Radio transmission

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 14

Radio transmission

Sir,—We find the proposal to move the 3ZB radio mast from Gebbies Pass to Marshland intolerable. We just cannot understand how a so-called responsible corporation could so blatantly disregard the feelings of its rural listeners. It is time the peninsula residents were not treated like secondclass citizens: the promised second channel did not eventuate last year and now we are being denied access to our favourite radio station which many people rely on for cancellations or any civil defence broadcasts. Even the "cash connections" are directed only to the Christchurch residents. The fact that 3ZB wants to become more competitive seems to be its only aim. Ratings seem to be more important to them than its service to its many country listeners. This could only happen in the South Island—Yours, etc. F. K. STAGG, ALLAN D. G.' McKAY, C. W. J. JONES. Duvauchelle. February 2, 1983. [Mr I. L. Vernazoni, district manager 3ZB, replies: "The resiting of the 3ZB transmitter reflects the need for Radio New Zealand to be competitive on the one hand, and the effects of establishing more local community stations in the South Island on the other. These points were canvassed in some detail by Radio New Zealand during a public hearing seeking approval from the tribunal to resite the transmitter. The transmission site for Christchurch City and the Canterbury province was established at Gebbies Pass in 1932. But it had ceased to meet our needs fully and with the development of local R.N.Z. stations in Timaru and most recently in Ashburton, 3ZB had less responsibility for providing primary coverage of a community radio programme. This negated the main advantage of the Gebbies Pass site. While the emphasis of Radio 3ZB has changed from a regional to a truly citv one, the station's

measured field strength in a number of city and suburban areas is very low. Radio Avon's strong signal throughout Christchurch City and inner suburbs created a new standard of signal strength by which other stations were popularly judged; Radio Rhema produced results comparable to those ot Avon. The poor signal strength of 3ZB caused serious difficulties in gaining revenue as w r ell as listeners to the station. Proposals to increase the power of the transmitter, use a low frequency or erect a new aerial system at Gebbies Pass all proved impracticable. A new site was the only effective solution to the problem of improving the signal, and on this basis Radio New Zealand applied to the Broadcasting Tribunal in April, 1980. The tribunal in its decision said it was concerned about the problems of radio reception in Christchurch, and that, in general, it favoured Radio NewZealand’s proposals which it considered to be in the public interest. ‘3ZB should have what is today considered to be an adequate strength in the central city and most suburban areas.’ Any deficiencies which might a.ise in coverage of Banks Peninsula will be due-to the change of site rather than the reduction in power. Little River, and to a much lesser extent. Akaroa, will certainly receive a reduced signal strength from the new 3ZB site, and the quality of reception will vary with location and type of receiving installation, i.e. type of receiver or aerial. However, it is incorrect to say that Banks Peninsula will no longer receive the commercial (3ZB) service."]