TVNZ notices ‘blow’ to S.I.

Press, 22 February 1989, Page 9

TVNZ notices ‘blow’ to S.I.

Television New Zealand has dealt a blow to the South Island, says the Public Service Association. Under Government broadcasting policies TVNZ will abandon more of its community responsibilities, said the P.S.A.’s vice-president, Mr Mike Britton, yesterday. He was commenting on the surplus staff notices handed to 14 South Island journalists yesterday. TVNZ’s decision to halve regional news programming and shift it to a less popular time slot was a real blow to the South Island, he said. “Television New Zealand has failed to meet its important responsibilities to reflect the regions to themselves. “There is no doubt that this is a direct result of the Government’s decision to deregulate broadcasting, leaving the vestiges of

public service broadcasting to be funded and administered by a new quango,” Mr Britton said. The P.S.A. was concerned that a lot of public service broadcasting would disappear, he said. Mr Britton said the Government’s assumption that more competition in broadcasting would automatically mean more diversity with the same standards was wrong. "Commercial broadcasting is about delivering audiences to advertisers; public broadcasting delivers programmes to audiences. The Government fails to appreciate this. “Viewers in the regions should think hard about the Government’s new policies. The cuts in regional programmes are a graphic illustration of what they mean. There is more to come,” Mr Britton said.