A STRONG warning that pressure groups are trying to ridicule the Pilkington Committee on television and to discredit in advance its ideas and suggestions was made this week by Fr. Agnellus Andrew, director of the Catholic Radio and Television centre.
Speaking to the Salford Diocesan branch of the Look and Listen Group at Belle Vue, Manchester, on Sunday, with Bishop Beck presiding, Fr. Agnellus declared:
"There are far too many pressures operating in this field and we must he careful that the initiative does not pass entirely into the hands of the pressure groups."
The Pilkington Committee's report on the possible introduction of a third television channel is expected in late June. Commercial interests who fear that the scope of commercial broadcasting may be restricted rather than widened are already campaigning against the report. Comparisons are being drawn between these moves and the " public relations " campaign preceding the introduction of commercial television in 1955.