Total expenditure on the Broadcasting Service amounted approximately to £28,259 so that there was an estimated gross surplus of £11,427. Of this amount, about £3,000 must be regarded as a set-off on a commercial account basis for interest on capital and provision for depreciation, leaving net estimated surplus of £8,427. All these figures are subject to such minor alterations as may be necessary when the various accounts have been closed.
The number of licences issued last year was 25,269, showing a decrease of 756 as compared with the previous year. This decrease is probably mainly due to a fall in the number of crystal sets in use not being overtaken by an increase in the number of valve sets. Most people who begin with crystal sets hope eventually to get valve sets, so that the number of valve sets tends to increase continually and of crystal sets to fall. This is the case where the service afforded (i.e., the crystal range of the existing stations) remains unaltered. The slight setback in the number of licences is, however, regarded as only temporary and it is expected that it will soon be recovered and be followed by a steady increase. The extent to which evasion of payment of licence fees exists is problematical, but the question of taking further action, by legislation if necessary, with a view to enforcing payment of licence fees is under consideration.
The revenue of £30,700 from the Customs tax on wireless apparatus shows an increase of about £3,000 over the previous year. This tax provides the greater part of the broadcasting revenue. Policy in regard to the tax is a matter for the consideration of the Minister for Finance, but so far as the Post Office is concerned, there appears to be no present possibility of raising sufficient money for the broadcasting service by any other means.
The revenue for the current year, 1930-31, is estimated at £14,000 from licence fees and £30,000 from the import tax, making gross revenue of £44,000, or, deducting cost of collection at 10 per cent., net revenue of £39,600. Total expenditure on the Dublin and Cork stations out of all Votes is estimated at £32,000, leaving gross surplus of £7,600, of which £3,000 must be earmarked against interest and depreciation. This means that the Dublin and Cork stations, i.e., the service at present operated, should produce a surplus of about £4,500.
Broadcasting being a State undertaking there is an obligation on the State to provide so far as possible equality of service for all the population. Such obligation is the more imperative when private enterprise is not permitted to provide a service. The Dublin and Cork stations were not erected with any hope of providing a service throughout the entire Saorstát. They were intended to give a local crystal service only, with further developments in view.
Of the total population of approximately 3,000,000 only about 700,000 or 23 per cent. are estimated to reside within the range of crystal reception of the Dublin and Cork stations. The use of a valve set is necessary at distances of over about 15-20 miles, and therefore reception on cheap sets is available to less than one-quarter of the population. Moreover, owing to the location of the Dublin and Cork stations, reception even on valve sets is difficult in parts of the country owing to inadequate signal strength or the incidence of the phenomenon known as "fading."
The best possible service having regard to the technical problems involved could be provided by a central high-power station. A station of 60 kilowatts aerial power, such as it is proposed to erect, would, it is estimated, afford good reception on crystal sets to about 2,200,000 or 75 per cent. of the population, and good to fair reception on simple valve sets to a considerable number of the remaining 25 per cent.
It is expected that reasonably good crystal reception from the high-power station will be practicable within a radius of 80 miles; beyond that up to 90 or 100 miles good reception on valve sets is anticipated. At distances over 90 miles from the station "fading"—i.e., coming and going of signals—is likely to occur. On this account good reception even on valve sets may not be possible in some parts of the extreme southwest, west and north-west seaboards. It is hoped, however, that the latest technical developments may help towards overcoming this trouble, but the position of the Department is that constant good reception cannot be guaranteed in advance in these areas.
The wave-length of the Dublin station, 413 metres, is suitable for a high power station, and it will be utilised for the new station.
Apart from the question of affording crystal reception to the majority of the population, the erection of a central high-power station is likely to become necessary in order that a service of any kind worth the name could be given. Broadcasting development in Great Britain and European countries generally is in the direction of high-power stations. Great Britain is erecting six twin wave high-power stations, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Italy already possess stations of 50 or 60 kilowatt power, and several other such stations are in course of erection or are projected. The signals received in the Saorstát from these stations, although not constant (i.e. subject to "fading," etc.), are of considerable strength, and as the number of these stations increases reception of the Dublin and Cork stations becomes more difficult except in fairly close proximity to these stations.
The all-in capital cost of the high-power station, it is estimated, will be between £70,000 and £75,000. The actual cost within these limits must depend upon realisation of necessarily approximate estimates for buildings and equipment. It is quite certain that the higher figure will not be exceeded. Moreover, of the total capital expenditure £12,500 is for Customs Duty on plant, etc., so that the actual total cost of the high-power station will be between £57,500 and £62,500.
Of the total estimated capital expenditure, the amount provided for in the current financial year 1930-31 is £50,700, made up of £47,700 in the Broadcasting Estimate and £3,000 in the Estimate for Public Works and Buildings, leaving a balance of approximately £20,000 to £25,000 to be voted in the financial year 1931-32.
The annual charges are estimated at about £9,000 in respect of interest on capital and depreciation, and £11,000 on running and maintenance costs. So that additional annual revenue of £20,000 will be required to cover the recurring charges.
Minimum estimates of revenue at saturation point allow for a revenue of £65,000, or, deducting cost of collection at 10 per cent., net revenue of £58,500. Deducting from this amount of £58,500 the total expenditure at the present rate on the Dublin and Cork Stations of £34,500 shows increased revenue of £24,000 which will be sufficient to cover charges of the high-power station with some thousands over for programme development.
On a commercial basis the Broadcasting Service has an accumulated surplus of £13,500, so that there is every likelihood that it will pay its way in the future and, perhaps, continue to produce a surplus.
Station Orchestra—A proposal for an increase in the numbers of the Station Orchestra is at present under consideration. Symphony Concerts—Four Symphony Concerts were given by the 2RN Symphony Orchestra during the past winter season. The public concerts were discontinued owing to lack of public support.
Other important broadcasts during the year included five concerts of the Dublin Philharmonic Society, two operas by the Dublin Operatic Society, and ten operas by the Station Opera Company. Also concerts of the Waterford Oratorio Society, the Waterford Musical Society, and the Sligo Musical Society.
A special feature of the programmes last year was the broadcasts in connection with the Catholic Emancipation celebrations in the Phoenix Park and at Cashel. The programmes also included descriptions of the Dublin Horse Show Jumping Competitions, the Phoenix Park Motor Races, and many hurling and football matches, Gaelic, Rugby and Soccer.
Talks Programmes—The question of development of the Talks Programme is under special consideration, and it is hoped to arrange for lectures over a more varied range of subjects next winter.
The market reports broadcast include daily Stock Exchange report, weekly report from the Trade Commissioner in Great Britain, weekly bulletin supplied by the Department of Agriculture, London Provision Market, Salford Cattle Market, etc.
The question of special Schools programmes has been under consideration in conjunction with the Department of Education for a considerable time. The success of schools programmes depends upon the installation of receiving sets in primary schools throughout the country. No definite steps can be taken to promote such installations pending the erection of the high-power station as the kind of set required and, therefore, the cost, will depend upon the service given by the high-power station. The question will, however, be fully considered in the meantime.
The co-operation of the Department of Education in arranging an Adult Educational Talks programme has been sought. News Service— The arrangements for the news service have been recently revised and a better service is now being given. Foreign Relays—A number of experimental relays of foreign programmes were carried out during the winter and the results were on the whole successful. Inclusion of such relays as regular programme items must be deferred pending arrangements with foreign stations in regard to re-transmission rights.