N.Z. settles TV cover of Games

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 1

N.Z. settles TV cover of Games

PA Wellington Television New Zealand has reached agreement with the Russian authorities over the coverage of the Olympic Games at Moscow.

TVNZ’s head; of programme services/Mr Ashley Lewis, said yesterday in Wellington that agreement had been reached with the Games organising committee and the State Committee for Radio and Television for TVNZ to hire broadcasting facilities to provide coverage during the two weeks of the Games. Mr Lewis said the cost of the coverage was confidential at this stage.

Any decision on whether New Zealand sent a team to compete at the Games rested with the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Mr Lewis said. “If it decides to send a team, TVNZ has a responsibility to provide coverage of the Games,” he said. “If it does not but a significant number of nations still send teams, we would feel obliged still to provide cover.” TVNZ would also provide coverage for the Asian Broadcasting Union, but the final details were still “fluid,” Mr Lewis said.

The A.B.U. takes in countries from South Korea to Iran and back down through the South Pacific. ‘"There were 13 members wanting to take coverage but this number will change as Muslim countries in the union will not fie attending the Games and will not want coverage,” Mr Lewis said.

TVNZ plans to produce 2{ hours coverage a day from the Games. . This will be split into three parts. One hour of full .international coverage will be provided, including coverage of New Zealanders, while a special 15-. minute programme will concentrate solely on New Zealanders and provide interview material and indepth information. The final hour will be made up of coverage of other main events of the Games. This could include 20 minutes of the top; hockey match of the day, 20 minutes of the top soccer match, and 20 minutes, of another sport, Mr Lewis said.

The programme material will be beamed from Moscow by satellite each day at 1 a.m.; arriving in New Zealand at 10 a.m. New Zealand time.

Mr. Lewis had visited Moscow four times to negotiate the agreements and saw some problems ahead for New Zealanders going to the Games.