RNZ needs $10M to get beyond ‘survival’ level

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 14

RNZ needs $10M to get beyond ‘survival’ level

PA . Auckland Radio New Zealand needs ?10 million extra from licence fees to expand services and get beyond a “survival only” situation, says the director-general, Miss Beverley Wakem. The money would allow RNZ to set up commercial ZM FM stations in main centres and provinces, and expand non-commercial services in areas such as Maori broadcasting, education, Access Radio and Polynesian services. She told the Royal Commission on Broadcasting sit-

ting in Auckland on Thursday that a shortfall in licences meant commercial radio had to bankroll noncommercial services by ?3 million a year, which left no surplus for expansion. Since 1975 RNZ had shed 19 per cent of its staff and made programme cuts to improve financial performance. Introduction of a third television channel could cut annual income by $7 million. Miss Wakem said no expansion of non-commercial services — including conversion of the Concert pro-

gramme to FM — could take place unless there was an increase in commercial opportunities to offset costs. Highest priority was development of ZM-FM coverage. The Concert programme would be developed in tandem using the same transmission equipment. Vacant AM frequencies would be turned over to extend Parliamentary coverage, and to develop Maori, Access, Polynesian and education broadcasts.