PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh; York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; 15, Donegall Square West, Belfast; or through any Bookseller. 1928 Price 3d. Net Cmd. 3123 ANNUAL REPORT, 1927. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSON, BART, K.B.E., M.P., HIS MAJESTY'S POSTMASTER GENERAL. The Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation assumed office on January 1st, 1927, and have the honour herewith to present their first Annual Report. Their powers and responsibilities are set out and defined in the Royal Charter and in the Licence, and need not be specified here. The Corporation took over from the British Broadcasting Company a capable and efficient staff and an admirable organisation built up on sound principles during the four years of its existence, and holding a strong position in the esteem of the public. The transfer involved no radical change of policy or outlook, and was effected without difficulty or dislocation. The assets of the Company, transferred free to the Corporation, included twenty-one fully equipped transmitting stations capable of serving 80 per cent of the population on simple receiving apparatus, simultaneous" and "outside broadcast" systems, premises, furniture and fittings, and stores. The value of these assets is referred to in the financial section of this Report. The problems with which the Corporation had to deal fell under two heads; firstly, how best to maintain the normal development of the Service, while endeavouring to introduce improvements; and secondly, how to bring about its legitimate and necessary expansion by a better system of distribution. The Regional Scheme, advocated by the Company and endorsed by the Corporation, comprehends the erection of a limited number of high-power twin-wave transmitters, to replace. the present comparatively large number of low-power stations. The areas served can no longer be extended by erecting more stations, in view of the restricted number of wave-lengths available, and the inevitable interference between home and foreign stations. In general, the present system restricts listeners with simple apparatus to the reception of one programme. Under a plan drawn up by the Office International de Radiophonie, Great Britain has the use of ten wave-lengths, and the Regional Scheme is designed to supply the maximum advantage from them, by giving the greatest possible number of listeners an uninterrupted service of two programmes. This Report is presented in two parts; the first records the year's activities generally, the second the year's finance. GENERAL REPORT. PROGRAMMES. Transmissions from all stations covered over 68,000 hours in 1927. Entertainment naturally formed the bulk of all programmes, but there was a strong and growing demand for other features. Special attention was paid to the technique and presentation of programmes as a whole. Considerable advance was made in adapting existing forms of art to broadcasting. There was a due proportion of familiar works, but many first performances were also given, and, in addition, music and plays were specially written for broadcasting. The services of artists, speakers, &c., of the highest standing, were secured, and much new talent discovered. In all parts of the country, whether in England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales, full respect has been paid to national and local sentiment and tradition, and local resources have been drawn upon where suitable. The Corporation kept closely in touch with its listeners by means of direct correspondence (it received during the year approximately 60,000 letters from them with reference to programmes), through the medium of the newspapers, and through various representative organisations. It maintained, in addition, the important system of Advisory Committees, initiated by the Company, both at headquarters and locally. The advice of these Committees, and of representative individuals, was of considerable benefit to the Corporation in many branches of its activity, particularly in its religious, musical and educational work. Music. Music formed about two-thirds of all programmes. During the year a Wireless Military Band was formed. Schemes propounded by the Company for the formation of permanent orchestras, in conjunction with civic or other existing organisations, to give regular public performances in certain large centres of population, led to the establishment of an orchestra of this character in Cardiff. The Corporation has also continued to co-operate with such musical bodies as the Hallé Concert Society and the British National Opera Company. It carried on the annual Promenade Concert Season, in the Queen's Hall, which would not otherwise have taken place. Light music, besides being included in special programmes, was given a fair share in the daily programmes, and dance music was broadcast regularly. Many Symphony Concerts were given in public and broadcast, Symphony in addition to those in the studios, the most interesting being the Concerts. o (33)29872 Wt 5161-2118 1000 6/28 A 2 Chamber Special particularly successful six weeks Promenade Season, under Sir Henry Wood, to which reference has been made. Part of a series at the Albert Hall, by 150 players, with eminent British and Continental Conductors, came in the early part of the year. Among great works performed were Berlioz' Mass and Honegger's Symphonic Psalm, "King David." In the latter part of the year a similar series of concerts was begun at the Queen's Hall and at the People's Palace. New works from the Carnegie Collection of British music were included by arrangement with the Carnegie Trustees. Chamber Music Concerts were, as a rule, given weekly, and included an international series. Twenty-nine special performances of opera were given in the studios, and a number of performances were relayed from Covent Garden during the International Season, and from provincial theatres during the tours of the British National Opera Company. Of the large number of light operas and cantatas rendered, fifteen of the works by British composers were performed for the first time. Many oratorios and other sacred works were also given. Programmes were arranged for various special occasions, and Programmes. amongst others Beethoven's opera, "Fidelio," was performed at the celebration of his centenary, a concert of Sir Edward Elgar's works was given on his 70th birthday, and special attention was paid to Empire Day, Dominion Day and Armistice Day. Appreciation of Music. Plays. Musical Revue and The interest and appreciation of listeners were aided by talks, usually with pianoforte illustrations, by musical authorities, such as Sir Walford Davies and Mr. Percy Scholes. Copies of the libretti of studio operas were issued to a total of 886,000 copies. Dramatic Productions. Dramas, both ancient and modern, were produced; Shakespearean plays were included and works by Conrad, Wilde, Drinkwater, and Edmund Rostand. Amongst outstanding performances were "The Wandering Jew," "Cyrano de Bergerac, "The Merchant of Venice," Abraham Lincoln," a specially adapted version of " Lord Jim," and " Pursuit," a new experiment in broadcast drama. It is difficult to secure musical comedies for broadcasting purposes, but a number were given, including "The Arcadians,' "The Lilac Domino," "The Chocolate Soldier," "The Rose of Persia," and "Les Cloches de Corneville." Revue and Variety entertainments were given regularly, and well-known authors, producers and artists contributed to their success. General Talks. General talks, as distinct from definitely educational serial talks, came in the afternoon, and early and late evening. The |