Joint N.Z.-Aust. series for S.P.T.

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 15

Joint N.Z.-Aust. series for S.P.T.

By

KEN COATES

A series called “Holiday,”. co-produced by South Pacific Television and the Australian Broadcasting Commission, will begin screening in New Zealand on July 13. The series has already proved! popular with Australian: viewers. | The programme, which | looks at holidays of all kinds in New Zealand, Australia. and overseas from the customer's point of view, is produced by the Christchurch producer, Doc Williams. Rodney Bryant will be the reporter for many items, and one of two studio presenters. South Pacific Television had arranged to swap with the A.B.C. stories about holidays in Australia and New Zealand, and to share the coverage of overseas items, said the producer. Ten half-hour programmes

:had been screened by the 5 ]A.B.C. at 8 p.m. on Tues-]I days, and they had been I among top-rated show's in the four cities to which they had 1 been transmitted. t Doc Williams said the s South Pacific series of “Holi- x day” w'ould be studio based, t and would have as hosts e Rodney Bryant and Linda c | Greenborough, of Auckland, la new face on television in j I New Zealand. AU the overseas content I was produced by an S.P.T. I team between September and i December, and the film was t sent direct to Sydney, as 1 the A.B.C. network had scheduled it for screening s early this year. < “Holiday” will be screened < by S.P.T. on Wednesdays, i after “Late Edition” at 10.10 x p.m. I The first programme will include an introduction x : dealing with what people ,s , want from their holidays; an i adventure, hunting, and fish- 1 ; ing holiday by raft down the <

80-mile Mohaka River in the! North Island; and a package holiday in Fiji. The aim of the series is to look at the travel industry through the eyes of consumers. What is offered at various vacation spots, and by package tours, will be I evaluated and commented I on- . j “We will look at what is I good and bad about, say, I holidays in Singapore and, Manila, New Caledonia and: Penang, as well as examin-! ing the latest in caravans] and testing them,” Doc' Williams added. “We will cover duty-free! shopping, the value of credit] cards, and who can get them. Camping equipment today and what the necessary gear would cost a family will also be assessed.” The A.B.C. is so delighted with the success of its first ■■series of “Holiday,” according to Doc Williams, that it has decided to produce another.