N.Z.B.C. Programme Changes

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 10

N.Z.B.C. Programme Changes

I Sir,—l agree with Mr Paul “ Mating; changes in N.Z.B.C. ' programmes without notice ; are far too frequent On Saturday, February 14.1 sat comfortably ready to listen to the advertised programme at 2 I p.m.: concert. Symphonic Variations (Dvorak), played !by the London Symphony Orchestra. After blasting soft- ' ball for 15 minutes, 1 rang . 3YA only to be told by a very ■ perplexed and apologetic girl 1 that she could get no satisfactory answer to my inquiry: those in the studio seemed to be just as much at sea as I was, I question Mr Robert- . son’s assertion that the . change in programme was ’ advertised in the “Listener” ’ The programme timetable , shows 3YA giving softball . commentaries at 1 p.m. and 3 J p.m., but there is nothing to ' indicate that the intervening ' national programme items at : 2 p.m. and 2.30 pjn- are ex- , eluded from the 3YA proI gramme. Nor dbes the Sport- ’ ing Highlights column on . page 16 give any more ex--1 plicit warning of the change. ! —Yours. ete.i , 1 R. J. GLEN. ■ February 23. 1970. - Sir.-LMr Robertson ignores Imj .chief : erttfefsm: the - N.Z.BjC.'s dfifeourteous praci ticeof substituting sports I commentaries for serious ■ music programmes without i announcement at the time the ) latter are normally due to start. Common courtesy requires an announcement to obviate the further waste of listeners’ time. Will Mr Robertson agree? His explanation of the programme changes made on January 24 : and February 14 are incorJ red. On January 24 there ' was “pop” until 2 p.m. when. ; instead of the normal after- ’ noon concert, a sports com--1 mentary was broadcast with- ; out any explanation or announcement concerning the ’ change. Similarly on Febru- ' ary 14 there was a total absence of announcement at : 2 p.m. when a sports commentary was broadcast instead of the scheduled afternoon concert. Contrary to Mr Robertson’s statement, the change was not even advertised in the “New Zealand Listener" which, in fact, listed details of the afternoon concert scheduled to be played at 2 p.m. on that day —Yours, etc., PAUL MALING. February 23. 1970. [Mr J. Robertson, radio manager for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in Christchurch, replies: “The ‘New Zealand Listener’ has apologised for its entry oh February 14, which should have made it clear that the softball commentaries were continuous on Station 3YA ' from 1 p.m. In future, when , similar circumstances occur, i we shall transfer the national • programme to Station ’ 3YC j Christchurch, tq, cater for national programme listeners.” | !