Thursday, May 26, 2005

Radio New Zealand: A few programming changes

Radio New Zealand today announced changes to its programming lineup and saidit would revamp its website "to provide up to date information and audio ondemand facilities to enhance what listeners can hear on air.""In a society that is rapidly changing, Radio New Zealand needs to reaffirmits position as a dynamic, relevant and contemporary public servicebroadcaster, and these changes will help us to do so," said RNZ CEO PeterCavanagh.Mr Cavanagh said the 'birdcalls' -- a feature that has come under much firerecently -- have been retained and will be "expanded and integrated in a newproject which will build a sound library of field recordings reflecting thesocial, environmental and cultural diversity of New Zealand."Flagship programmes Morning Report and Nine to Noon with Linda Clark willremain largely untouched, he said, with only minor format changes."Weekday and weekend afternoons will see the biggest changes," he said.Weekday afternoons"The format for weekday afternoon programming will change with a new weekdayafternoon programme which builds on the regional focus of the existing InTouch with New Zealand programme. The magazine and lifestyle format will beretained and, contrary to recent media speculation, it will not become atalk-driven news programme.The programme will be presented from Radio New Zealand's new Aucklandstudios."Wayne Mowat continues to play an important role as the anchor of 'In TouchWith New Zealand' which will focus on special outside broadcasts fromthroughout the country and which will feed into the new regional afternoonprogramme."Wayne's Music moves from weekday afternoons but continues as a valuablepart of the nostalgia listening theme of Saturday and Sunday evenings."National Radio's top rating evening news programme Checkpoint will beextended from one hour to two.
"Saturday afternoons"
Home Grown is retained as the title for a new expanded music programme,which will showcase New Zealand contemporary music over three hours eachSaturday afternoon. National Radio is not reducing its long-establishedcommitment to the promotion of New Zealand music.
"Sunday afternoons"
In place of the present weekday afternoons programme 'What's Going On?,' anew 3 and a half hour books, arts and movies programme will be developed forSunday afternoon with dedicated host Lynn Freeman.TimetableMr Cavanagh said jobs would be added, rather than lost, through the changesand they would be advertised soon.He said a revised National Radio programme schedule will be launched onSaturday 17th September and the broadcaster hopes to have production andpresentation teams in place by early August.25-May-2005http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=12078&cid=1&cname=Media

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