TV workers split on Springbok coverage

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 6

TV workers split on Springbok coverage

PA Wellington ' While television producers and directors consider whether to refuse to provide live coverage of Springbok rugby-tour matches, division among television staff seems < likely to ensure that the matches are covered anyway. The board of the Broadcasting Corporation will decide in 10 days how it intends to cover aspects of the tour. ?'• The Television Producers and ..Directors’ Association is considering telling the board that members of the associa- . tion will not provide live telecasts of the matches. The association has held regional ballots of its members on the ■ issue. It says that it now has

a national viewpoint to take to the corporation but it will not say what the decision is. Neither has it told its members. Judging by regional results indications are that the decision will at least be to ask the corporation not to cover tour matches live. . But while the corporation’s board will have that decision in fropt of it when it meets to choose what sort of coverage it should give the tour it will also have the names of more than, 50 television staff who disagree strongly with the association. ■ ■ ' A television producer, Mr Don Cunningham, says that he has already sent the

chairman of the corporation. Mr lan Cross, the names of 58 transmission staff who have signed a petition saying that they feel that as a public broadcasting institution the corporation should cover the tour and leave moral judgments to viewers to make in front of their television sets. He says that while the 58 do not necessarily agree with the tour’s proceeding they feel as professional broadcasters that it should be covered. He believes that the association will not be able to stop the matches from being covered because it. will not have the support of sufficient staff.