FM appeals rejected

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 5

FM appeals rejected

PA Auckland . Appeals by the Broadcasting Corporation and Radio FM Enterprises against the granting of broadcasting licences to Stereo FM and Metropolitan Broadcastings, Ltd, have been rejected by the High Court at Auckland. The Broadcasting Tribunal granted licences to Metropolitan FM and Stereo FM earlier this year but the appeals were stalled by progress in the establishment of the frequency modulation radio stations. Stereo FM’s managing director, Mr Allan Rutledge, said that the legal battles for FM in New Zealand had ended, and it was now “full steam ahead” for stereo radio. Mr Rutledge said his station hoped to be on air by May, but it'would make test transmissions for two weeks

before then. It would play contemporary music, aimed at the 18 to 33 years agegroup. Metropolitan’s joint managing director, Mr Robert McKay, said his station hoped to be on air by early March., It would broadcast music aimed at the 25 to 44 years age-group. Commenting on the Court’s decision, the director-general of Radio New Zealand, Mr Geoffrey Whitehead, said that the Auckland commercial station, IZM, would continue to serve Auckland’s young adult audience. It had 29 per cent of the 15 to 29 age-group audience. He said 2ZM Wellington and 3ZM Christchurch would also continue as full commercial stations. Station 2ZM had a 50 per cent share of the 15 to 29 audience, while 3ZM had a 58 per cent share.