SIR,—The article you published last week by Brian Inglis on
'Pay As You View' seems to neglect one argument that would appear to rule out this method of conducting a third television service. There is only a limited number of wavelengths available for television. If these are used for a PAYV service it will mean that those with well-lined pockets will gain a new service which will not be available to the less wealthy families.
If there were more wavelengths which could be used, PAYV might well be introduced as a special luxury service.
It would be manifestly unfair to the majority of TV viewers to introduce such a service at the present time.
Mr. Inglis writes of the need for minority pro- grammes. Minorities, however, can be of different sizes. There is surely a vastly larger minority which is not interested in sport than the minority which is interested in opera. Next Saturday (July 5) both BBC and ITV plan to devote the entire afternoon to tennis and cricket. A third TV network should be expected to provide a free alternative to this vicarious alfresco exercise.—Yours faithfully,
GORDON MCI VOR
Secretary
Popular Television Committee. 21 Devonshire Street, WI
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