Under the headline “Lichfield Television Station” in The Times and “Commercial TV in Midlands” in The Guardian are reports about the new transmitter being constructed in Lichfield for Independent Television broadcasts to the midlands. The Times says that there will be low-power test transmissions from October. And both papers report that construction work is progressing well and it is hoped that their regular service for the midlands area will be in operation by January or February.
The ITA estimates that the primary service area covered by the transmitter will extend 30 miles westward (to somewhere near Wellington); 35 miles to the north, to Matlock; 35 miles eastward to Market Harborough; and over 50 miles to the south (in the Vale of Evesham). The secondary service area, in which a substantial proportion of viewers will be able to receive a satisfactory signal will extend for a further 10 miles north, east and south, but for up to 50 miles to the west says The Times or, according to The Guardian, clockwise from Shrewsbury in the west, Bakewell, Grantham and Cheltenham.
The number of television licenses held in the two areas is estimated to be 800,000 from a population of over six million.
The Cheetham Adult Education Centre have added a number of classes to their syllabus for 1955-56, according to The Guardian. One of these (or perhaps two of these) is/are the construction of radio and television sets. Enrol by 6 September for as 12 September start or you could miss out.
The Daily Express and The Times report that the BBC has arranged with Mr Henry Sherek to televise performances of his new plays before they are seen on stage in the West End. The resulting programmes, which will also include some of the successful plays he has already put on, will be known as Henry Sherek Presents.
The Express directly quotes Mr Sherek: “You may think I am taking a chance… but without chances life doesn’t go on.”
The plays will be shown at intervals of about a month and Mr Sherek will introduce each one himself, talking for around 15 minutes. Most of the plays will be shown on Sunday nights, presumably so that they may use the same cast of actors they enjoyed on stage. Mr Sherek adds, “I want to present new plays – as many comedies as I can. The first play of the series – on Sunday, September 25 – will be as wild a comedy as can be contrived.”
The Guardian is more interested in the assistance that boxing promoter Jack Solomons will be providing to the Incorporated Television Programme Company in his new role as its boxing adviser. Apparently, the company is intending to televise the sport for an hour a fortnight, on alternate Tuesdays. In case of any misapprehension, the paper notes that the boxers would be paid by the fight and not for the length of time it lasts: “If a fight ends in the first round the men will be paid just the same as if it had gone the full distance.”