Radio, TV all geared for Saturday

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34009, 25 November 1975, Page 4

Radio, TV all geared for Saturday

(By

KEN COATES)

On election night next Saturday radio and television are geared to provide the fastest and most com- ) prehensive results service yet organised. I Television One promises a i speedy computer-aided service. It will present immediate results on screen in a computer format within seconds of them reaching the electoral headquarters in Wellington. On both its national programme and community (stations, Radio New Zealand| (will concentrate on an! ■ express service of results; (from the key marginal seats) ■which will decide which (party wins. I Television Two will pro-! vide an alternative to politics jon election night. It will be |a film called “Robin and the (Seven Hoods,” described as ai I musical spoof set in prohibition Chicago. Throughout (the evening, election results (will be superimposed at the (bottom of the screen from a (computer linked with Radio I New Zealand. : ENTERTAINMENT FIRST ! “By giving the results (instantly as they come (through, we will be providing (the information and allowing (the public to interpret the (facts for themselves.” says TV2’s head of presentations [and promotions (Mr Barry ! O’Brien). There will be no i commentators or reaction .from the studio as TV2 has decided to give the election (results second place to (entertainment. Television One’s major (effort will involve five outi side broadcast units, with the (telecast centred on Avalon's [huge Studio Eight. The outhide broadcasts will be injected from Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, as well las tlie National Party headquartei s in Wellington and

i the Wellington Central Labour Party headquarters. In Christchurch, TVI and Radio Avon are combining for a joint entertainment and coverage operation in Cathedral Square. RESULTS BOARD A stage and results board will be erected, and throughlout the evening there will be ■ entertainment presented to (the expected crowd, together with up-to-date results as (they come to hand Interest will focus on the marginal seat of Rangiora and Gillian Woodward will I be on hand to conduct interiviews for injection into the network coverage. Frontman for the TVI inserts will be Frank Torley. Entertainment to be presented could include singer Glen Campbell. INTERPRETATION Analysis and interpretation (from TVI will be undertaken ■ by Mr Julian Watts, a Wellington solicitor who stood jfor National in Western Hutt (last election, and Professor '.John Roberts, Wellington political scientist. As final results are not (expected until after 8 p.m., lit is planned to present progress results from marginal seats, and special interest electorates, for the first hour or so of TVls programme. A large audience will be present in Studio Eight, and comments from the floor will be sought, during the evening. Six cameras will be used in the studio. ■ Once the result of “Election ’ ’75” is known, Michael Dean and Brian Edwards will combine for a special entertainment show — their last for 1975. The executive producer, (Des Monaghan, sums up the aim of “Election ’75” as “to explain and entertain.” ; On Radio New Zealand’s national programme on elecItion night will be frontman

I (Joe Cote, with political editor Chris Turver and two I i specialist political commen(ltators, Professor Keith JackII son and Nigel Roberts, of ■(Canterbury University’s political science department. Programme organisers pro- . Imise to give listeners a good '(idea of which party is leading I (by about 9.15 p.m. Christchurch will be well 1 ( catered for, according to I Station 3ZB. Staff from the I station will be situated in) every returning office with direct lines to their studio. Immediately progress andi final results are worked out,) they will be relayed to the studio and broadcast within I minutes. Every 15 minutes, 3ZB will I join other Radio New Zealand community stations for; (nationwide results and com-i ments on trends nationally. ) |