From David's Desk
January 7 2007
Short Term Kiwi Radio Memories
No, it's not what happens to people who over indulge during the
holiday season!
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3XB Radio U logo. February 1976.
© David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
Rather, the New Zealand broadcasting regulations in the 1970's and
early
80's, allowed 'short term' local radio stations to broadcast for a
limited time.
These so called 'short term' licences could be for as little as a few
hours on one day, or maybe for a week, sometimes longer.
They were issued to stop the lid exploding off the pot of growing
demand for new radio stations, and some of todays radio landscape was crafted by
these stations.
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3XG Radio Rhema, November 23 1974.
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
The Rhema Broadcasting Group [which now has 3 national networks and
more on the way] began with a simple one day broadcast in Christchurch. in
1974. Wellington followed for another day much later.
The university b-Net stations began with 'orientation' broadcasts to
new students for a week or so every year. These later became a series of
licences rolled over back to back over the student year to meet
listener demand.
The term 'b-Net' comes from the original Auckland University station
name 'Radio B', which, began even less elegantly as 'Radio Bosom'.
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1XB Radio Bosom 950AM, March 1975.
© David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
Radio Ribbet from Otago, Radio U from Canterbury and Radio Active from
Victoria [Wellington] are other examples of student stations that
lurched precariously onto the airwaves through a few days a year of approved
mayhem.
Maori Language Week in Wellington gave early impetus to todays Iwi
Radio networks with a short term licence issued for a few days broadcast.
Many others followed.
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1XH Te Reo o Aotearoa, 603AM Auckland. NZ Polynesian's Festival,
1978.
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
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Radio Sam 1170AM logo, Coromandel 1978.
© Greg Agnew Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
Regional commercial stations such as Radio Waikato [1XW] in Hamilton,
jumped on the summer market bandwagon, with short term stations like Radio
Sam [1XC] covering the Coromandel during January, reaching thousands of
Aucklanders and others on vacation in a radio dead zone.
Everyone from the Caravaners Association to Boy Scouts Jamborees, fund
raisers for restoration of a historic ship at Waiuku, farmers at the
early Fieldays at Mystery Creek, organizers of Air Displays and Street Car
Races, local town boosters, and anyone who could fill out a form and find a
transmitter, studio gear and someone who could switch on a microphone
got their time on air.
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4ZJ Jamboree Radio, Oamaru. 1320AM. January 1978.
© David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
At this holiday time of the year, when short term memory loss is
forgiven, we remember some of those early broadcasters, the fun they had, and
the good causes they supported.
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3XF Vintage Wireless, 1030AM. Ferrymead Open Day Extravaganza,
February 29 1976.
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
Do you have your own [hazy or otherwise] memories of short term radio
in the 1970's and 80's? Dig out the old cassette or reel to reel tapes of
those few hours or days of broadcast and share them with us. Dust off the old
photos, find the old promotional car stickers, and let's let the memories
linger a little longer.
Contact us today or send materials to Radio Heritage Foundation, PO
Box 14339, Wellington 6241, New Zealand.
As part of our 'Celebrating Over 85 Years of Popular Kiwi Radio'
campaign in 2007, we'll bring you more about these stations. For now, enjoy these
images from ephemeral 'short term' broadcasters that paved the way for Kiwi
radio today
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2YD Radio Yesteryear, 1260AM. Wellington 50th Jubilee Trade Fair,
May 5-21 1978.
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
Season Greetings
Best wishes for the Christmas and Holidays Season & a peaceful and
fulfilling New Year.
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"Hawaii's Favorite Christmas Songs" album cover.
Royal Hawaiian
Shopping Center and Hawaiian Radio KCCN 1420 AM Honolulu.
© Hula
Records Inc. Radio Heritage Foundation Collection.
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Radio History: 2UE - Sydney
Australia's Oldest Commercial Station
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Allan Toohey |
Radio 2UE is the oldest of the existing commercial stations in Australia: It commenced operating in 1925 on a license granted in 1924. Studios and offices are at Savoy House, 29 Bligh Street. Original transmitter was at Lillipilli, Port Hacking, but in 1942 it was replaced by perhaps the most modern transmitter in the Commonwealth. It is situated at Concord West and provides Radio 2UE with an unsurpassed coverage. The transmitter operates with a power of 1000 watts wave length 319 metres (950 K.C.).
> read more
Radio History: Armed Forces Radio Station WXLI
[Excerpt from the book
'Dad's War with the United States Marines']
Author: Peter H Green
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Staff Meeting at Radio WXLI Guam.
Cartoon by L L Rogers.
