Auckland ‘subsidy’ for S.I. TV3

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 3

Auckland ‘subsidy’ for S.I. TV3

PA Auckland The South Island would have to be subsidised by Auckland if New Zealand was to have a true fourregion third television channel, a leading warrant contender, ITV, said yesterday. ITV is a contender for all four broadcasting warrants in a field of seven companies seeking private television licences. Warrant applications closed with the Broadcasting Tribunal last week. Four applications for a news service to furnish the four regions were also received. “The Auckland region is the obviously viable one,” said ITV’s joint managing director, Mr Richard Wall, yesterday. “But if third channel TV is to go to all New Zealand,

then we see some of its revenue going, initially, to supporting the South Island region.” ITV believes it will cost between $6O and $9O million to establish a third channel within three years. But it has backing from the Chase and Owens groups, NZ News and the Challenge Corporate 'Services organisation. By associating with INTN, a news service bid spearheaded by Wellington journalist, Barry Soper, it in effect has applied for all four broadcasting warrants and a news warrant too. Energy Source Television, of Wellington, has done the same. It is best known to the public as the maker of “Day One,” a TVNZ religious programme. Southern Cross TV, formerly Northern, wants

three of the four warrants but it has associations in the fourth area. Southern Cross, backed by Wilson and Horton, owns shares in United Telecast Corporation, headed by a former TV2 employee, Kevan Moore. A Waikato group, UTC, wants only the Waikato region licence. TV3, with a former TVNZ executive, Tom Parkinson, at the helm, seeks all four warrants. Other applicants include Onshore Services, headed by an Auckland airline steward, Larry Tompkins (Auckland warrant only), and Civic Enterprises (South Island only). Strathmore Publishing, which puts out “More” magazine, has applied for a news warrant.