TV2: July 1 — at a cost

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 1

TV2: July 1 — at a cost

(By

KEN COATES)

The start of TV2 transmission in Christchurch on July 1 is virtually assured—at a cost. The Broadcasting Council has chartered an aircraft from Britain to bring a $llO,OOO aerial for Sugarloaf and other equipment direct to Christchurch Airport.

A TV2 spokesman in Auckland said that the British firm of Cargolux had arranged for an aircraft to leave yesterday. It is due to land in Christchurch at 9.45 p.m. on Friday.

The charter flight is the second arranged by the Broadcasting Council. The first brought transmitting equipment for Auckland and Waikato to Auckland in February. A Broadcasting Council spokesman said in Wellington yesterday that the cost of the two charter flights would be about $150,000 The Government had authorised this spending, he added.

The charter aircraft due in Christchurch on Friday will also bring vital equipment for the Te Aroha repeating station, serving Waikato, and Auckland. The equipment is necessary to meet the July 1 target of the secondchannel transmission. The 60ft antenna aerial for Sugarloaf will be fixed to the existing transmitting mast 300 ft up by Broadcasting Council riggers. An engineer and foreman rigger from the manufacturing firm, C. and S. Antennaes, Ltd, of Rochester, will fly to New Zealand later to supervise equipment installation Network delay ! The Broadcasting Council cannot guarantee transmission will begin on July 1 because the weather might delay aerial installation. But hopes are high it can begin then.

The council also made it clear that initially there will

be no network programme from Auckland, the headquarters of TV2. This is dependent on installation of microwave equipment, at present being shipped to New Zealand from manufacturers.

Again the weather might be a factor, and it might be two months before network programmes are possible. The first priority of the council is to have simultaneous transmission covering Auckland. Waikato,, and Christchurch by July. Television Two has already issued its advertising rates, and bookings are being made by clients.

The change to colour by TV2 technical staff in Christchurch is well under way, and should be completed by June.