BBC REPORTING ON TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BROADCASTING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00765A000100020113-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2009
• Sequence Number: 113
• Publication Date: April 28, 1953
• Content Type: MEMO

BBG Reporting on Technical Characteristics
of Broadcasting
0
1. During the recent visit of the Chief, FRIG to the London
Bure+:u, it was agreed with the Head BBC Monitoring ervice that
requirements on the BBC Monitoring Service by FATS will be limited
to information for the use of FBIS and matters clur,rly within the
responsibility of the two monitoring services.
2. This agreement precludes acceptance of the requirement
apposed by Mr. Stanley Holberg as discussed on 16 April. It is
requested that Mr. Holberg be informed that the BBC is not acting
on this requirement.
3. Appropriate channels for the requirement exist and are
cited for your information: The Senior Papresentative, Frankfurt
should address his request to the Senior Representatives London
who in turn can pass the requirement to the Director of Sxttrnal
Services :;BC. The Director of External Services is Llerted to
this specific requirement but will appreciate confirmation through
appropriate channels in order that the pattern for future require-
ments may be well established.
AMW:l el
Distribution:
01,. R 1 - Addressee
1 - ',drain. files
1- nw
1 - BBC L".
 0 ?
1. I an writing this memorandum in order to formalize the
request for information that we discussed the other day. I have
had a further talk with the radio people about whom I told you,
and we decided that the simplest way to handle the problem would
he to present you with a very general request, since the require-
ment for information is fluid and will in any case have to be
adapted to the amount of service the people in London feel that
their can provide. Generally, then, the radio station would like
to have information about the reception of their programs in the
target area that can be used as a critique of their broadcasts
from a technical point of view. They would like to get this
information as often as it can conveniently be supplied. I
assume that at a minimum it would deal with audibility, strength
of signal, and interference, and 1 have been told that negative
renorts when the broadcasts cannot be received would also be
helpful.
2. I have confirmed the fact that there will be no need for
information regarding the content of the broadcasts.
3. The programs will be broadcast by two transmitters in the
Frankfurt area. One of them is considerably more directional
than the other, and both will try to reach the same target.
Present plans are to use the transmitters simultaneously on the
same broadcasts. I have been told that they should be in opera-
tion in ten days or two weeks from now.
4. I shall appreciate your discussing this request en
Principe with the people in London and letting me know through
Mr. Hoffman what their reaction is. In the meanwhile, I shall
give Mr. Hoffman the technical data regarding frequencies,
schedules, etc., so that he will be able to relay it to London
if and when it is needed.
Staple M. Holberg