270 271 - 2 - 272 - 3 - 273 - 4 -

APPENDIX

Outline of projected overseas programme schedule

The completion in February 1941 of the present scheme of transmitter construction will facilitate some modification of present (December 1940) schedules. The signal strength and area coverage of existing services will where necessary be increased and the simultaneous coverage of some areas with two programmes (differentiated linguistically) will be made possible. The new transmitters will also allow the addition of about 6 hours extra programme time for Europe, but apart from the above there can be no further expansion in the hours of programme service.

The comparative figures quoted below relate to the schedule current in December 1940 and not to the tentative 1941 schedule. Direct comparison is not possible, since the long term plan now put forward provides within the European and World Service for a degree of specialisation basically different from that practicable with existing technical facilities.

(All times quoted below are Greenwich Mean Times)

World Service (embracing Empire Service )

All programmes include news, talks and entertainment.

Present

Main (single) programme divided as follows:-

Projected

NOTE : Several of the ‘Regional’ services above will interweave, ‘sharing’ appropriate items of all kinds.

Latin-American Service

Present

Latin-American Service (continued)

Projected

Near East Services

Present

Projected

European Service

The future plan postulates the use of transmitters on a ‘group’ basis for specialised regional services. In general terms a ‘fixed hour’, repetitive programme schedule is envisaged as a means of stimulating listening in circumstances which render impracticable normal forms of publicity for programme arrangements. The present services are limited to a single programme output (duplicated during certain periods) within which it is impossible to reconcile conflicting needs of continental audiences. The resultant compromise is fundamentally unsatisfactory and restrictive of development.

Comparison between two such different bases but the following figures are representative. It should be that the ‘present’ output includes little repetition, whereas the ‘projected’ output covers multiple use of programme material. The latter figures, therefore, appear to be unduly inflated.

The periods and hours of service are approximate and serve only to indicate the general scope of the projected output. Transmitter groups are likely to be needed for continuous operation to Regions 1 and 2. Intervals are anticipated in the services to 3, 4 and 5. Regions 3(a) and (b) and 4(a) and (b) respectively, each alternate in the use of a transmitter group.

No specific group is reserved for Russo-Baltic service, which, it is considered, can be provided during the ‘free time’ of transmitters carrying other regional services. (Time differences will facilitate this.)