RNZ makes waves with new technology
Radio New Zealand will demonstrate a new digital broadcast system for
the first time in New Zealand today when it hosts 75 top broadcasters
from around the world for a 3-day symposium.
Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey welcomed the initiative, saying the
government had invested $2.6 million to fund the purchase of the new digital
shortwave transmitter which will begin transmitting to the South Pacific
next year.
"The purchase of this technology is an important part of New Zealand's
contribution to improving broadcasting services and current affairs available
across the Pacific region," Steve Maharey said. "The new DRM
technology will allow Radio New Zealand to transmit high quality digital
programming to the South Pacific."
Digital Radio Mondiale technology (DRM) is a digital radio transmission
system currently in use for shortwave transmissions in Europe and the
Americas, allowing international shortwave broadcasters to transmit FM
quality audio over long distances.
Radio New Zealand has been investigating the potential of using DRM on
medium wave in the Southern Hemisphere where there is twice the bandwidth
that is currently available to European broadcasters.
Radio New Zealand’s DRM Symposium is being held in Wellington Wednesday
Thursday and Friday this week. The symposium will allow Radio New Zealand
to demonstrate the system in operation and to inform New Zealand, Asian,
Australian, and Pacific Island broadcasters about the technology and the
potential it has to offer.
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