© Peter H Green Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation. |
In order to expedite his transfer, instead of being assigned to Armed Forces Radio Service – the unit that ran broadcast operations in the Pacific – [Ben Green] had been attached to Island Command, which operated two radio stations.
> read more
Radio History: WA Broadcasters 6IX-6MD-6WB
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6IX Perth listener card 1945.
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio
Heritage Foundation. |
This trio of stations is operated by W.A. Broadcasters Ltd., and constitutes the Western Australian end of the Major Broadcasting Network. One basic programme is broadcast by 6IX Perth and relayed to 6WB Katanning and 6MD Merredin, which are connected by permanent land line to the studios of the Key Station at Lyric House, Murray Street, Perth.
> read more
Radio History: 4TO – Townsville
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John P Banney, 4TO |
Station 4TO Townsville commenced operation on 5th October, 1931. It transmits on a wave-length of 384 Metres 780 K/C's. The Station serves a wealthy and progressive area and gives trouble-free reception to listeners in its service area.
> read more
Radio History: 2CK - Cessnock
"The Voice of the Coalfields"
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Albert Ryan,2CK
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2CK is owned by Coalfields Broadcasting Coy. Pty. Ltd., constituted from a diversity of interests from the commercial and industrial community of the Coalfields and Newcastle. It is situated on the Maitland Road at approximately the centre of the mining area, and has been appointed Official Station of the Australian Coal & Shale Employees' Federation.
> read more
Calling All 1480 Club Members
How many 1480 Club Members are still out there?
Why not register your
number [if you can remember it!] and tell us what you enjoyed most
about the club! Even if you can't remember your membership number,
drop us a line and let's see how many of you there are!
Two members have already been in touch and here're their membership
cards to help jog your memory!
> read more
Art of Radio Hawaii ©
by David Ricquish
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Detail from KGU listener card 1933.
© Eric Shackle Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation Collection |
Just the word 'Hawaii' conjures up every possible classic tropical image. It's not surprising therefore, that a variety of Hawaiiana images have been used by Hawaiian radio stations in their commercial letterhead and logo designs.
This is only a taste of the Art of Radio Hawaii ©. It concentrates mainly on the period 1945-1980's and on AM broadcasters. The opening image of Diamond Head is from a color promotional sticker affixed to a postcard issued by Hawaii's first radio station, KGU.
> read more
Happy Diwali
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Happy Diwali greetings card from Radio Tarana,
Auckland [New
Zealand].
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection |
Radio Tarana operates on 1386 AM with a 10kW signal that
covers the country during darkness and is often received as far away
as Australia, the Pacific islands, the USA and Europe.
Streaming live
online.
Pacific Asian Log Update
Bruce Portzer has recently updated the hard copy downloads for the MW version of the Pacific Asian Log.
The PAL is the definitive guide to AM broadcasters in this extensive region of the world.
Used by broadcasters, engineers, listeners, advertising agencies,
government planners and many others, PAL is the only list of its kind
based on widespread monitoring of the mediumwave dial from
Afghanistan to Alaska and the rest of the Pacific and Asia region.
> Try it out.
George FM print ads
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George FM design print ad. |
George FM designs print ads to capture station 'vibe'.
Here are some
recent examples of work from their graphic artist team...and we look
forward to sharing more from George FM in the future.
Got print ads
at your station?
Showcase them for FREE here!
> see more George FM ads
The New Zealand Radio Dial 1930-31
Celebrating over 75 Years of Popular Kiwi Radio
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Advert for 1931 Gulbransen radio available in NZ.
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection |
The year 1931 was a highlight year for early radio broadcasting in New Zealand. Less than a decade after new broadcasting rules were introduced in 1923, New Zealanders had enthusiastically built private radio stations throughout the country and a fledgling government national service was serving the four main metropolitan centers.
> read more
Gran of 1ZB Auckland
Nancy M Donne, better known to thousands of 1ZB listeners as 'Gran' - The ZB Radio Personality - released a book in the late 1930's to bring together her homespun hints, recipes, thoughts about life and other 'bits and pieces' drawn from her Scots heritage. > read more
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© 'Bits and Pieces by "Gran" ZB Personality' by Nancy M Donne |
2007 QSL Calendar
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Rhein-Main-Radio-Club 2007 QSL Calendar
© RMRC & ADDX
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We're pleased to recommend the 2007 QSL Calendar from our friends at
the Rhein-Main-Radio-Club.
Every year, they carefully select beautiful QSL images from around
the world and publish them in this limited edition high quality
calendar. These often include rare and long silent stations. The
calendar is in English and is always popular, so send your order as
soon as possible.
