[IRCA] Christchurch Radio Status #4

[Geralyn Hollerman <lynnhollerman@xxxxxxxxx>]

For anyone interested:
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Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.com
March 11 2011


Christchurch [New Zealand]
Radio Services Status #4
__________________________ 

Access to check the status of CBD radio studios of many Christchurch
radio broadcasters is gradually taking place 17 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 this zone and engineers are still working through some
city buildings to determine whether they are safe for temporary or
permanent access and use. Considerable damage to some 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. Another
Newstalk ZB frequency audible in western parts of the city is 873AM
from Ashburton, 50 miles south.

Other Auckland based network programs heard on Christchurch area
transmitters include Niu FM [Pacific Island languages], and those of
RBG Rhema Broadcasting Group.

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 Maori language iwi network programs. Pulzar 105.7 FM which
lost its studios in the September 2010 earthquake is broadcasting
automated music programs.

Local community access Plains FM has studios at the Christchurch
Polytech campus in the CBD and this zone will be opened up for access
on Monday March 14. It continues using its transmitter to
broadcast the BBC World Service from London as an emergency measure.

Radio Ferrymead 1413AM returns again for the period March 11-14 with
automated programs and reduced live broadcasts on March 12-13. 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 but may be able to return on air shortly. Power
supply is fragile. LPFM stations in Redwood, Bishopdale, Wigram,
Kaiapoi, and Akaroa are all operating.

The Radio Heritage Foundation, in association with Classic Gold
Radio Winton, is finalizing plans to bring a fully equipped mobile
radio studio to broadcast directly from New Brighton in the coming
days. Live and local broadcasts to the worst hit suburbs start on
March 14. Donations of funds to cover operational costs are urgently
needed at www.radioheritage.com.

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 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].

Compass FM 104.9 FM in Rangiora has now started broadcasting on full
power with a strong signal into the city carrying North Canterbury
earthquake relief information, messages and music. Their signal
reaches from Hanmer Springs in the north to Ashburton in the south.

Radio New Zealand Sound Archives are located in the off-limits Radio
NZ studio building and operations are currently suspended. The audio
and other heritage collections housed there are understood to have
survived with relatively minor damage.

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.

Background - Since the earthquake on February 22, the death toll is
expected to be over 200, most of the CBD may be demolished because
even modern high rise buildings are now on unstable ground, and some
10,000 homes may be demolished and whole suburbs replaced with
parkland, forests and wetland. About 20-25% of the city population
has self-evacuated. It is estimated the rebuilding will take 10-15
years.
__________________________________________
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. In
association with Classic Gold Radio it is bringing a mobile FM radio
station into Christchurch to begin emergency welfare broadcasting on
March 14.
__________________________________________
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Lynn.
Lafayette, LA
Check out the IRCA web site at http://www.ircaonline.org


      
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