Waimarino offered breakfast radio

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 385, 7 May 1991, Page 1

Waimarino offered breakfast radio

Waimarino radio listeners could have their own breakfast radio station in future if an offer by a Wanganui company is taken up. Ron Jaffares, spokesman for Paramount Broadcasting Associates, presented a proposal to the Waimarino Community Board at their meeting last week. After outlining the radio experience of the people in the group, he

put forward the prcposal to broadcast a three-hour community broadcast in the area, year-round, as part of an extension of the group's Wanganui radio station Star FM which is due to start later this year. After the breakfast show, Star FM from Wanganui would be broadcast to the Waimarino. The proposal is linked to the work that New Zealand On Air, the national body that con-

trols broadcasting in the country, is currently undertaking. NZ On Air is planning to set up a transmitter for the Waimarino as part of its scheme to provide community radio to population of 1000 or more . who don't at present receive a local station. NZ On Air has looked at relaying transmission of the Taumarunui radio station (the option originally favoured by the Ruapehu District Council because it would

help unify the district) but it has found this option to be too expensive. The other option it is looking at is relaying River City Radio to this area. But Mr Jaffares said NZ On Air did not then know about his group. He outlined the radio style of Star FM to the board, and played some demonstration tapes to indicate the type of music planned for the station. Mr Jaffares said the

possibility of providing a breakfast radio session for the Waimarinh from a site in Ohakune has come about because of the technological advances in broadcasting. He explained to the board that the broadcast would be using the latest 'desktop radio' technology, operated by one person with the aid of a computer. While the station would broadcast yearround it would provide Turn page 2

Radio

From page 1 extended local broadcasting in the ski season, which would be,in opposition to Ski FM, and in the Christmas holidays. The coverage would initially be the Waimarino but it could later be extended to Waiouru and Taihape, said Mr Jaffares. Paramount Broadcasting Associates had originally applied for a frequency to cover Wanganui and the mountain area, said Mr Jaffares, but 'no frequencies were made available in the Waimarino area. He said the name 'Paramount' came about by linking 'Parapara' and 'mountain'.