Regional television likely change in Government policy

Press, 5 August 1983, Page 3

Regional television likely change in Government policy

Parliamentary reporter

The arrival of Southern Television on to the private enterprise regional broadcasting scene has added to pressures on the Government to bring in regional television. Four private sector consortiums are interested in warrants to broadcast regionally: Southern Television, which wants to later expand to cover the South Island; and City Television, Northern Television, and Alternative Television, in the North Island. The last three contested time for breakfast broadcasts on Television One, but all withdrew on the ground of cost. City and Northern withdrew after hearing the fee levels set by the Broad- • casting Corporation last |nonth. The Government’s policy, decided last year, overturned plans for a regional third channel. In a surprise

decision, the Government caucus decided that use of Television One’s unused time would bring private sector television to 99 per cent of the population immediately. But the withdrawal of City, Northern and Alternative Television has meant a rethink of the policy. The chairman of the Caucus Communications Committee, Mr T. deV. Hunt, said yesterday that he predicted the caucus would favour regional television. He was pleased Southern had entered.

The new policy was not discussed by the caucus yesterday, but the topic is expected to be raised next week.

Regional television was runner-up in the options considered by the Government late last year, and is expected to now be the first option.

The arrival of Southern Television, seeking initially

a regional station, has focused the attention of members of Parliament further on the regional channel option. A factor against regional television will be that large population areas would not get private television reception for some time. Channel 10, which would be used by the private companies, is available for use only in Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Invercargill, which is only 40 per cent of national coverage. To get reception into outlying regions, transmitting stations would have to be set up using the ultra high frequency spectrum. Channel 10 is on the very high frequency spectrum. This would cost millions of dollars. Use of the U.H.F. spectrum would also require modifications to television sets and aerials, costing householders up to $2OO.