AFTERNOON VIEWING FROM TODAY

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 5

AFTERNOON VIEWING FROM TODAY

(By

KEN COATES)

Television Two ini Christchurch begins afternoon programmes at 1 p.m. today and while engineers do not promise perfect reception for all viewers, they say everyone who can see the Sugarloaf aerial should get a good picture.

“We have achieved substantial improvement in reception in the north-west sector of Christchurch,, and in other smaller areas in the southern suburbs,” said the Broadcasting Council’s divisional engineer in Wellington (Mr C. H. Webber) yesterday.

He said there was some work remaining on the aerial, and it might affect viewers in the Spreydon and Lyttelton areas. People in these areas, Mr Webber added, would be advised on the steps needed to achieve permanent reception. This would most likely involve adjustments to aerials.

The engineers are not saying they are completely satisfied with overall reception. A number of viewers, particularly those who live on and around the foot of the Port

Hills, still have poor reception. CORRECT AERIALS It is acknowledged by the engineers that there are some areas, not heavily shielded by the hills, in which reception is patchy. They urge viewers to use correctly designed ■aerials to minimise ghosting. Over the next week, Broadcasting Council technicians ( and engineers will be touring the hills and Lyttelton areas studying reception and making tests from their speciallyequipped truck. When they have completed these, they will be in a better position to give information to television servicemen. They will also investigate suitable translator positions for areas not served directly by Sugarloaf. Information on locations and the areas the translators will serve is expected to be available within the next three months. It seems that the engineers :have reached the stage where reception is satisfactory for i enough viewers to permit afternoon viewing. This presumably means | that work on the Sugarloaf I aerial is almost finished. The (reason for not starting transi mission in the afternoon was Ito allow aerial work to I proceed.