Radio in New Zealand: Difference between revisions

New Zealand was also one of the first countries to introduce Christian radio, with [[Rhema Media]] now operating three networks around the country. The [[Student Radio Network]] began with the start of [[95bFM|bFM]] in 1969 and the first of the country's [[Association of Community Access Broadcasters|community access broadcasters]] was founded in 1981. [[Te Māngai Pāho]] funds Māori iwi radio stations, and the [[Pacific Media Network]] continues to receive Government support.

Until the 1980s, stations used a series of [[List of New Zealand radio station callsigns|New Zealand call signs]], consisting of a single digit and two letters (see right). In addition to YA National programme stations, YC Concert programme stations and a limited number of privately owned X stations, several stations were operated commercially by the government. In each region, the largest city was assigned a ZB station (1ZB Auckland, 2ZB Wellington, 3ZB Christchurch and 4ZB Dunedin) and a ZM music station (1ZM Auckland, 2ZM Wellington and 3ZM Christchurch). The [[Newstalk ZB]] and [[ZMFM|ZM]] brands continue to be used by [[NZME]] (formerly [[The Radio Network]]). The second largest city was assigned a ZA station: 1ZA in [[TaupoTaupō]], 2ZA in [[Palmerston North]], 3ZA in [[Greymouth]] and 4ZA in [[Invercargill]]. In other towns and cities the final letter was assigned from the town or city name such as 4ZG in Gore and 1ZH in Hamilton. These ZA and other stations, also now owned by [[NZME]], were rebranded as [[Classic Hits FM|Classic Hits]] and rebranded again in 2014 as The Hits. 1YA, 2YK, 3AQ, 4YA were the first stations operating in the country's four main cities, and 5ZB was a mobile radio station broadcast in railway carriages during the 1940s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/popular/treaty/events-1990s |title=Centenary Celebrations |publisher=Radionz.co.nz |access-date=19 August 2011 |archive-date=10 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710044058/http://www.radionz.co.nz/popular/treaty/events-1990s |url-status=dead }}</ref>

New Zealand's original FM broadcasting allocation, until 1986 was 89.0 to 94.0 MHz, and then from 1986, until 2000 was 89.0 to 101100.0 MHz. Meanwhile, the segments of the band not used for FM broadcasting, such as the band above 101100 MHz had been had been allocated to land-based AM mobile radio-telephone users (taxis, fire and others), an allocation that dates back to the late 1950s. New Zealand's FM frequency allocation issue was not fixed until the late 1990s, after those users had been progressively reassigned channels elsewhere, when the band was expanded to the full 20 MHz. New Zealand now uses the standard global allocation of 88–10887.5–108 MHz for FM. NZToday, permitsfull-power FM stations use frequencies between 88.6 MHz and 106.5 MHz, although the band between 101.8 MHz and 103.3 MHz is allocated to future government, Maori and limited short term broadcasting, it is currently unused (as of February 2024). [[RadioLow-power Databroadcasting|Low-power SystemFM]] subcarriers,stations butuse theirfrequencies adoptionfrom is87.6 MHz notto universal88.3 MHz Whileand from 106.7 MHz to 107.7 MHz. New Zealand permits [[Radio Data System]] subcarriers, Radio NZ National uses RDS for its FM network fromwith theAF start(Alternative Frequency) enabled, commercial radio's adoptionuse of theRDS for station identification and program technologyinformation is increasingwidespread.

In 1970 it was granted a licenselicence to broadcast from land and a successor company still broadcasts to the Auckland market under the Radio Hauraki brand and is networked nationwide. In 1972, [[Student Radio Network#bFM|Radio Bosom]] broadcast briefly until [[New Zealand Post Office|Post Office]] inspectors found and seized the transmitter which was concealed in a maintenance tunnel under a [[University of Auckland]] building.<ref>[http://www.ingenio.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/for/alumni/news/ingenio/archive/a06/regular/5.cfm Tess Redgrave charts the rise of 95bFM] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207073005/http://www.ingenio.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/for/alumni/news/ingenio/archive/a06/regular/5.cfm |date=7 December 2008 }} Retrieved on 2008-07-03</ref> Now known as ''bFM''[[95bFM]], the station broadcasts legally from the University of Auckland student union building.

The [[Association of Community Access Broadcasters]] represents the twelve [[community radio]] stations set-up between 1981 and 2010 which have received government funding since 1989. They broadcast community programming and provide facilities, training and on-air time for individuals and community groups to produce programming. The stations are also required to represent particular religions, cultures, languages, ages and sexualities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acab.org.nz/index.php |title=Association of Community Access Broadcasters, Aotearoa New Zealand |publisher=Acab.org.nz |access-date=2010-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602015652/http://www.acab.org.nz/index.php |archive-date=2 June 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/about-nz-on-air/ |title=About NZ On Air |publisher=[[NZ On Air]] |access-date=2014-10-14}}</ref> There are currently local access stations in [[Auckland]], [[Waikato]], [[Taranaki]], [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]], [[Manawatū-Whanganui|Manawatu]], [[Wairarapa]], [[KapitiKāpiti Coast (district), New Zealand|Kapiti]], [[Wellington]], [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]], [[Otago]] and [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/media/7127/access%20radio%20and%20regional%20tv%20consultation%20paper.pdf |title=Consultation paper for Community Access Radio and Regional Television funding – April 2008 |publisher=[[NZ On Air]] |access-date=2010-06-06| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100525093855/http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/media/7127/access%20radio%20and%20regional%20tv%20consultation%20paper.pdf| archive-date= 25 May 2010 }}</ref>

