AM Network
Encyclopedia
The AM Network is a network
of radio transmitters operated by Radio New Zealand
, which broadcasts Radio New Zealand Parliament and Southern Star Network. The transmitters were previously used by
The Concert Programme before it moved to FM broadcasting
.
While the rest of Radio New Zealand
is funded entirely by New Zealand on Air
, the AM Network is funded entirely by the New Zealand Parliament with an obligation to broadcast the Parliament whenever it sits. These live broadcasts are branded as Radio New Zealand Parliament. Sitting hours are seasonal, and may be extended due to certain circumstances, but sitting hours are generally within five weekly sessions. These are:
Like Radio New Zealand National, Radio New Zealand Concert and Radio New Zealand International
, Radio New Zealand Parliament is streamed online, with podcasts and transcripts also available. However, unlike the other brands it is not twenty four hours, does not have continuity announcers and does not broadcast any Radio New Zealand News
bulletins.
In order for the New Zealand Parliament to recoup some of the costs of funding a radio station network, Radio New Zealand has leased the remaining closedown hours on the station to Christian broadcaster Rhema Broadcasting Group (RBG)
since 1997. RBG set up the low-budget easy listening Southern Star Network to take advantage of this opportunity. The network appeals to a similar older demographic as the Concert Programme that previously used the frequencies, and allows RBG's flagship broadcaster New Zealand's Rhema to specialise in broadcasting a more modern mix of Christian contemporary music at a faster pace. Although AM Network is owned by Radio New Zealand
, Southern Star broadcasts Newstalk ZB Affiliates Unit
hourly news bulletins during the air time they lease.
. These are:
The AM Network also broadcasts on three frequencies in the South Island
, including an Invercargill
frequency added in 2007. These are:
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
of radio transmitters operated by Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
, which broadcasts Radio New Zealand Parliament and Southern Star Network. The transmitters were previously used by
The Concert Programme before it moved to FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
.
While the rest of Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
is funded entirely by New Zealand on Air
New Zealand On Air
NZ On Air is an independent New Zealand broadcast funding agency. It is an autonomous crown entity separate from central Government and governed by a Board of six appointed by the Minister of Broadcasting...
, the AM Network is funded entirely by the New Zealand Parliament with an obligation to broadcast the Parliament whenever it sits. These live broadcasts are branded as Radio New Zealand Parliament. Sitting hours are seasonal, and may be extended due to certain circumstances, but sitting hours are generally within five weekly sessions. These are:
- 14:00 and 18:00 Tuesdays
- 19:30 and 22:00 Tuesdays
- 14:00 and 18:00 Wednesdays
- 19:30 and 22:00 Wednesdays
- 14:00 and 18:00 Thursdays
Like Radio New Zealand National, Radio New Zealand Concert and Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International , a division of Radio New Zealand, is the official international broadcasting station of New Zealand. It broadcasts a variety of news, current affairs and sports programmes in English and news in seven Pacific languages...
, Radio New Zealand Parliament is streamed online, with podcasts and transcripts also available. However, unlike the other brands it is not twenty four hours, does not have continuity announcers and does not broadcast any Radio New Zealand News
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
bulletins.
In order for the New Zealand Parliament to recoup some of the costs of funding a radio station network, Radio New Zealand has leased the remaining closedown hours on the station to Christian broadcaster Rhema Broadcasting Group (RBG)
Rhema Broadcasting Group
Rhema Broadcasting Group is New Zealand's largest Christian media organisation, broadcasting four radio networks and a television station, and publishing a quarterly devotional publication, from the Rhema Broadcasting Centre on Upper Queen Street in the central Auckland suburb of Newton...
since 1997. RBG set up the low-budget easy listening Southern Star Network to take advantage of this opportunity. The network appeals to a similar older demographic as the Concert Programme that previously used the frequencies, and allows RBG's flagship broadcaster New Zealand's Rhema to specialise in broadcasting a more modern mix of Christian contemporary music at a faster pace. Although AM Network is owned by Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
, Southern Star broadcasts Newstalk ZB Affiliates Unit
Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand . It is available in almost every radio market in the country, and has news reporters based in many of them...
hourly news bulletins during the air time they lease.
Frequencies
The AM Network broadcasts across four frequencies in the North IslandNorth Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. These are:
- AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
- AM 882 kHz - HamiltonHamilton, New ZealandHamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
- AM 1494 kHz - NapierNapier, New ZealandNapier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
- AM 909 kHz - WellingtonWellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
- AM 657 kHz
The AM Network also broadcasts on three frequencies in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, including an Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
frequency added in 2007. These are:
- ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
- AM 963 kHz - DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
- AM 900 kHz - InvercargillInvercargillInvercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
- AM 1314 kHz
External links
- Radio New Zealand Parliament - Official website
- Southern Star - Official website of Southern Star