen- trated listening and one programme for casual listening.

" This may appear a dangerous sort of distinction to make, since every programme demands a measure of concentrated listening, and the completely casual listener will never get from any programme, however trivial, the fullest measure of enjoyment which it has to offer. But every individual must be conscious that there are times when he is ready to sit down and listen solidly for an hour or an hour and a half, and times when, for reasons of tiredness or rest- lessness, he prefers to hear a programme which does not call for such prolonged periods of concentration. It is this difference of mental attitudes in the individual listener, or in classes of listeners, which this principle of contrast is intended to satisfy—the difference which makes a man turn from the serious chamber music or poetry reading which he usually prefers to a military band or musical comedy programme which would normally leave him uninterested."

Another important development in broadcasting during the year has been the lifting of the ban on controversial matter ; the Handbook states :

" Theoretically, it is now possible to broadcast talks upon all controversial subjects, but great care must still be exercised in the choice and handling of such subjects. Though the formal restric- tion has been removed, a definite responsibility remains. Broad- casting goes direct into the homes of people of every shade of opinion, and it would be a misuse of such a privilege to allow it to be the vehicle of unchallenged partisan statements. It has been decided, therefore, that controversial subjects shall be presented in such a way that the opposing points of view are fairly stated. This may be done by a series of consecutive talks, or by a debate, or by an informal discussion among a group of people : but it will be for listeners themselves to form their own conclusions. The greatest care is taken to prevent listeners having conclusions thrust upon them."

During the year two reports, one entitled, " Educational Broadcasting," and the other, " New Ventures in Broad- casting," have been issued, and have been noticed at length in the Spectator.

We may summarize the teachers' opinions as follows : " (1) There is a real and persistent demand from teachers for courses of wireless lessons in subjects associated with the ordinary subjects of the curriculum.

(3) In the opinion of the teachers, the wireless lessons : - (a) imparted a knowledge of facts ; (b) stimulated interest in ways which could be definitely observed ; (c) created impressions as durable as those produced by their ordinary lessons ; (d) did not encourage inattention ; (e) were particularly stimulating to clever children ;

(f) supplied views and information which the teachers them• selves, could not have supplied ;

(g) gave fresh ideas for lessons ; (h) interested parents in some of the work that their children did in school."

On the other hand, courses in secondary schools were not a success. The B.B.C. explains that :

" It cannot do the groundwork of school instruction, but it can enrich and fertilize the whole curriculum. To this task it Will apply itself with fresh enthusiasm after the endorsement from the Kent Report, and with more knowledge derived from the teachers' co-operation in the preparation of it

Perhaps the greatest educational function of the B.B.C. is in the sphere of adult education. There is a growing demand (as we have recently pointed out) that broadcasting should provide facilities for more systematic education. Such provision is, of course, dependent on the full development of the policy of alternative programmes. ControVersy, the report states, is an essential part of education.

" To make a success of broadcast education close contact must be built up between the B.B.C. and the interests representing listeners. Such contact can best be developed by the creation of a Central Council for Adult Education, representing all. the more

important adult education bodies, and supported by Area Councils, representing local opinion and local organizations. The 'main cost of developing such a service can be met out of that part of the revenue from licences which is at present retained by the Postmaster- General."

The accounts of the B.B.C. which are published in the hand- book show that the Government takes a steadily rising pro- portion of the funds available to the B.B.C. from licences. Licences have now reached the two and a half million mark, which means that the total fees collected amount to £1,250,000. Of this gross revenue, the Post Office takes 12 per cent. of the total, and of the balance 10 per cent. of the revenue derived from the first million licences, 20 per cent. of the revenue derived from the second million, 30 per cent. in respect of the revenue derived from the third million listeners. This is, no doubt, very pleasant for the Treasury ; but at this rate the B.B.C. will soon be taxed far more heavily than any other public Corporation. To penalize the B.B.C. for its efficiency and success is quite Gilbertian, and we think it has a good claim for the reconsideration of its contracts with the Post Office.

We can thoroughly recommend this year's handbook to everyone who is interested in wireless ; it is a record of service of which the country may be justly proud.