TV applicant would give to charitable trust

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 15

TV applicant would give to charitable trust

PA Auckland Energy Source Television Network (ESTV) would pay the ESTV Charitable Trust $lOO,OOO annually from the first year of transmission, the Broadcasting Tribunal has been told.

The trust’s chairman, Sir John Marshall, said it would also receive 10 per cent of the network’s profits. Sir John was giving evidence in support of ESTV’s application for a third television channel warrant.

The acting chairman of ESTV Network, Ltd, Mr Peter Menzies, had earlier given evidence that the trust had been formed. It would use network profits to support community activities which benefited regional

television, he said. Sir John said the objectives of the trust would be to: • Assist and promote the arts, sciences and crafts for the cultural and recreational development and wellbeing of New Zealanders. • Promote the arts, use of leisure and the enjoyment of the environment • Encourage the better use of television. He said that ESTV accepted that if granted the warrant it would be exposed to competition only from the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand.

“ESTV accepts that this privileged position carries with it not only the responsiblity to provide the high standard of performance which it plans

to give, but also a willingness to share with the community at large some of the profits which come from the consumers who support the advertisers who support ESTV,” said Sir John. The trust, he said, would be a shareholder in each of the regional network companies.