_______________________________ Radio New Zealand International 60th Anniversary 1948-2008 RNZI Mailbox Documentary _______________________________
Listen to Mailbox on RNZI this week as David Ricquish of the Radio Heritage Foundation looks at the history of shortwave radio from New Zealand. On September 27 1948, the shortwave division of the NZ Broadcasting Service began broadcasts to Australia and the South Pacific from two low powered war surplus transmitters located near Wellington. In this special Mailbox documentary, you can hear how shortwave radio started in New Zealand, including calls for a national shortwave service as early as 1928. Private commercial stations 2ZW Wellington, 3ZC Christchurch and 4ZM Dunedin were all early shortwave broadcasters, and the program takes us through the early years that led up to the late arrival of Radio NZ on the international airwaves. Hear how the NZ Post & Telegraph office played a pivotal role in getting regular shortwave broadcasts on air as early as the 1930's, and how the relays of domestic radio services such as 2YA and 2ZB in Wellington proved popular with foreign listeners. Audio includes the famous birdsong interval signal that for many years announced the arrival of a RNZ shortwave broadcast, the opening announcement by the Prime Minister of the day, and an excerpt from the most popular program in the early days, 'Song and Story of the Maori' broadcast in 1949. Now known as Radio New Zealand International, the station has always worked hard to stay true to the original vision announced on opening day in 1948. It's growing popularity with partner stations across the Pacific some 60 years later demonstrates how this small shortwave station from the South Pacific has quietly gone about targeting its niche audience yet with popularity amongst shortwave listeners worldwide that belies its small resource base and regional focus. Visit www.rnzi.com for shortwave frequencies and times and to download an audio on demand version of the program that will be available throughout September, the anniversary month. It's now available by first clicking 'more audio' then the Mailbox program uploaded on August 31. A second radioheritage documentary on September 15 will continue to celebrate 60 years of service to the Pacific by RNZI. At www.radioheritage.net you can read an article celebrating the first broadcasts from Radio New Zealand, the original shortwave service in 1948. Look for 'Radio New Zealand Signs On' to see details of the original programs, technical information about the original station and more history of the station. For more information about early days of broadcasting in the Pacific including stories and images and the popular Art of Radio Hawaii online exhibition, visit www.radioheritage.net today. Full searchable lists of todays AM and shortwave stations in the Pacific are available free online in the Pacific Asian Log Radio Guides. An FM guide is currently in preparation. The Radio Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization registered with the Charities Commission in New Zealand and connects the heritage of radio broadcasting and popular culture across the Pacific. www.radioheritage.net. Radio New Zealand International is the award winning shortwave broadcaster serving the Pacific from Wellington, New Zealand since 1948. www.rnzi.com. ___________________________________________________ To unsubscribe email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. However, we hope you find our media releases useful for your organization, publication or radio station. ___________________________________________________ ---[Start Commercial]--------------------- Order your WRTH 2008: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/redirect2.php?id=wrth2008 ---[End Commercial]----------------------- ________________________________________ Hard-Core-DX mailing list Hard-Core-DX@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/hard-core-dx http://www.hard-core-dx.com/ _______________________________________________ THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License published by Michael Stutz at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/dsl.html