Second TV Channel Plans Unchanged

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32126, 23 October 1969, Page 30

Second TV Channel Plans Unchanged

GVcio Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 22.

If the Broadcasting Authority undertook an investigation into a second television channel, the Broadcasting Corporation would reaffirm its original plans for the development of two alternative programmes for all viewers throughout New Zealand, the corporation’s chairman (Major-General W. S. McKinnon) said in Auckland tonight.

Commenting on reports that (the Government caucus would tomorrow consider the early establishment of a second channel, Major-Gen-eral McKinnon said the corporation’s plans were designed with the interests of the New Zealand public as the prime consideration. “Simply, this policy as presented to the Government in 1964, provided for alternative and complementary programmes, one commercial, one non-commercial, so that viewers everywhere would have a genuine choice of fare,” he said. “The corporation has always believed that this is the most practical way of catering for the wide diversity of tastes and preferences. “It should be made clear that the corporation has always been in favour of providing an alternative television programme but it agrees with the stated policy Of the Government that viewers throughout New Zealand should be able to have access

to the present channel before the second channel is considered.” . The Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Adams-Schneider), said today that any suggestion that one group would be invited to run a second television channel without the calling of applications and the hearing of evidence was quite incorrect. He was commenting on a report which said that the group of Kerridge-Odeon, Ltd, U.E.B. Industries, Ltd. J Wattie Canneries, Ltd, and •Wright Stephenson, Ltd, was the only one with an expressed interest In such a service considered capable of providing it.

“Such a report is pure speculation,” said the Minister.

“It is quite incorrect. It is not in the paper I am preparing. Any application for a second channel will be subject to the judicial function of the- Broadcasting Authority and applications will be called and evidence heard.”