Government to free up FM frequency to keep RNZ Concert

Monday, 10 February 2020

The Government will free up unused FM broadband spectrum for RNZ Concert. 

RNZ announced last week it was looking at axing Concert's FM broadcast, shifting it to AM and online streaming.

This was part of a raft of changes that included turning Concert into a fully-automated service and axing all of the station's presenters. RNZ would reallocate those resources, including the FM frequency to to a new youth-oriented music channel that it plans to have on air later this year.

'I've made it very clear that we are determined that we are not going to lose rnz concert on FM,' said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

She said a Cabinet Paper would be put forward to free up the 102 frequency, which had been shelved for youth programming. 

The Government's decision doesn't change RNZ's decision to switch resources away from Concert to the youth-oriented station, this would likely require extra funding.

A legal challenge had been mounted by Julian Miles, QC, former attorney-general Chris Finlayson, QC, and Adam Ross, QC on behalf of several major orchestras. 

The lawyers being drafting a letter on Monday which would likely be sent to RNZ on Tuesday or Wednesday. It was to argue RNZ was in breach of the Radiocommunications Act 1989, which stipulates that RNZ Concert operate within a specific frequency.