Compass - First Five Years of Television

Made six years after local TV broadcasting began, this wide-ranging 1966 documentary looks at the past and future of television in NZ. Future TV ePolitical science lecturer Reg Harrison examines local content, a second channel, private enterprise, transmission challenges, editorial independence, sports coverage, and how TV’s expansion has affected other pursuits, and children. The doco includes interviews with privacy-keen Gordon Dryden and film legend Rudall Hayward, and MPs. Director Gordon Bick later argued that the NZBC had allowed "a good deal of criticism against itself" on screen.

[Gordon] Dryden, in our interview, made a slashing, fiery attack upon the NZBC. He criticised the amount of 'pap' that went on air, resented the lack of controversy, and tore into the Government-servant administration in the corporation...I had my doubts about whether our vetting committee would allow us to use the interview, but most of it went on.

– Assistant Producer Gordon Bick, in his 1968 book The Compass File, page 88

Key Cast & Crew

Reg Harrison

Presenter, Writer

Ian Johnstone

Reporter, Assistant Producer

Allan Martin

Producer

Gordon Dryden

Subject

Alan Morris

Presenter

Ian McLean

Director