Rating-game danger

Press, 7 August 1976, Page 11

Rating-game danger

By

ROBIN TURKEL

The actor, Gabriel Prendergast, heads back to Canada soon after 15 successful months at home in New Zealand — and with some definite opinions about the state and direction .J television here. ‘I think having two networks is splendid, but why churn out the same stuff on both? I’d like to see a better choice,” he said. “The current emphasis on the economics of television annoys me. “Television, at least in New Zealand, is uneconomic anyway. And 1 think they’re running the risk of dooming it with the ratings game. < “Suppose one network ran at a big loss? Under the present setup, it would be hard to argue for re- I tainlng it. “But if one of the net- i works was for a minority I audience, it would be eas- | ier to defend,” Prendergast said. What about the stan- : dard of acting and produc- : tion “I think they’ve im-

proved tremendously just in the time I’ve been back.”

He should know. Prendergast recently spent seven weeks in the South Island on location for TV2’s "Hunter’s Gold,” in which he plays an Irish police sergeant in eight of the ’3 episodes. He played the Welsh jury foreman in TV2’s forthcoming 90-minute crime epic, “The Park Terrace Murder.”

"When I first got back, I was surprised at how little local content there was — but that’s improved tremendously, too,” Prendergast said. “Notice. though. that

almost all the actors have come from the theatre. It is absolutely vital to maintain live theatre in New Zealand." He leaves New Zealand with two very firm convictions: "If we're going to compete on television with shews from overseas we must be thoroughly professional — and that costs money, lots of it." "1 don't think the standard of any of the performing arts here — including television — will really improve until more monev is spent. "And in that regard actors should not be afraid to speak up for better working conditions.”