‘Real world’ TV idea commended

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 3

‘Real world’ TV idea commended

PA Wellington The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. R. Greenfield) has commended the Government for considering the transfer of one television channel to

“the real world’’ of private enterprise.

“The mere suggestion is enough to produce cries of shock and dismay from some,” said Mr Greenfield, and he commended the Government for its willingness to consider the possibility and to weigh up the costs and benefits of the various options which were open to it.

“Why do we accept privately owned newspapers and radio stations, but refuse to consider free enterprise television? Why should the taxpayers continue to find millions io meet the cost, of a two channel State television?” Privately owned television “might not be so cosy as the present setup, but it would certainly be enterprising, economical, and profitable, or the owners would pay the price of failure.” Mr Greenfield said that private enterprise was “the real world,” where people put their own capital at risk and accepted the rewards or penalties which resulted; where expenditure was controlled and directed towards a purpose and where prices! were based on value offered and accepted by a willing buyer.

“In the end this may not be the option chosen by the Government, but we com-

intend the Prime Minister for being willing to consider it,” he said. The present organisation was extravagant and conid

inot continue on the same | scale unless more large i amounts of money were used to meet the annual deIficits, he said.