7 JANUARY 1966, Page 7

. . . And Down With Competition Britain's first experiment

in coin-in-the-slot television will start in 3,000 London homes this weekend, rising to 10,000 homes by the summer. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Six bob for an evening of Fonteyn. Box- ing comes dearer. Anything that increases the area of choice gets my vote, and I wish the com- pany behind the experiment, Pay-TV, the best of luck.

They'll need it. Believe it or not. the Board of Trade has officially declared that any company transmitting pay-as-you-view television pro- grammes must compensate financially all the cinemas in the area. Otherwise, no licence. Vive le status quo. And down with competition.