[IRCA] Christchurch Radio Status #3

[Geralyn Hollerman <lynnhollerman@xxxxxxxxx>]

For anyone interested:
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Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.com
March 4 2011


Christchurch [New Zealand]
Radio Services Status #3
__________________________ 

Access to the CBD radio studios of many Christchurch radio
broadcasters continues to be denied by the civil defence authorities
10 days after the devasting earthquake hit this New Zealand city of
350,000.

Radio New Zealand, The Radio Network and Radioworks all have studios
within the cordoned off zone and engineers are still working through
city buildings to determine whether they are safe for temporary or
permanent access and use. Considerable damage to buildings housing
the studios is likely.

NewstalkZB has been carrying its news coverage across 1017,1098 and
1503 AM and 106.5 AM [replacing Hauraki Amp'd]. Their main mast at
Orohuia has reportedly sunk in the ground from liquifaction and they
are radiating a much weaker signal from a long wire temporary aerial.

RDU 98.5 has returned to the air from temporary studios whilst Tahu
90.5 now refers to Christchurch as Quake City and has been heard
carrying iwi network programs. Pulzar 105.7 FM which lost its studios
in the September 2010 earthquake is broadcasting automated music
programs only.

Local community access Plains FM has studios at the Christchurch
Polytech campus in the CBD and continues using its transmitter to
broadcast the BBC World Service from London as an emergency measure.

Radio Ferrymead 1413AM is now back on air today with automated
programming for the coming four days. They sustained moderate damage
to studios and buildings. Volcano Radio 88.5 in Lyttelton continues
amazing service to the shattered port area with music and local
community and emergency announcements.

Destroyed or damaged local LPFM stations now include One-Eyed FM
[Aranui], Beachbreak FM [South New Brighton] and The Wave [Sumner]
whilst Burwood Community Radio near badly damaged QEII Park is
reportedly silent.

The Radio Heritage Foundation, in association with Classic Gold
Radio, is currently working on plans to bring a fully equipped mobile
radio studio to broadcast directly from New Brighton to the nearby
eastern suburbs in the coming days. Donations of funds and help on
the ground would be greatly appreciated.

Power Hits Radio 87.8 in St Albans and Akaroa FM [both Christchurch
City] have been carrying earthquake coverage from the emergency
nationwide local network anchored by Classic Gold Radio in Winton,
near Invercargill, in association with The Flea in Auckland and
Splash FM on Waiheke Island.

The full network taking this feed is Classic Gold Radio [Winton],
Classic Gold Radio [Invercargill], Radio Cromwell, Radio Mosgiel
[Dunedin], Radio Twizel, Power Hits Radio [Christchurch], Akaroa FM

[Christchurch], Hutt FM 106.1 [Wellington], Rag FM [Raglan], The Flea
88.2 Devonport/107 Takapuna [Auckland] and six hours daily streaming
via the Mader Radio Network [USA].

The status of new community station Compass FM 104.9 FM in Rangiora
is unclear, it had been testing recently and its studios and
facilities are available but don't appear to be utilised at present.

Radio New Zealand Sound Archives are located in the off-limits Radio
NZ studio building and operations are currently suspended. The status
of the audio and other heritage collections housed there is unknown.

A full listing of Christchurch area AM and FM stations is online at
www.radioheritage.com and is regularly being updated. It's at the
home page under the header 'Christchurch Earthquake 2011'.

Please support fund raising for the Helping Rebuild Christchurch
project, part of the Kiwi Radio Campaign, with donations by Paypal
welcome at www.radioheritage.com.

__________________________________________
Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization connecting
popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage at
www.radioheritage.com. It hosts the PAL mediumwave and shortwave
Radio Guides, New Zealand Low Power FM Radio Guide and is the country
editor for the Pacific region for the World Radio TV Handbook.
__________________________________________
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Lynn.
Lafayette, LA
Check out the IRCA web site at http://www.ircaonline.org


      
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