City’s First TV Programme Creates Wide Interest

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 10

City’s First TV Programme Creates Wide Interest

Shoppers in Christchurch jammed footpaths outside the windows of television dealers last evening, when the first active transmission was made from the city's Channel 3. Most dealers had sets working throughout their premises. The transmission was a test of the station’s equipment before the official start on June 1. Viewers saw a clear, uninterrupted programme lasting an hour and a half. It featured an interview with the American baritone, Todd Duncan, by Miss Airini Grennell. three films, and some ••stills” of the Avon. The first person to have his' image transmitted from the station was the announcer. Mr Graeme Edwin, who has been a radio announcer for the New Zealand Broadcasting Service for five years. Favourable Reports There was a big response when Mr Edwin asked viewers to report their reception. At one stage, the telephone receptionist answered 35 calls in a quarter of an hour. Without exception reports were favourable. Three persons telephoned specially to express their appreciation to Miss Grennell. Only one caller had a complaint. He said the transmission was interfering with his radio reception. One Darfield viewer said the reception was excellent—“as good as any overseas.” Transmission began at 7.20

p.m.. when the camera was focused on a retma resolution chart to allow viewers to adjust their sets. The chart showed shades from, black to white, and lines radiating from a central circle. Next, the station’s official identification chart was shown. This is a photograph of Cathedral square from the entrance of Worcester street west, with the name of the station across the front. The “live” transmissions were made from a studio on the ground floor of the 3YA building in Gloucester street. Those who took part sat on low chairs with a vase of flowers on a small table as a background. Above them, out of view, were lights and a microphone suspended from a long boom. £l5OO Camera The camera used in the "live” part of the programme was a Marconi Mark IV—the latest produced in England by the Marconi firm It has four lenses that are moved into position by the turn of a handle. The camera was worth about £l5OO. said the regional engineer of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service (Mr R. G. Tulloch), who was in charge of the transmission He said part of the camera—the image orthicon —was (vorth £6OO and had a life of about 300 hours. The cameraman (Mr D. Lane) received his instructions through headphones from the control room next door.

This room is separated from the studio by a glass panel. Men sit behind panels studded with knobs, switches and dials, and control sound and vision. The acting-director of last evening's programme was Mr C. Greenwood. Mr W. Lambie controlled vision. Mr W Pearson controlled sound, and Mr G. Boyes controlled the camera. Assisting Mr Tulloch was the assistant engineer (Mr E. J. Atkins). In another room, Mr B Norton and his assistant, Mr P Butcher, controlled the transmission of the films. In this room, projectors beamed the films into a special camera.