TV2’s chief fears loss of talent

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 15

TV2’s chief fears loss of talent

(By

ROBIN TURKEL)

There is a danger that the fifth broadcasting restructuring in 15 years will drive talented people away, says the directorgeneral of TV2 (Mr Allan Martin). “Broadcasting is not something that flourishes on uncertainty,” he said in an interview. “For some, the uncertainty started in 1970, and this latest restructuring will take us to 1979. Some people will have lived a decade in this. “You must have that talent —you don’t want to drive it away. Hopefully, we are entering a period of stability now.’’ Mr Martin was asked to comment on the opinion, expressed inside and outside the industry, that the present shake-up will set New Zealand television back 10 years. “There is an incentive that exists when you have separate organisations,” he said. “You will not get rhe same strong sense of doing something worthwhile in a single organisation.” But he said that as long as there were two separate entities the situation would be all right. “But if we went back to one, it would set the industry back 10 years—and I wouldn’t be interested in working for it,” Mr Martin said. Over the last year, he said, TV2 had demonstrated its initiative in all areas.The public had been wellserved if ratings were any indication. “The public seems to like it; at the moment I would

say the outlook is optimistic.” The director-general answered other questions as follows:— Is it possible to look ahead over the next year; what would you like to do? We must keep on with development. We have the assurance of the chairman and the Minister’s policy statement that we will be able to continue. We hope to develop and extend our operations. Do you feel strongly about retaining separate news services and light entertainment departments? There has been no talk to me about combining drama and light entertainment. for the two networks. As far as I’m concerned, that would make a mockery of the whole thing. In effect, you would be chopping off half the local competition, and cutting local programming in half. On news, there have been discussions on implementing a single service. But there have been no suggestions in areas other than news. Short of getting a new agreement with the Public Service Association — one that is radically different—is there any real possibility of cutting staff? And is there pressure to let contract people go? The answer to both questions is the amount of local production we will have. And we just don’t know yet. When does your contract run out—it is for $22,500 a year isn't it? And will you be placed in a diminished role under the new set-up? It is certainly for no more than $22,500. and it is a four-year contract. The new set-up could mean even more responsibility, because we might have to take over some of the functions being performed now by the Broadcasting Council; no less certainly. If you felt your hands were being tied politically, or in budget terms, would you resign? I am not hamstrung now. But there could come a

point where you would have to resign. You work until you find you cannot accept certain conditions. Is there any possibility of using more indepedent production houses in the coming year, and how about co-productions with them, or overseas organisations? Hopefully, we will be able to work out something with the A.B.C. And we have something in the works with Scottish Television. The independents? It depends on finance. When we come out of the red w'e may do more with them. The independents claim TV2 is under-cutting them by making commercials subsidised by the taxpayer and then not selling commercial time off the rate card—cutting prices to suit traffic, again at taxpayer expense. Commercials are farmed out to independents. In Dunedin, for example, we cannot make our own. And we do stick to our rate cards. On commercial production, our prices are total costings, not just merely above the line costs—though outsiders would argue this point. Further, we are not interested in making highpriced. glossy commercials, and do not intend to become interested. If you had to do it all over again—coming back here from a good job with the A.B.C.—would you do it? Yes—oh. yes. Where do you see yourself in five years—and in 10 years? That does depend on restructuring. It depends on whether there is the enterprise and freedom to achieve goals. If there is not, then there is no freedom in broadcasting. 1 would hope to be pursuing primary objectives—a range of programmes, balanced and of the highest quality, with a maximum number of New Zealand programmes. And 1 would hope to be pursuing impartiality, objectivity and seeing that the public interest is served at all times.