I.T.C. confident of revenue

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 3

I.T.C. confident of revenue

f.Vetc Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 30. Two efficient television channels could be run from New Zealand’s national advertising pool, the Independent Television Corporation’s organiser, Mr Gordon Drvden, said todav.

He was giving evidence at the Broadcasting Authority’s hearing on a second channel, for which I.T.C. and the N.Z.B.C. are the only applicants. •‘Not only does the N.Z.B.C. have a television advertising income of more than SBm, it will, this year, receive a licence fee income of approxi-( mateiy sl4m,” he said. “If a competitor can operate a national second channel in colour, at a profit, on a total income of between SB.6m and $9.5m, then surely the N.Z.B.C. can do likewise on an income several million higher.” Mr Dryden said the I.T.C. had no doubts about its ability to finance its activities from advertising. “If, however, the authority feels as a result of this hearing that the N.Z.B.C. may require more time to reach peak efficiency to meet competition, then our group would be prepared to cut back our proposals so that, for the first year, we would not start daily transmission until 5 p.m.” Mr Dryden said he was confident that the I.T.C. could achieve what he regarded as extremely modest income targets. At the same time there was no reason why a well-managed N.Z.B.C. should

not “maintain its total; viability” so long as it made its commercial radio stations more efficient. The N.Z.B.C. lost S3{m on commercial radio in three years. The I.T.C. had budgeted to pay sl.2m in an “arts levy” over its first three years, Mr Dryden said. Most of the levy should be rebated to the I.T.C. for specific artistic purposes. If it were permitted to keep most of its art levy, I.T.C. would use it to guarantee $lOO,OOO a year in work and grants for musicians in the Auckland Symphonia. Also, I.T.C. would work with the Mercury Theatre, Auckland, to develop New Zealand acting talent and to bring overseas talent to New Zealand to perform on television and the stage. “I.T.C.’s main artistic contribution would be in guaranteeing full-time work for New Zealand artists,” he said. Mr Dryden said that I.T.C. was prepared to install its own transmitters for the second channel throughout New Zealand.

He said I.T.C. was prepared to abide by the authority’s earlier recommendation that the N.Z.B.C. provide transmission facilities and charge them at a reasonable profit. But a rental cost of $1.75m, the minimum amount the N.Z.B.C. said it would charge 1.T.C., was ludicrous. Mr Dryden also said that Sir James Doig would be nominated as chairman of the board of I.T.C. should it be awarded the second channel warrant. N.Z.B.C. “SKIMPING” The N.Z.B.C. was criticised for skimping on current affairs by Mr Dryden. Mr Dryden described the producer of “Gallery” (Mr Des Monaghan) as a television producer of the highest calibre. “But no matter how brilliant the individual, I regard it as a travesty of television that New Zealand should be subjected to a diet of current affairs under the control and direction of one person,’’ Mr Dryden said. The N.Z.B.C. had run a

television service since 196061, but until August, 1972, had employed only one national current affairs producer for television out of a staff of about 2800. I.T.C. proposed a big increase in magazine programmes, which would include current affairs. The draft programme schedule with his evidence lists a one-hour afternoon magazine programme every week-day; a half-hour children’s news magazine each week night at 5 p.m.; a halfhour news magazine at 8.30 p.m. on week nights; and a one-hour New Zealand documentary at 8.30 p.m. on Sundays.