The price is just 14,80 Euros including shipping. Please send your
orders to The Rhein-Main-Radio-Club e.V,
Postfach 700849,
60558
Frankfurt,
Germany and please also mention 'Radio Heritage
Foundation' with your order. Or you can contact the club via email.
Your purchase supports the activities of the Rhein-Main-Radio-Club
and the Radio Heritage Foundation.
Winner of CD "A Fresh Pacific Wind' Announced
Congratulations to James Johnston of Havelock North in New Zealand... winner of the historic CD 'A Fresh Pacific Wind - Radio Hauraki 1966-1970'. Well done James.
Read more about 'pirate' Hauraki events and offers
Fantastic NZ Broadcasting History Package Offer
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Front Cover of 'Voices in the Air'
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We invite you to support our new campaign 'Celebrating Over 85 Years of Popular Kiwi Radio' ©
We've dug into our vaults and found 5 special copies of 'Voices in the Air', the story of radio broadcasting in New Zealand, and we're making them available as a limited one time offer to our supporters around the world.
> read more
Special Book Offer
New Zealand Residents Only
Support our new campaign 'Celebrating Over 85 Years of Popular Kiwi Radio' © and make Massive Savings on Popular 2007 Radio Books
Look!
World Radio TV Handbook 2007 as low as NZ$43.30 * net *
Passport to WorldBand Radio 2007 as low as NZ$39.96 * net *
WRTH + Passport both books for as low as NZ$69.96 * net *
ARRL Handbook 2007 as low as NZ$69.96 * net *
Make a tax deductible donation to our new 2007 campaign 'Celebrating Over 85 Years of Popular Kiwi Radio' © and get your favorite radio book as a gift in return!
> read more
Pirate Radio Hauraki Memorabilia Gift Offer
Available Now - Merchandise Gift Offer - Limited Duration
Be in fast to get one of these special Radio Hauraki combo packages...
The 'Shoestring Pirates' enlarged edition with many new photos and packed full of the pirate radio story plus 'A Fresh Pacific Wind' the very best of Radio Hauraki 1966-1970 on CD.
Only 20 combo packages available!
> read more
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Front Cover of Pirate Radio Hauraki CD by David Miller.
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Front Cover of Shoestring Pirates by Adrian Blackburn.
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'A Fresh Pacific Wind' CD
Now Available - Limited Stocks - Limited Time
'A Fresh Pacific Wind' Radio Hauraki 1966-1970 CD
"We made lots of friends.
We made lots of waves.
We made history."
Derek Lowe, Radio Hauraki
> read more
To All Past & Present Radio Hauraki Staff
25 September 2006
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Radio Hauraki 40th Anniversary Logo
© Radio Hauraki.
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What were you doing on the 26th September 1970????
Surprise -
tomorrow is another Radio Hauraki birthday and 36 years ago at 6.00am
Ian Magan was playing the Matt Munro version of Born Free to announce
to Auckland (and the world) that Radio Hauraki was starting a new
life as 1XA a legal 1480 AM station and was here to stay.
Remember???
> read more
Macquarie Metro Vintage Radio Ads 1986
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Detail from Macquarie Metro ad
© Ad News. |
On October 3 1986, Australian media magazine 'Ad News' ran an unusual
double page spread color advert for the Macquarie Metro radio
network. Unusual, because it featured a series of vintage radio
receivers with Australian radio station callsigns across and around
their dials.
> read more
Radio Power Plays 1975-81
Melbourne, Sydney & Wellington
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Detail from 2JJ promotional poster, 1975
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection |
Three individual stations set up during this time carved out very special niches for themselves. Each began as a brave attempt to give a radio voice to un-served audiences. Each station was conceived, born and bred within the confines of a state broadcasting system.
> read more
^Top
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 "WXLI Cartoon by LL Rogers")
 "Radio Station 6IX Perth listener card 1945")
 "Radio History Hawaii KGU listener card")
 "Happy Diwali greetings card from Radio Tarana")
 "Advert for 1931 Gulbransen radio")
 "Radio Station 1ZB personality Nancy Donne")
 "Radio Station 1ZB personality Nancy Donne's book")
 "Rhein-Main-Radio-Club 2007 QSL Calendar")
 "Macquarie Metro Vintage Radio Ads")
 "Radio Station 2JJ promotional poster")
 "3XB Radio U logo")
 "3XG Radio Rhema QSL")
 "1XB Radio Bosom QSL")
 "1XH Te Reo o Aotearoa QSL")
 "Radio Sam logo")
 "4ZJ Jamboree Radio QSL")
 "3XF Vintage Wireless, 1030AM. Ferrymead QSL")
 "2YD Radio Yesteryear ad")
