Broadcasters criticise Alternative TV

Press, 8 November 1980, Page 6

Broadcasters criticise Alternative TV

Broadcasting sta'f in Christchurch say that the proposal by Alternative Television Network to lease one of the Broadcasting Corporation’s television channels is “cbinpletely unrealistic.” . The Public Service Association committee representing the Christchurch staff met yesterday to discuM.the proposal;. A spokesman said after the meeting that they agreed with the chairman of the : corporation (Mr lan Croat); that the proposal was a “rip-off.” It was unrealistic fin view of The constraWtson television reve-nue-land -. N«»w. -Zealand’s small-population: ; \ j ? ' f The committee said it was not. (against prhrate tele-, vision as such, but felt that a third channel was the way it should develop, possibly what satellite facilities were available. ’ . “W the present economic climate there are restrictions, on overseas funds. A' lot of equipment has to be bought overalls and I any . diversion of these funds for. the very expeative iequipment which to

Public Service channels,” said the spokesman. Licence fees should riot be diverted, under any guise, into private firms. AXN. appeared to be adopting a policy of “if we can’t beat them we won't join them, we’ll take them over.’’ The committee felt that moves by. the P.S.A. to look closely at the formulation of a charter for broadcasting, similar to that applied to the i. British . Broadcasting Corporation, should be given urgency in view of the attempts by' commercial interests to enter the broadcasting field. . The committee said that the artificial freezing of li-' cenee fee levels - 'worked against broadcasting. “Further, broadcasting has been a political football for the last wight years at feist and needs a period of consolidation on?a realistic li-cence-fee basiiu After this time it can lace any kind of competition Withconfidence ---m the lowest, common denominator work which lm. no publicMictor respoaiflbiUtias," the committee said-s