NATIONAL THEATRES SIR, Whilst being filled with admiration for Richard
Findlater's exposition on the National Theatre, I must cross swords with him on this paragraph : 'How can' a National Theatre Company be con- tractually tied to one commercial television group, which insists on complete "exclusivity"—that is, the Company cannot be televised by any other group? That is the current commitment of the Old Vic to Southern Television.'
Southern Television wished to enter into a planned, series of plays with the Old Vic Company, and how else does he suggest that we could do any pre- planning unless we had exclusivity which guaranteed to us that the Old Vic's television organisation would be available to us at all times. but this does not mean that the Old Vic Theatre of the Air's per- formances are exclusive to Southern Television viewers.
We, Southern Television, are perfectly willing— after the customary formality at the Box Office—for these plays to be seen over any station in this country, or in any other. Indeed; our first production --Peter Ustinov's The Empty Chair—will be seen on every commercial television station in this country, on Easter Sunday.—Yours faithfully,
ROY RICH Controller of Programmes Southern Television Limited, Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, Strand, WC2
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