"Answers" magazine 1934

[ppppenguin]

A friend scanned this advertisement in Answers magazine dated 26/5/1934. It's for an article in the magazine Pictorial Weekly. I guess the article is about Radios Normany and Luxembourg, both of which were actively challenging the BBC's monopoly.

There's a lot more on the subejct in Sean Street's book" Crossing the Ether which is worth reading: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crossing-Ether-...0861966686

Goes to show there is nothing new about discussion of the BBC's future.

Please note: Discussion about the future of the BBC tend to work out badly here at Golborne, so please treat this thread as about historical events, rather than speculation about the future.

[peter scott]

Was the threat in 1934 from Isidore Ostrer and the Gaumont British Film Corporation, i.e. BTL?

Peter

[ppppenguin]

Sean Street mentions Ostrer and Gaumont British as trying establish commerical radio in 1933. But this was also very much the time of Normandy and Luxembourg.

[Pye Man]

There is a fascinating book about Captain Leonard Plugge and his exploits called ‘And the World Listened’ by Keith Wallis.

Radio Normandie seriously rattled the powers that be. The BBC were not happy and the Post Office made life difficult for Plugge’s International Broadcasting Company. The programmes were very popular, especially on Sundays when the BBC only had dour serious offerings.

When Caroline arrived thirty years later it was in many respects history repeating itself. (Plugge had even considered operating from a ship in the 1930s.)

I suspect that today Lord Reith is quite giddy in his grave. Meanwhile Leonard Plugge and Ronan O’Rahilly (especially) are looking down with wry smiles on their faces.