Derek Payne threatens to leave TV2

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 19

Derek Payne threatens to leave TV2

By ROBIN TURKEL Derek Payne, frontman for TV2's Telethon in Auckland, has fallen out with his employers. Payne gave 30 days notice m June 23. but the news was kept under wraps until after the Telethon. The failure of the two parties to come to terms on a new contract points up an old dilemma: how far should television employers be prepared to go towards a star system? “We just went round and round on contract negotiations," Payne said this week, "and finally I told them. The best thing is for me to resign and then the ball is in your court’.” "I wasn't after more money, and they weren’t offering more. “What I wanted was the freedom to be able to do other things in whatever spare time I might have — and they wouldn’t agree to that," Payne said. TV2’s programme controller, Kevan Moore, who was unavailable for comment, is understood to feel that Payne wanted the se-

curity of a contract with the freedom to freelance. There is no reason a performer cannot have it both ways, as long as there is no conflict of interest Public and performer alike benefit The primary employer can gain, too. Performers’ contracts like this are written all over the world. Ironically, Payne could be back — as a freelancer — before he leaves. The second series of "Something To Look Forward To” is scheduled to go into production just after the first hits the air next week. Payne is a star in Auckland and after last year's Telethon he was highly praised. The public practically fell in love with him, but in the past year, until last weekend’s telethon, his only major appearance was in a Christmas comedy special which many holidaying viewers missed. No wonder the man was looking for outside work. Regardless of the pros and cons of his recent contract dispute, there is no doubt that TV2 failed abysmally

to capitalise on a homegrown star in its midst. Was this the old clobbering machine at work? Whatever it was, New Zealand might just be waving goodbye to yet another first rate performer. Derek Payne has feelers out overseas and says he's ready to go.