TV Link

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31836, 14 November 1968, Page 12

TV Link

Sir, —I have not "obviously viewed television in every other country,” and I despise this kind of argument. Viewing American television critically, I was agreeably surprised at its better taste in commercials and the shorter interruptions compared with the N.Z.B.C, in spite of United States networks having to rely solely on advertising, while licence revenue here could easily provide a two-channel service without commercials, particularly if the present misuse of much of our money was stopped. Jennifer Shiels wants programmes of a low standard to discourage excessive viewing. The standard is now generally high, and a second channel, facilitated by a link, need not increase the quantity at the expense of quality, but rather provide some choice of times and nights for viewing what we already have. Mr Stringer refuses even to try to understand this concept.— Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. November 13, 1968. Sir, —Anyone paying the television 25c a week who is convinced by Varian J. Wilson that he is on the rack of despotism and extortion could imagine, after viewing his other quarter-dollar payments, that he was being burnt at the stake. According to Mr Wilson there are only two nights without advertising. Until he notices there are not only three nights but also three afternoons his criticism carries little weight. Regarding his fear of infliction of a standardised programme, what else has New Zealand been getting? Simultaneous reception, as in Britain, will obviate the infliction of “flickers,” already seen by visitors from other cities too polite to say they have seen them or with comments which should be stifled. The missing link the N.Z.B.C. is now going to provide will be evolutional and may lead us out of the Dark Age of television. —Yours, etc., A. B. CEDARIAN. November 11, 1968.