Radio Windy unhappy

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 18

Radio Windy unhappy

PA Wellington' Dissatisfaction with the operations of the Broadcasting Tribunal is expressed]'! by the chairman of Capital City Radio, Ltd (Mr C. O. Gibbs) in the annual report of the company. ■! “The broadcasting in-i jdustry depends on licensing, i government policy, and progressive decisions of the : Broadcasting Tribunal. We? consider that the Govern-jt ment should give clearer? guidelines as to the appro-11 priate balance between? State-owned and independent ; licence holders in each mar- i ket,” he said. ■ “By leaving these policy i issues to the tribunal, huge I costs are incurred by the i parties and the taxpayer inn a frequently frustrating-? exercise. ; “Private stations need the t right to network for special'! events and for important] t news occasions. The in-l< dustry sees obvious benefits ft to the community by this (

'change and regards the restriction as a wasteful projection of the state corporation.” Mr Gibbs also referred to the case made to the tribunal for radio advertising on! Sundays. “We consider that the commercial message is an important part of the econo-1 my, and Sunday advertising' would aid those who provide] trading and entertainment' sendees on Sunday, and also; help even out early week' slow trading trends. Radio, advertising could never be criticised on moral or reli-; gious grounds in the wayj that could be applied to thej Sunday newspapers which! now advertise extensively,; and without restriction,” he' said. J As reported, in the 17] months to March 31. the! Radio Windy station earned] a net profit of $238,672,| compared with $20,396 ini the previous 12 months to October 31.