The network began as a grouping of university student radio stations in major centres, and for a while operated as a commercial network of [[Students' union|student union]] stations and former student union stations in six markets. In 1986 member station Radio One launched the Rad-One Card, a low-cost [[Loyalty program|discount and loyalty card]] with on-air competitions, to raise funds. Similar schemes have now been launched by other stations, such as the Active card by Radio Active and the bCard by bFM and [[Bank of New Zealand]]. It adopted the name bNet for over a decade, using the brand of Auckland member station [[95bFM|bFM]], and held the [[bNet NZ Music Awards]] between 1998 and 2007 to promote the role the stations played in fostering New Zealand music across genres. However, the group agreed to change its name back to Student Radio Network at a meeting in 2009, to reflect the broader range of student radio brands.<ref name="Student radio"/> The stations continue to provide a spotlight for local bands, having previously helped promote [[Fat Freddys Drop]], [[Kora (band)|Kora]], [[Jordan Reyne]], [[Dimmer (band)|Dimmer]], [[Jet Jaguar]], [[Shocking Pinks]], [[The Enright House]] and some underground and [[electronica]] acts.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}

From studios in Ohakune, the programprogramme audio is fed to the network via high speed fiber to Whanganui on 93.6 FM, Ohakune 106.2 FM, Ruapehu/Turoa 91.8, National Park/Whakapapa 105.4, Rotorua 90.0 FM, Taihape 107FM, Taumarunui 91.1, Taupo 87.8 FM, and online via Tune-In, iHeart Radio and www.skifmnetwork.co.nz.

Broadcasting to Marlborough, Nelson, Whanganui, Taihape, Timaru, Oamaru, Ashburton, Alexandra and Cromwell. The station does not use DJs, instead plays music with short ad -libbed commercials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brianfm.com/ |title = Brian FM - Playing what we feel like - New Zealand Radio Station}}</ref>

The network broadcastbroadcasts on 100.6 FM in several centres, including [[Temuka]], [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]], [[Kaikōura]], [[Methven, New Zealand|Methven]], [[Waimate]], [[Oamaru]], [[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]], [[Gore, New Zealand|Gore]], [[Mount Cook Village]], [[Reefton]], [[Geraldine, New Zealand|Geraldine]], [[Twizel]], [[Fairlie, New Zealand|Fairlie]], [[Murchison, New Zealand|Murchison]], [[Timaru]], [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]], [[Hanmer Springs]] and [[Karamea]]. It also broadcast on 91.9 FM in [[Hokitika]], 97.8 FM in [[Lake Tekapo]], 99.0 FM in [[KapitiKāpiti Coast]], 105.4 FM in [[Auckland]] and 1593 AM in [[Christchurch]]. The Wolf was available nationwide on the [[Sky (New Zealand)|Sky Television]] digital service.<ref>[http://www.worldfm.co.nz/radiodx.com/DXTimes/2001/DXT-2001-08.pdf New Zealand DX Times] August 2001</ref>

[[Low power broadcasting]] licenseslicences in New Zealand are issued by [[Spectrum management|Radio Spectrum Management]] and managed by the [[Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment]]. In many cases, they provide community groups with easy access to broadcasting. Any resident is allowed a free licence at a maximum of 1 watt [[EIRP]] in the FM guardbands from 87.6 to 88.3 and from 106.7 to 107.7&nbsp;MHz under a General User Radio Licenselicence (GURL). Some frequency restrictions apply to areas under the flight paths into Auckland Airport and Wellington Airport to minimise interference with the airports' [[Instrument landing system|instrument landing systems]] (which operate on 109.9&nbsp;MHz and 110.3&nbsp;MHz). Prior to June 2010, the lower band was located between 88.1 and 88.8 and a maximum of 500&nbsp;mW EIRP allowed. Broadcasters on these frequencies are required to cease operations if they interfere with other, licensed broadcasters and have no protection from interference from other licensed or unlicensed broadcasters. Contact details must also be broadcast every hour.<ref name=NZRSM/>

There are several radio markets that are not recognised by commercial surveys, but in which there is still competition between commercial radio stations such as [[Newstalk ZB]]. These include [[Tokoroa]] and [[TaupoTaupō]] in the [[Waikato]] and the [[KapitiKāpiti Coast]] in [[Wellington Region|Wellington]]. Others include [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]] in [[Marlborough Region|Marlborough]], [[Greymouth]] on the [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]], [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]] and [[Timaru]] in [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]], and [[Oamaru]], [[Alexandra, New Zealand|Alexandra]], and [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] in [[Otago]].<ref>[http://www.trb.co.nz/i/Stations/ZB/zbsolo.jpg Newstalk ZB frequency map]</ref>