ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Concerns Concert FM will still lose presentation format

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 11 Feb 2020, 7:08PM
Many prominent New Zealanders were outraged at the possibility of Concert being pulled off it FM frequency. Photo / File

Concerns Concert FM will still lose presentation format

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 11 Feb 2020, 7:08PM

Radio New Zealand have backed down from pulling its Concert station off FM transmission.

After widespread criticism from the arts sector and the Prime Minister, RNZ will no longer replace the beloved channel with a youth-orientated network.

The Government is looking at freeing up the 102 FM frequency, so that Concert can stay where it is.

However, there are still concerns about whether or not staff will keep their jobs, as part of the plan was to automate the channel.

Better Public Media's Peter Thompson told Heather du Plessis-Allan there are questions about the shape and form of the service. 

"Unless the Government's actually come up with some extra money as well as a spare frequency, the commitment to the youth channel looks like it will still at the expense of the full presentation format that we've currently enjoyed." 

He says that there are over 170,000 listeners that enjoy the format, who would likely tune out should the hosts get dropped. 

Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi says staffing decisions are for RNZ to make.

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you