Fears On TV Control

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30827, 12 August 1965, Page 7

Fears On TV Control

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug. 11. Unless the Government was prepared to change the Broadcasting Act to establish a board of control there appeared to be no chance for an independent study of the future of broadcasting, said Mr S. A. Woolier, chairman and man-aging-director of Pye Electronics, Ltd., to shareholders yesterday. “Unless Parliament is prepared to act, and act soon, the future of television may be decided without any full and independent study of the factors involved,” he said.

The act had established the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation not only as an operator, but also as a body which itself could decide whether it should allow anyone to compete against it, he said.

It could even refuse to accept or recognise applications from any group wishing to operate television or radio. There was no provision for independent study. The N.Z.B.C. was not only the judge and jury, but also the prosecutor. Referring to the prospects of a second TV channel, Mr Woolier said a board of control could hold public hearings on the future of broadcasting and invite submissions from all interested groups and people, including the N.Z.B.C. It could ask itself what system of radio and TV ownership would operate in the best interests of the people. It could examine the possibilities of a broadly-based public company, with large

public shareholding, establishing a competitive TV channel. Mr Woolier said the issue was not one of state-owned TV versus so-called “private” TV. The real issue was whether New Zealand was to have complete state monopoly, or competitive TV.

“There are only three major means of human communication—newspapers, television and radio,” he said. “New Zealanders must ask themselves whether it is not potentially dangerous to have two of those media operated,

without competition, by the State. “Such a monopoly of information and entertainment surely is undesirable, however well-intentioned the corporation might be at any given time.” Mr Woolier said the newspaper industry in New Zealand was highly competitive and readers enjoyed a service which had a world reputation for accuracy and responsibility. Logically, competition would bring similar benefits to TV, and perhaps to radio.