Weather caused TV fault

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 3

Weather caused TV fault

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 31. The director-general of the N.Z.B.C. (Mr L. R. Sceats) has confirmed that the faulty telecast last night of the opening election address by the Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) was caused by unusual atmospheric conditions.

“The loss of the picture; was caused by unusual at- ; mospheric conditions between Wharite and Kau Kau,” Mr Sceats said. “This" ' is the only part of the link-; ■ing system between Auckland and Wellington where the southward path is not' covered by a permanent microwave. “It was necessary to make the maximum use of existing equipment to carry Mr Marshall’s address from Whangarei to Auckland, and so ensure a strong originating, signal to cover the country.i Otherwise, the southward i path from Wharite to Kau.‘ Kau would have been cov-j ered by the temporary instal- | ment of the limited equipment available. But it could not be in two places at once,” Mr Sceats said. “In expressing the corporation’s regrets to .viewers from Wharite southwards, I should like to emphasise that at present, where events originate from points some distance from a main trans- 1 mitter there is al-1

ways an increased risk of breakdown,” said Mr Sceats. “This risk will be minimised next year when a permanent microwave link is installed between Wharite and Kau Kau.”