TV’s Teletext turned on

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 4

TV’s Teletext turned on

Teletext, Television New Zealand’s new information service, was formally opened by the Minister of Broadcasting, Di- Shearer, in Christchurch yesterday. About 70 people attended the opening at the TVNZ building in Gloucester Street, where the Teletext service is based. Among them were the Mayor, of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, and the DirectorGeneral of Television New Zealand, Mr Allan Martin.

Mr Martin said the service was a major advance in technology and in the service provided to the public by TVNZ. “It’s a unique community effort, a reflection of community spirit,” he said.

Teletext has been developed by TVNZ in conjunction with the Disabled Persons Assembly of New Zealand, as well as groups from the private sector. Mr J. P. Munro, of the assembly,

said a grant of $BOO,OOO from the 1981 Telethon Trust had made the Teletext service possible. “We made a request for a system that could provide information for people who were homebound,” he said.

Thousands of deaf New Zealanders could now enjoy the benefits of modern technology. The Minister of Customs, Mr Allen, had given consent to import 2000 television sets equipped with Teletext decoders in order to stimulate New Zealand manufacture of them. However, only 200 sets had had. to be imported before New Zealand manufacturers began producing them. “That act was able to demonstrate clearly that we meant business,” said Mr Munro.

“This is one project in which a significant amount of New Zealand public giving is going into something that will have long-term

benefits for New Zealand.” Dr Shearer said more than 600 receivers had been sold so far, and conservative estimates were for 6000 sales by the end of the year.

"Teletext has been described as the most exciting development in television in New Zealand since the introduction of colour in 1974,” he said. The service now had 230 pages of information, of which 100 were directed to the special needs of the one in 10 of New Zealand people who are disabled, Dr Shearer said. Sets with Teletext facilities would sell for between $lBOO and $l9OO, and there would be concessions on television hire rates available for the disabled, he said.

Captioning of television programmes, and the news service, would open up a “whole new world to New Zealanders with hearing disabilities,” Dr Shearer

He then gave a message to deaf people, using sign language. It was: “With Teletext the chance for the deaf to enjoy television has today become a reality.”

The service was also useful for more fortunate persons, as it provided wideranging information at the touch of a button.

“Its key selling point is speed and ability to be continually and rapidly updated,” he said. Dr Shearer said Teletext might soon be complemented by another service, Videotex, which would allow consumers to make transport bookings and shopping orders at the touch of a button. It would allow the news in Maori to be captioned in English, so that people could more fully understand the values and traditions of Maori people.

“The whole exercise is a marvellous example of

community co-operation,” said Dr Shearer.

“In essence, Teletext represents a first for New Zealand. Nowhere else in the world that I am aware of is a public broadcast system working with a special section of the community to provide an information service to that group.

“It represents a personal pleasure for me because of my long association with disabled people,” he said. A plaque commemorating the opening of Teletext was unveiled by Dr Shearer, who also announced the gift of a television set equipped with a Teletext decoder. Philips Electrical Industries of New Zealand, Ltd, has given the set to the Disabled Persons Resource Centre in Christchurch. Dr Shearer said that further sets might be given by Philips to other disabled centres in New Zealand.