Extra powers ‘pave way for private TV’

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 11

Extra powers ‘pave way for private TV’

Parliamentary reporter The handing over of one television channel to private enterprise would not develop New Zealand music and drama, the Commerce and Energy Committee has been told. The Musicians' Union, and Actors, Variety and Performing Artists’ Equity have told the committee that the extended powers of direction given the Minister of Broadcasting in the bill paved the way for the introduction of private television. Giving an existing channel to private enterprise would cut revenue to the corporation, and lead to a reduction of. New Zealand-made programmes. “There is no obligation on

private broadcasting organisations to contribute to New Zealand culture, or to include any quota of New Zealand content in their schedules, and the need for them to make the greatest possible profit will mean that they will probably use imported programmes to the detriment of local production,” said Actors’ Equity. The Musicians’ Union said the profit-making instincts of private enterprise led to the widest possible audience at the lowest common denominator of taste. ■ “We believe that this will mean that all those minority interests — jazz, classical and new wave g music — will be lost to New Zealand,” it said.