TV journalist to covet tour

Press, 30 May 1985, Page 1

TV journalist to covet tour

PA Wellington Television New Zealand will cover other newsworthy aspects surrounding matches on the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa, said the director-general, Mr Allan Martin, yesterday. A news and current affairs journalist, a commentator and a producer would cover off-field activities and provide commentaries for telecast matches said Mr Martin. “Normal coverage previewing and reviewing each match and news reportage of the context in which the match will be played will be broadcast as usual,” he said. Visa applications would be made immediately, Mr Martin said. Television New Zealand will transmit live nine of the 16 tour matches from July to September. The matches covered will be against Northern Free

State on Wednesday, July 24, and the subsequent Saturday matches up to and including the final test on September 14. The other matches are expecte d to be covered in later news bulletins. Radio New Zealand would also provide full cimmentaries on the tour’s major matches, said the R.N.Z. director-general, Miss Beverly Wakeham. The chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Ur ion Mr Ces Blazey, was unavailable for comment regarding the extent of coverage. However, it could be expected that a huge audience would watch tie live transmissions of the tour matches. The extert of the coverage compares favourably with other All Black tours. Mr Martin said the highlights of the three test matches on Augus. 17 and 31 and September 14 would be replayed on Television

Two between 11 a.m. and noon on Sundays. “We will not produce any pre-tour programme specials, having regard to the sensitivities of all sections of the New Zealand community “Any advertising associated with coverage for the matches will be sought on the basis only of making a contribution towards covering the costs of satellite coverage of the tour.” Earlier this week the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said that the Government had “obviously” suggested to the Broadcasting Corporation that news journalists should cover other aspects of South Africa. “They should ensure that if they believe there is merit in having coverage of those games in South Africa they should see that there is coverage of other aspects of South Africa,” said Mr Lange. He said the Government would not dictate to the Broadcasting Corporation.

“This Government is not going to pull the plug or switches or censor things which happen to be inconvenient. We do not seek to behave as South Africa does,” he said.