Steady approach to FM radio preferred

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 3

Steady approach to FM radio preferred

Parliamentary reporter A steady rather than a fast approach to the development of FM radio is preferred by the Broadcasting Tribunal in its annual report, tabled in Parliament yesterday. The tribunal said it would continue to call for applications for FM warrants progressively round the country, giving precedence where the interest in FM development was greatest. “However, national resources and those available within the industry indicate

a steady rather than a fast approach will be better for the development of the FM mode without undue disruption of the industry,” it said.. The report noted that FM warrants were granted in the last year to the Waikato and Hawke’s Bay areas. Applications had been heard for stations in the Central and Eastern Bay of Plenty and Northland areas, while hearings of applications in Wellington had been scheduled. The tribunal made little

mention of regional private television, except to say that it had received 92 submissions from 19 organisations and persons, after it had been asked by the Minister of Broadcasting last December to meet interested parties to discuss the introduction of third channel regional private television and to make recommendations on eight specific issues. The tribunal said it had delivered its recommendations to the Minister on March 30 this year.