Those repeats again, TV1 ‘summer season’

Press, 20 October 1976, Page 19

Those repeats again, TV1 ‘summer season’

By

KEN COATES

Television One plans to repeat the 15-episode “Colditz” in December as part of its “summer season.” Other repeats scheduled include “Dick Emery” and several musical specials in January. Advertising agents this week watched a promotional videotape featuring clips from forthcoming programmes. From December 9, “Colditz” would screen at 9.15 p.m., said front-man Roger Gascoigne in the presentation.

It had been a winner overseas, he told the agents, and its popularity warranted TVI showing it again. “It was shown previously on Monday nights and we know you, the advertiser, could not get at it,” he added. This time round it will screen on Thursday evening, Mr Monaghan said many people were unaware of the extent to which programmes were repeated overseas. In Sydney, for example, 80 per cent of programmes on three commercial channels during a recent week were repeats.

“Many were doing as well in ratings as they did first time up,” he said. Thames Television had recently sold “The Benny Hill Show” to Channel 10 for a fifth run, and the channel paid more for it than for the first screening. “We have a somewhat

distorted view of repeats, although I would not like to see the proportion go beyond 20 per cent.” Mr Monaghan added. The music specials to be repeated include “Bill and Boyd,” “Barbara Streisand,” “John Denver” and “Best of Abba.” The “summer season” starts at the beginning of December and finishes at the end of January. Monday night «*ill include Jacques Cousteau, “Who Dunnit?” a panel game and “Monty Python.” “Hawaii 5-0” returns with a new series on Tuesdays, together with “Dick Emery.” Wednesday evening brings “Maude,” “Hadleigh,” “Pot Black,” and a further series of “Survivors.” “Z Cars” is also in the 7 p.m. slot. On Thursdays, “Master Mind,” a new panel game begins on December 23, and “Switch” from December 30, and there is also “Policewoman” and “Colditz.”

Friday nights includes “Kung Fu,” with a detective “whodunit” “Ellery Queen.” In December only, an American variety pop show, "Donny and Marie” will be screened at 7 p.m. and later in the evening will come “Jokers Wild ” “McLeod,” “MacMillan and Wife,” and “Colombo."

Sunday’s schedule provides for a 8.8. C. programme entitled “Ten of the 20’s,” historical drama, and a documentary. Other attractions during the summer would include coverage of the New Zealand Games in the last

week of January, said Mr Monaghan, and negotiations for this were under way.

Starting in February and finishing in March would be “Top Town” and out of all towns written to over participating, only one was not interested. It was planned to have the winning “Top Town” team compete against the winner of the Australian contest, “Anything Goes.” Explaining TVl’s programme policy, Mr Monaghan said it was aimed at “all sections of the community some of the time.”

It was too easy to take the short-term view and play an American-type formula. Television One was carrying a narrower selection of programmes, but was heartened by the response to efforts ’ such as “University Challenge.” This programme won its time-slot for ratings in all centres except Waikato. “It is our policy to carry as broad a mix as possible,” Mr Monaghan said. "I do not intend to adopt an American cops and robbers formula.” He said TVI also rejected some programmes on the grounds of violence. “I saw one the other day which was quite the nastiest thing I have seen in my life,” he said. ‘“Starsky and Hutch’ has violence but has some redeeming features; this programme had none at all, and was rejected.”

Answer to Correspondent J.R.P.: Only over your own name.