Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), Tuesday 4 August 1936, page 2


WEST COAST NEWS

NEW BROADCASTING

STATION

Modern Installation For

Queenstown

IMMEDIATE ERECTION

A further step in the removal of the isolation from which the West Coast has suffered is to be taken immediately with the erection at Queenstown of a "B" class broad-

casting station, which will be equipped with the most modern plant in Tasmania. A licence for

the new station was granted last week, and it is expected that it will be on the air before the end of De-

cember.

Queenstown residents have been at a disadvantage through inability to ob-tain really satisfactory reception at all times without interference, and the new station should be a boon to listen-ers of that area, especially as it is intended to provide for the entertain-ment and special needs of the district. It should be of national service, as it will provide contact with other parts of the State in case of any interruption of the existing means of communica-tion. The plant will operate on 100 watts, which will enable it to serve a wide area. With existing "B" class stations in Hobart, Launceston, Ulver-stone, and Burnie, all parts of the State are served except the West, and the Queenstown station will provide the

missing link.

The venture is being undertaken by Wills and Co. Pty. Ltd., of Launceston, in conjunction with Stromberg Carlson Aust. Ltd., and the company operating the station will be known as West Coast Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. The first two directors are Messrs. N. A. Findlay, re-presenting Wills and Co., and L. P. R. Bean, representing the Stromberg Carlson Co., and the secretary is Mr. A. E. Garrott, accountant, of Launceston.

Mr. W. C. F. Hill, of Melbourne, executive officer of the Stromberg Carl-son Co., is in Launceston making final arrangements for the establishment of the station. He said yesterday that the construction of the plant was being put in hand at once. Most of it was being manufactured in the Stromberg Carlson

factory.

WILL STIMULATE BUSINESS.

Wills and Co. were the pioneers of broadcasting in Tasmania. They erect-ed the first transmitter in the State. It was known as 7BN, and was installed in Launceston in 1923. In 1929 the same firm developed the broadcasting service by the provision of station 7LA.

Mr. Findlay said the matter was viewed from a Tasmanian angle. The Queenstown people would be better able to advertise the advantages ot the West Coast from a tourist and business point of view, and the station would stimu-late business with Hobart and Launces- ton. Queenstown would be able to speak for itself. In addition to catering for the needs of the district, the sta-tion would on occasions be linked with other "B" class stations in the State for popular sessions, and would at times take rebroadcasts from the Mainland. A news service also would be provided. The managing director of the Stromberg Carlson Co. (Mr. L. P. R. Bean) would visit Tasmania towards the end of Oc-tober to complete details regarding pro-

grammes.