Danger seen in TV move

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 3

Danger seen in TV move

Auckland The head of Alternative Television. Mr Mike Wall, gave a warning yesterday of the dangers of allowing Television New Zealand to “select" which private companies could sell advertising for their own programmes. He was commenting on a Broadcasting Corporation announcement that Northern Television would provide a daily one-hour “Good Morning” programme on TVI every weekday. “I’m concerned that the announcement says Northern will have permission to sell advertising around the programme,” he said. “I believe this should be taken to the Broadcasting Tribunal. Otherwise, TVNZ is in the position of choosing which company can sell and benefit from advertising — something it does not have the power to do under the Broadcasting Act.”

Alternative Television Network (which involves New Zealand News, Ltd,) and Northern (backed by Wilson and Horton,. Ltd, tendered unsuccessfully to provide 31 hours of television programmes earlier this year. The latest move means, in the words of Northern’s chairman, Mr Michael Horton. that Northern has picked up “a crumb, but only a crumb.”

The "Good Morning” show will be made by an Auckland company. Kevan Moore and Associates and the host will be an actress. Tina Grenville. It will not be called “Good Morning New Zealand” as previously reported. Mr Wall said he believed that TVNZ would have to go to the tribunal for permission to have advertisements on Friday a non-commercial day on TVI. “I believe TVNZ must also get tribunal permission to ‘let out' permission to sell advertising with this new show. If it doesn’t we certainly will be making some noises.

“I wouldn’t call this a crumb. It's more a slice, even if it is a pretty thin one. Alternative Television was asked to participate in a similar scheme but rejected the offer because it was uneconomic.” he said.

Northern has already agreed to provide pro-gramme-making facilities for TVNZ's “On the Mat” wrestling series this year and has lent staff and cameramen to TVNZ before.

Sources yesterday said that TVNZ salesmen did not think they could sell advertisements around the “Good Morning” concept and that was why the permission to offer advertisements was built into the TVNZ approval for Northern Television.