Policy on programmes

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32457, 18 November 1970, Page 2

Policy on programmes

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 17. It would be dangerous for the New Zealand Broadcasting Authority to set a minimum localprogramme content in television services, the authority’s second channel inquiry heard today.

An executive director of the N.Z.8.C., Mr M.- A. Rickard, said the amount of locally-produced programmes depended on the artists and facilities available. To Mr I. L. McKay, counsel for the Associated Network, he said the corporation always aimed to produce as f. ■

much local material as possible. But it never set a definite target because it believed this couid be dangerous. “It would be most dangerous for the authority to set a minimum,” he said.

Mr Rickard said the corporation’s sample programme schedule for two channels was designed to show the types of programmes which would be used to provide complementary and alternative viewing. It did not purport to show the proportion of locally-produced programmes to overseas programmes.

This year 6| hours of local drama would be produced, and it was intended to produce 22 hours during 1973, he said.

The improved production facilities at Avalon when completed, would help attract talented people back, from overseas.

He said it was difficult to get New Zealanders to write for television drama. Experience has proved it was hard to get scripts from overseas and adapt them to New Zealand conditions, he said. Repeats would be easier to fit in if the corporation had a second channel, he said. At present it had several series it would like to repeat, including “Forsyte Saga” and “The Great War,” but was unable to do so because of lack of television time.

It was not possible to adapt overseas programmes and make them more suitable for New Zealand viewers by in-

jecting local content. Such practices were forbidden under the terms of sale. This applied to the United States educational programme “Sesame Street”' which had been bought by the N.Z.B.C.