Editor defends ‘Listener’ monopoly

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 3

Editor defends ‘Listener’ monopoly

PA Wellington Any move by the Government to remove the “Listener” monopoly on programme listings would probably require a .change of copyright laws which could have international repercussions, said the magazine’s editor, Mr Peter Stewart, yesterday. He was replying to Thursday’s statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) that he intended to ask his caucus after the General Election to remove the monopoly. Mr Muldoon said that exclusive rights to television and radio programme times gave the magazine “the big circulation which enabled it to promulgate trendy-Left material.” Mr Stewart said the Broadcasting Corporation owned the copyright to its programmes and it was simply good business practice to make the best use of it. He said Mr Muldoon's remarks were merely part of the game during election campaigning. He presumed the Government would have discussions with the Broadcasting Cor-

poration before making any move. As for the “trendy-Left” accusation, Mr Stewart said, “I seriously dispute that assessment of the ‘Listener’ content. We look at issues seriously and that is part of our function.” In a recent editorial Mr Stewart said the apparent monopoly was a myth. He wrote that the corporation's first consideration on the copyright of- the programme information was the need to have this information presented as factually, clearly, and fairly as possible. “Placing this responsibility in the hands of competitors would hardly be good management,” he said. Daily newspapers already published programmes 24 hours in advance and for longer periods at week-ends and weekly newspapers were also permitted to publish a certain amount of information. Mr Stewart said it was the magazine’s high circulation and relatively isolated position as a weekly journal of vigorous comment that provoked criticism from some political quarters.