“LISTENING IN”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10302, 11 January 1927, Page 6

“LISTENING IN”

SPECIAL PROGRAMME TONIGHT HIGHLY PAID ARTISTS AT AUCKLAND STATION 1 Radio has taken on in no uncertain manner. Six months ago then were little over 4000 licensed listen-ing-in sets in New Zealand, while to-day the total has passed the 12.000 mark. Of these 6000 ■ers-in are located in the Auckland district. , Poverty Bay lifts proved no exception and for the past six- months radio sets have been. selling nccly and at the present juncture some dealers report inability to obtain supplies sufficient to cope with the demand. Country residents, especially, are proving ready buyers and many back country householders now spend the evening listening-in to Dunedin, Sydney, or San r rancisco, where before then* only recourse from bed was to be found in a book. „ , , One unsatisfactory feature about the trade is, however the fact that dealers report few sales of Rntisnmade radio sets. Again, in catering for a growing Dominion need the .Homeland appears to he. failing and United States manufacturers are quick to reap the advantage. 1 The English manufacturer apparently overlooks the different condi tions prevailing in New Zealand and provides, for the most part, sets capable of covering less than a ivity mile radius. The American, on the other hand, realises that in the Dominions broadcasting stations aro few and far between and provides sets accordingly. . To give listeners-iii an indication of the possibilities of broadcasting concerts, if the--' were over 40,000 licensed sets in New Zealand paying fees to compensate for tlio extra cost, the Auckland .-tat’mi to-night will make a special effort from o o’clock till 10.30. The aitists alone will he paid .£25 for their services so it can be seen that to be “on tlie air” this evening should be worth while.