Mixed reaction to TV decision

Press, 9 December 1983, Page 4

Mixed reaction to TV decision

PA Auckland The Government caucus decision to allow a new television channel run by private enterprise drew a mixed reaction yesterday from the three man contenders for a private warrant.

Northern Television, which has consistently promoted the concept of a regionally based third channel since it was set up three years ago, said it was delighted with the decision. Its competitors, Alternative Television Network and City Television, which have favoured a whole or partial take-over of TV2, were less enthusiastic. Both declared, however, that they would fight for a share of a third channel. Mr Neville Webber, a director of A.T.N., said that his company believed it would be difficult and costly to provide New Zealandwide regional coverage through a third network. However, the possibility

of a satellite link’s being available put a new complexion on the situation, he said.

Mr Webber said that A.T.N. had always made it clear if the Government favoured a regional third channel the proposal would be examined closely. “We are very interested and will be investigating the proposal,” he said. The C.T.V. managing director, Mr Don Hutchings, said a note of caution needed to be sounded. The Minister (of broadcasting) had invited the Broadcasting Tribunal to look into the third channel proposition.

“What he (the Minister) has actually announced is not the final equation for private broadcasting in this country.”

Mr Hutchings said the problems of a third channel had not yet been totally aired. The most difficult of these was the U.H.F. concept, which would require viewers to pay $2OO to $250

to convert television receivers. The manager of Northern Television, Mr Graeme Douglas, said N.T.V. had consistently maintained that a third channel was the only reasonable option for an extension of television in New Zealand. He was pleased that the Broadcasting Tribunal was being involved at this stage, as it had shown it had the experience and knowledge in broadcasting to sort out

the possible means of implementing the third channel proposal. Southern Television, Ltd, which wants to start a regional service in the South Island, was “very pleased” at the caucus decision, said a spokesman for the company, Mr R. A. Barker, in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Barker, who is also manager of the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd, saidd that it was obvious many points had to be de-

cided and many months would pass before the new service started to take shape, and that it was too early to comment in any detail on the decision.

However, Southern Television—which includes the Press Company, the “Ashburton Guardian,” the “Otago Daily Times,” and the “Southland times” in its shareholders—looked forward to participating in the development of a third channel, he said.