“T.S.T.” special arrangement

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 4

“T.S.T.” special arrangement

Christchurch will be the only centre in New Zealand to retain its present regional news programme when Television One comes on the air on April 1.

The channel’s controller of programmes (Mr Bill Munro), iof Wellington, confirmed I yesterday that Auckland’s “Look North” and Wellington’s “Newsview” will be scrapped. “The South Tonight” in Christchurch will go to TV-2 —there is no doubt of that,” he said. “But because of the popularity of the programme and the way Christchurch feels about it, we are prepared to continue it until TV-2 comes on air in July.” The programme controller said there would be 10 to 15 minutes of national news at 6.30 p.m. This would then be followed by regional programmes, and would include ! “The South Tonight.” The duration would be Ifrom 10 minutes to 15 minutes, depending on the length of the national network news. “The South Tonight” could not be given its present 20rriinute duration because it would have to tie in with regional news programmes in other centres. Local weather would follow, and then the network would take over with a national weather roundup. Mr Munro is feeling a trifle sore over the petition in Christchurch to save “The South Tonight." “We are going out of our way to keep a programme going for TV-2 and we are getting hammered for it. Why are we being made out the bad guys?” . Television' One had asked the programme manager_of

TV-2 in Christchurch (Mr Rod Cornelius) to provide “The South Tonight” during the period TV-2 was waiting to come on air. "And of course we will be charged for the programme,” Mr Munro said. “We would much prefer to run our own programme from the start.” He made it clear that Television One is still keen to get the services of Messrs Rodney Bryant and Bryan Allpress. “When we finally provide our own programme for Christchurch it could include these two;” he said.