National TV Early In 1969

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31729, 12 July 1968, Page 1

National TV Early In 1969

National television programmes would emanate from Wellington early next year, the director of engineers for the N.Z.B.C. (Mr J. N. M. Norman) said yesterday.

In a telephone Interview from Wellington, Mr Norman said that by the end of 1969 the N.Z.B.C. would be able to broadcast programmes to the rest of the country from any of the main stations. He said that the N.Z.B.C. was now calling tenders over-

seas for the supply of microwave equipment to fill the gaps in the national network. These Would be placed at Mount Ruapehu, Kaikoura and Mount Studholme. The estimated cost of the equipment is $70,000. In the past the N.Z.B.C. had been able to televise nationally .only by setting up temporary equipment at these three places to feed signals north and south from Wellington, said Mr Norman. The microwave equipment on order would be installed permanently by N.Z.B.C. and Post Office engineers working in conjunction.

Mr Norman said that it was not such a difficult job broadcasting a national programme now but very inconvenient. The new microwave stations would be the first step in a complete microwave link between Auckland and Dunedin. The completion of this is still some years away but when it is available, it will open the way for colour television transmission. A detailed study of providing national television has ruled out the use of the facilities now available through the Post Office. Engineers consider that

[spending about $3 million on building a microwave link for television alone would be much more economical than hiring the Post Office microwave system.

The Post Office charges $2O a mile a year for the use of one line in the microwave system. This would mean tbat the use of the 600 lines of the system would cost $12,000 a mile.

the use of the link between Christchurch and Wellington alone would cost $2,400,000 and between Auckland and Dunedin about $8,400,000. That amount would buy about three microwave systems.