Plan to alter TV news ‘merger by another name’

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 1

Plan to alter TV news ‘merger by another name’

Another change in television news that could see South Pacific Television specialising in regional news and Television One in network national news is being considered by a special committee of broadcasting executives.

If approved, the proposal would- have news staff and equipment from TVI transferred to TV2 for regional news teams. The suggestion was one of several made to the Broadcasting Council after its chairman (Mr lan Cross) had asked staff to make suggestions. It was argued that TV2 could win more regional advertising and a bigger share of local audiences by having more regional content in its news.

Members of both news services have strongly opposed any amalgamation.

Television Two sources envisage expanded regional coverage, the news editor in each main centre deciding the priority and extent of local coverage. Important items from other regions would be available if wanted and international news would still be included in bulletins. One commentator sees this development as possible without abolishing competition in news. But while TV2 sources talk of changes that would

retain competition, the Association of Broadcasting Journalists fears the worst.

“What is being proposed is a merger under another name with only one channel networking national news,” said the association’s president (Mr Bill Southworth). “There is a definite risk that competition would be lost.” Mr Southworth said that any political party which wanted to control television nevi's would find it. easier to control one national news system than two. Under two news channels, broadcasters had found less pressure on them than with one. Viewers would be better served by two strong news services working independently of each other. “Just think what enormous pressure one national newspaper in New Zealand would be subjected to from politicians,” said Mr Southworth.

Broadcasting journalists were keeping an eye on the proposal, which was one of many to be discussed by the committee and which could come to nothing, he said. The committee which is studying a number of wide-ranging suggestions from staff and department heads in both channels, includes Messrs Maurice Urlich, TV2 sales director;

Peter Sandlaut, TV2 controller of engineering; Bruce Crossan, TV2 news editor; Geoffrey Harte, Radio New Zealand news editor; and Des Monaghan, TVI programme controller-

The editor of news for TVI (Mr Doug Eckhoff) declined to discuss the possibility of amalgamation of news services. He said the committee was looking ar. some aspects of news but he had not been asked to comment on the idea of a single national news network for TVI.

TVI at present gets the lion’s share of national advertising and it would be logical for TV2 to look to an expansion in regional advertising. When regional advertising in a centre now falls short of the time allotted to local commercials, free re-runs of national advertisements are transmitted.

TVI is far less dependent on local advertising and it does not give away free advertisements. TV2 argues that it is better to give away time in one or two cities and pick up the regional advertising that is almost always available in Auckland and other centres.

To what, extent commercial returns will influence possible changes to the news services remains to be seen.