TVNZ opts for back-on view of Royal wedding

Press, 3 July 1986, Page 2

TVNZ opts for back-on view of Royal wedding

By

ROBIN CHARTERIS

in London

New Zealand television viewers seem likely to be denied unique coverage of the Royal wedding on July 23 which many other countries, including Australia, will receive. Thames Television in Britain, covering the wedding for the I.T.V. network, has stolen a march on the 8.8. C. by Installing a tiny, robot-operated camera on the altar in Westminster Abbey which will transmit face-on pictures of Prince Andrew and Miss Sarah Ferguson as the ceremony unfolds. It will also show Miss Ferguson’s slow walk up the aisle from the front and provide lingering looks at her wedding

dress. But TVNZ has contracted to take coverage of the wedding from the 8.8. C., whose cameras will present back-only views of the couple. A spokesman for 8.8.C.’s international division confirmed that TVNZ would take the 8.8. C. coverage, along with many other countries round the world.

A Thames Television spokesman said he believed negotiations were still going on with TVNZ and that there was “a possibility” that Thames coverage could be received in New Zealand. “I am surprised New Zealand is not taking our pictures. They will clearly be much better than the 8.8.C.’5,” he said. “Australia’s Channel 7 is taking our coverage in preference to the 8.8.C.’5, and so are lots of other countries.” The space-age camera will give the I.T.V. network in Britain a valuable edge over the 8.8. C. in the ratings battle. Prince Andrew and his fiancee agreed to the camera position, knowing it would show their most affectionate moments

from a distance of a few I.T.V. officials, bending to Buckingham Palace protocol, have agreed not to transmit the more intimate moments when the couple actually exchange their vows. The service will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, assisted by the newly appointed Dean of Westminster, Canon Michael Mayne, and the Precentor of the abbey, the Rev. Alan Luff. Both 8.8. C. and I.T.V. plan big coverage of the wedding day, starting early in the morning with the build-up to . the wedding and final preparations inside the abbey and along the route from Buckingham Palace.

I.T.V. will have its veteran broadcasters, Sir Alastair Burnet and Andrew Gardner, sharing commentary duties. The 8.8. C. team will be headed by David Dimbleby.

The 8.8. C. spokesman said live transmission would be sent to New Zealand between 10 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. on July 23 and 24. Television New Zealand’s head of programme planning and purchasing, Mr Barrie Parkin, said New Zealand would definitely receive the 8.8. C. coverage. He believed that both 8.8. C. and I.T.V. would use the same cameras. He would try to find if there would be another camera used by I.T.V.