Sport on television

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 12

Sport on television

Sir, —Could we have less sport on CHTV3 in the afternoons? Those who are interested in sport are usualy playing it, or out watching the game, in the afternoon. It is not only elderly folk

who like different entertainment on TV in the afternoon. Some of us retire comparatively early in the evening. For the last three days, the afternoon programmes seem to have catered mainly, if not altogether, for sport and children.—Yours, etc., RETIRED. June 4, 1973. [Mr J. N. M. Norman, regional director (Southern), N.Z.8.C., replies: “Your correspondent is referring to the Queen’s Birthday holiday week-end and it is normal practice to include sporting programmes on the Monday afternoon of long week-ends. His views are appreciated but there is evidence that sporting programmes are favoured on these occasions. His comments highlight the difficulty in meeting all interests adequately with a single-programme channel television system.”] Sir, —“Grandstand” on Saturday’s television is good and healthy. But is it really necessary to have it on Sunday as well? If the general public were consulted I think the general consensus would be in favour of films and entertainment on Sunday. The N.Z.B.C. must consider a large majority of viewers who don’t take kindly to sport becoming a sort of forced religion: “If you don’t like it, switch off and read a book.” There is a tendency towards this attitude. One man’s food is another man’s poison.— Yours, etc., R. T. DANSEY. June 15, 1973.