Hunt is on for NZ's oldest telly

A nationwide search to find the oldest working television in New Zealand was launched today by Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The Oldest Telly competition, part of a Going Digital campaign to raise awareness of the switchover to digital television, encourages New Zealanders to rummage through their homes and garages for their oldest TV set.

The winning entry will then be converted to digital TV next month ahead of the first switchover in Hawke’s Bay and West Coast in September 2012.

‘’Digital has changed the way we watch TV with better reception and sound quality, as well as more channels and features such as onscreen TV guides,’’ Dr Coleman says.

‘’It will be great if we can unearth some examples of the earliest televisions and make them digital ready to show viewers that you don’t need a new TV to receive digital television.

‘’Even televisions which showed the first moon landing in 1969 or Dick Tayler’s 10,000 metre victory at the 1974 Commonwealth Games can be converted.’’

Veteran television broadcaster Philip Sherry says digital television has changed the viewing landscape for the better.

‘’I've been involved in broadcasting in New Zealand since 1962 so have witnessed the evolution of television from black and white to colour and now to digital broadcasts.

‘’Digital TV represents the next generation of broadcasting in this country, and I'm encouraging Kiwis to search high and low for some truly old televisions to enter in the Going Digital competition.’’

Information about switching to digital TV and the Oldest Telly competition is available from www.goingdigital.co.nz or the free-phone helpline, 0800 838 800.