RETAILERS WELCOME TV INTRODUCTION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 14

RETAILERS WELCOME TV INTRODUCTION

“The association's radio and television group welcomes the statement from the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Kinsella) on the immediate future programme for television in Christchurch, and looks forward to the time when viewing hours will be increased past the 18 hours a week promised for July,” said Mr R. M. Naysmith, immediate past president of the Canterbury and Westland Retailers’ Association, yesterday, according to a supplied statement. “The remarks of the senior officer of the New Zealand Broadcasting service to the effect that test results have proved extraordinarily good, bears out the confidence the trade is showing in the future of television in Christchurch and the result of these tests when combined with the efficient installation and services facilities which will be available from radio and television traders, is an assurance to the general public of a high standard of viewing.

"With the beginning of scheduled programmes set down for June 1, and with tests of entertainment value beginning immediately, it is perhaps timely that the pub-

lie is made aware of a few facts which may not be generally known. Television viewers in New Zealand have an advantage over those of many other countries since the television receivers available in New Zealand are foi 625 line transmission which is one of the most advanced types in existence. Television services in the United Kingdom think it will be quite a few years before their transmissions have been converted to the 625 line receivers. “It is, therefore, obvious that the delay in introducing the television medium to New Zealand has resulted in this country’s viewers being placed many years ahead of their counterparts in other countries in the standard of reproduction which they can expect. “Some confusion still exists in the minds of many people as to the difference between television and radio, and as to whether the spoken word being transmitted in a television programme can be picked up on a radio set, conversely whether that transmitted by a conventional broadcasting station can be picked up on a television receiver. "Television transmitters and receivers will operate on a frequency outside the range of standard conventional radio receivers and therefore, there is no chance of the transmission being picked up on a receiver for which it is not designed,” the statement says.