[IRCA] Christchurch Radio 'Returns to Normal"

[Geralyn Hollerman <lynnhollerman@xxxxxxxxx>]

For anyone interested:
---
Christchurch [NZ] 
Radio Dial Returns
to Normal 
_____________________

The Radio Heritage Foundation says the local radio dial in
Christchurch [New Zealand] is almost back to the situation it was
before the massive earthquake of February 22 2011 which disrupted
many services.

All radio station brands from the main broadcasting networks
[Radioworks, The Radio Network, Radio New Zealand and Rhema
Broadcasting Group] are on air with normal programs and no reported
technical issues. Access to some local studios in the CBD continues
to be an issue but the stations have been working around this problem
for over two months now.

Community access stations Plains FM and Compass FM are basically
operating their usual schedules along with most other independent
stations in the city, although again, some studio facilities remain
off-limits in the CBD, with Pulzar FM amongst the worst affected.

The eastern suburbs of the city have seen the return of local low
power FM stations The Wave FM from Sumner and Burwood Community
Radio, and Beachbreak FM at South New Brighton is close to returning
to the airwaves.

"Invercargill based Classic Gold now has a low power station located
at New Brighton replacing the high powered emergency mobile station
we initiated and which they operated as Radio New Brighton 102.1 FM
for two months from outside the Central New Brighton School" says
foundation chairman David Ricquish.

>From this week, students at the fringe CBD based NZ Broadcasting
School have also launched C96 FM using a high powered transmitter
covering the city. The station is dedicated to the rebuilding of
Christchurch and has a fund raising target of $NZ50,000 [$US30,000]

to support local businesses and the community.

"Radio proved it was able to respond quickly to local needs after the
earthquake, although it did require bringing in additional resources
from out of the city in the initial weeks, including a totally new
local station for the eastern suburbs" says Ricquish.

"It's clear that if a similar event should occur again, radio
resources in the city would again be stretched, probably beyond
breaking point. The value of having self-sufficient local community
radio stations across the metro area has been driven home by the
February earthquake, and they must be accorded greater value in
future planning'. 

The Radio Heritage Foundation was saddened to see the demolition of
the original Radio Broadcasting Company [3YA] studios and building in
Christchurch in recent days, another casualty of the earthquake and
damage caused to many older buildings.

The Radio Heritage Foundation is a registered non-profit organization
connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage and its
global website is www.radioheritage.com.

Another of its 'Helping Rebuild Christchurch' projects involves
restoring the original 3ZB radio studio and transmitter building in
New Brighton in time for its 75th anniversary in 2012.

Contact: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
---

Lynn.
Lafayette, LA
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