Colour Television May Be Earlier

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32302, 21 May 1970, Page 12

Colour Television May Be Earlier

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 20.

An indication that colour television might be introduced in New Zealarid much earlier than was envisaged up to a few years ago was given tonight by the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Walker).

He said in an inter-, view tonight that there! had been a tremendous; swing to colour trans-! mission throughout the world.

This had modified the original thinking that colour television should not be introduced here until it had been thoroughly tried in Australia,) Mr Walker said. Nevertheless, the introduction of colour television was not imminent. The actual date would depend on the findings on an inquiry by the Broadcasting Authority.

Pressed on whether the date of introduction might be two years or 10 years away, he said: “It would be reasonable to infer that it will be) much earlier than the decade) away we were thinking of) until recently. But overseas exchange is involved, and experience overseas has shown that the change-over is a slow process.” NO F.M. MEANTIME

Any decision on the possible introduction of F.M. (frequency modulation) radio broadcasting would be defer-

red pending completion of .the major inquiry on television development, Mr Walker said in a statement earlier today. The Government had accepted the Broadcasting Authority’s recommendation to this effect, after the hearing and consideration of evidence from interested parties. "The Authority's finding is that an F.M. service is not immediately necessary, nor desirable, in the sense that it is not essential and there is no great demand for it,” Mr I Walker said. “Although a small minor ) ity of people would like to have an F.M. radio service.) its introduction at this stage would delay the expansion of, present television and A.M. (amplitude modulation) radio I services.”

The Authority had suggested that, if and when an F.M. radio service was introduced, it should provide for highfidelity stereophonic reproduction

“The Government, however, feels that the actual type ot service is a matter than can also be deferred for closer examination, if and when a decision to introduce F.M. is

made,” Mr Walker said. A.M. is used for the medium-frequency radio broadcasting stations such as the YAs, YCs, ZBs and XD stations. Frequency modulation is used for television sound.