Inferior TV predicted

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 6

Inferior TV predicted

Parliamentary reporter

A vastly inferior and more expensive’ broadcasting service would result if big changes, such as the introduction of private television, were made as "a political vendetta" rather than as a long-term development plan, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) said yesterday. He warned that Labour would not tolerate any part of the public investment in broadcasting being "hawked off" to what he termed priv-ate-sector friends of the National Party.

’"Those who arc hovering, thinking they can ride into this system cheaply on a public investment of many years, simply because we now have a weak find irresponsible Government, are advised to think again." he said.’

"It is clear that this Government's life is limited, and that a further election will probably be' held before the* next three years - "The Labour Party has made iU clear, both.ipubliely and privately, to potential private television: interests that if and when they come into the system they must pay lifer own way. A taker over of the second channel:

and its public assets, will not be tolerated." he said.

Mr Rowling said that the Labour Party saw the entry of private television as logical in the development of broadcasting. But he made it clear that any such new development must be governed by a set of rules that protected the viewing public and gave the best possible service.

Among these were the necessity of a high local programme content and a nigh ’standard of programmes. When a third private channel was in place, one of the public channels should become non-commercial. he said.

. "But it is absolutely essential that New Zealand avoids the mistakes that have been made in other countries and which have opened the way for a . cut-throat private operatioi? *'in which profits come first and programming deact last."-he. said.: - ;■ p"

Mr Rowling also attacked the Governments intention to remove exclusive rights on programme listings from the "Listener."

This Mr Rowling described as.' u petty political vendetta that has very serious implications for Hie normal laws r?‘

of copyright and commercial activity."

“Some members in the ruling Government may be irritated with this magazine because they feel it doesn't always toe the sort of line that they want, " he said.

"But they have no right to vent their spleen on a commercial operation, whether it belongs to a State corporation.or whether it is in the private sector.

"The very news organisations that are hovering to gel a share of this particular plum fight to the death to protect their own copyrights and exclusives. It is a mailer of commercial, survival. “If the Listener' is stripped of its rights..as part of a purely political vendetta. then media and commercial rights in this country will have taken a hammering." Mr Rowling said.

The Press Association reported from Wellington that Ministerial assurances that private television, will be on air*- next " -year have been welcomed by - the managing director of Alternative Television Network. Mr ■ Mike Wall. .

In a television interview on Monday evening, the Minister ol .Broadcasting <Dr Shearen said private tele-

vision would be screening next vear.

He also,.suggested that the two competing private television companies. A.T.N. and Northern Television, may combine ' their resources to provide the service. A.T.N. is a consortium of radio and newspaper' interests. including Independent Newspapers. Ltd. Radio Hauraki. and New Zealand Newpapers. Ltd.

Northern Television-, is Owned by Wilson and Horton the publishers of the "NewZealand Herald" and other morning newspaper companies. including /The publishers of “The Press" and the "Otago Daily Times." Mr Michael ’Horton, the managing director of Northern Television: said in a television interview on Monday evening that the time for amalgamation would "have been last year. He Was not available for further comment vesterdav.

A.T.N.'S ’ managing direc-; tor. Mr Wall, said that there i was “some logic ' in amalga--mation of facilities. "All the facilities are scat - tered throughout the countryi and it. makes a lot ofsense to maximise the assets owned! by both groups." he said- '