The Tonga Broadcasting Commission says it will have no problem with Radio New Zealand International’s switch to digital transmission.
The TBC is the main receiver of RNZI services.
Tonga’s Ministry of Information said the kingdom’s radio stations still used an analogue system, but could receive digital signals and rebroadcast them in analogue.
RNZI moved from its one analogue-only transmitter operation to a dual digital and analogue transmitter on July 1.
RNZI manager Linden Clark said the broadcaster would swap between its digital short-wave and analogue short-wave modes throughout each day.
Clark said the move to a one-transmitter operation would result in a reduced service to individual short-wave listeners in the region.
RNZI would still broadcast in analogue short-wave for extensive periods of each day, but there would no longer be a 24 hour service.
“This is likely to be most felt during breakfast hours when we will need to broadcast a digital signal for relaying stations, rather than an analogue one,” Clark said.
Clark said the radio organisation remained committed to covering weather warnings during typical seasons in the Pacific.
“Our role in warning about, and covering, cyclones remains especially important,” she said.
“During cyclone season, RNZI has the flexibility to choose to broadcast entirely in analogue if we need to temporarily provide a fulltime service to individual listeners.”
The main points
- The Tonga Broadcasting Commission says it will have no problem with Radio New Zealand International’s switch to digital transmission.
- Tonga’s Ministry of Information said the kingdom’s radio stations could receive digital signals and rebroadcast them in Tonga.
- RNZI has moved to a dual digital and analogue transmitter, which will affect its Pacific listeners.
- RNZI manager Linden Clark said radio station would swap between its digital short-wave and analogue short-wave throughout each day.
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