TV plans run into trouble

Press, 30 November 1982, Page 19

TV plans run into trouble

NZPA Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s Media Minister and acting Public Utilities Minister, Mr Boyamo Sali, has issued a licence allowing the National Broadcasting Commission to begin television broadcasting.

The N.B.C.’s apparent plans to receive and rebroadcast Australia’s A.B.C. satellite transmissions have, however, already run into legal problems.

The A.B.C. has told the N.B.C.’s chairman. Mr Leo Morgan, that it cannot legally grant the N.B.C. rights to programmes which the A.B.C. had purchased overseas.

Although the N.B.C. has no studios,, camera equipment or trained staff in Papua New Guinea, it became clear last week that it was going ahead with pilot television broadcasts, based on the A.B.C.’s satellite relay system.

The system is designed to beam broadcasts to inland and far-north centres in Australia. Tests in Papua New Guinea have shown that the A.B.C. satellite beams strongly into, the southern portion of the country. By a system of satellitereceiving dishes in Port

Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen, the N.B.C. would be able to receive and re-broad-cast such A.B.C. programmes. But reaction from the A.B.C. has been quick. Executives have pointed out to the N.B.C. that the A.B.C. can sell only selected programmes for which it has full copyright and has acquired rights outside Australia. The A.B.C. has told the N.B.C. that it is prepared, however, to give the N.B.C. its own domestically-pro-duced programmes “at cost.” Industry sources in Papua New Guinea say Mr Sali’s temporary control of the public utilities portfolio has come at a fortuitous time for the N.B.C. Mr Michael Pondros — who opposes the “early introduction of television in Papua New Guinea” — was recently suspended from the office pending the hearing of charges brought under Papua New Guinea’s anti-corruption leadership code. Mr Sali is an active lobbyist for television. Television retailers in Port Moresby are already telling customers that Australian television will be available in Papua New Guinea from Christmas Day.