In NZ, anyone can start a new channel...

[Timmy Downawell]

While there's still no terrestrial digital TV in NZ, the deregulated industry is an amazing contrast to Australia.

The towns mentioned in the article, Pahiatua and Woodville, have populations of just 2600 and 1500 respectively.

Tararua gets own TV station

20 May 2004 

Pahiatua and Woodville residents channel surfing will soon come across a new television station on Channel 40 on the UHF frequency - and it's just for them.

Tararua Television expects to broadcast a test pattern within the next two to three weeks.

It will go to air as soon as possible after that.

Tararua Television is the brainchild of two Pahiatua men, Jonathan McLean and Hart Udy.

The project started four years ago when Mr McLean downloaded a video tape from satellite and showed Mr Udy, who decided he would like a satellite dish installed.

During a subsequent conversation, the possibility of broadcasting to a local area came to the fore.

After investigating the viability of the idea, the pair found it has tremendous potential and was worth pursuing.

Their religious beliefs also played a part in the decision. Mr Udy said these beliefs will not dominate the network.

"We have Christian beliefs and believe that a lot of what is seen on free-to-air television today is very suggestive to teenagers and children. There are a lot more worthwhile and wholesome programmes that could be shown," Mr Udy said.

An application to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage was made and a license granted at the end of 2002.

One of the requirements of the license was that a trust had to be formed, so the Tararua Television Charitable Trust was established with seven trustees.

The trustees then invested a large amount of effort applying for funding to get the project launched. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful with all their applications.

"I think our project was just too different from other organisations and that was why we were declined each time," Mr McLean said.

"Facing a brick wall we could have easily given up at this stage. Another trustee, Graeme Bendall was instrumental in Tararua Televison in the respect that he offered resources personally.

"It was his offer and generosity that motivated us to continue." Mr Udy said. Sadly, Mr Bendall will not see the beginning of the new network as he passed away in September last year.

The original budget of $60,000 was cut back to less than $20,000 and by pooling their resources, the trustees have managed to purchase most of the equipment needed. A transmitter made specifically for Tararua Televison and tuned to the correct frequency was ordered from Italy at what Mr McLean said was a very reasonable price.

A recent trial with an antenna tied to the fencepost was successful.

"We just hooked it all up and aimed the camera at the Tui Brewery, crossed our fingers and pushed the buttons and it worked," Mr McLean said. The seven-metre-tall transmitter will be installed on farmland behind the Tui Brewery.

Tararua Television will be based at a purpose-built studio at Tararua College.

"We are aiming to get the kids involved as well as the community. This will be an opportunity for students to assist with presentation, production and filming and could well be a stepping stone to bigger and brighter things," Mr McLean said.

The programmes will be largely locally based, covering sports, major events such as the Christmas parade, school productions and news. With technology today, the trustees hope to provide live broadcast of events in the district.

The network is licensed to broadcast 24 hours a day seven days a week, but will be focussing on quality rather than quantity.

"We may start broadcasting on the weekends for a few hours a day and expand from there," Mr McLean said. "Advertising may be introduced at a later date but we won't be bombarding viewers like the other channels do. It may only be a few minutes each hour."

Initially, the network will only be broadcasting to Pahiatua and Woodville.

"Any further than that will require a lot more resources. We are a non-commercial non-profitable organisation so we will start off small and see how we go," said Mr McLean.

Mr Udy said although it has been a lot of work, it has been really great fun to do.

"It is real boys' stuff, but at my age, I can't think of anything I would rather be doing."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2913726a11,00.html