Shortwave radio is likely to continue to play a major role in the Pacific for many years, the Chief Executive of Radio New Zealand, Peter Cavanagh, has said. In an interview with ABU News, he said advances in technology were helping Radio New Zealand International reach more people and provide a more technically robust signal. But many people still depended on shortwave. "We currently broadcast to the Pacific using both analogue and digital (DRM) shortwave transmitters. "Most of our local partner stations are now using our digital transmission to provide a higher quality and more reliable signal for re-broadcast to their own audiences. "But many individuals and those living on the more remote islands are still very much dependent on analogue receivers - particularly in times of crisis such as the cyclone season - and it's likely that analogue shortwave will continue to play a major role in the region for many more years to come." Around 20 Pacific radio stations relay RNZI material daily, and individual shortwave listeners and Internet users across the world tune in directly to RNZI content. Mr Cavanagh said RNZI had been one of the first broadcasters in the region to adopt online broadcasting and provided a comprehensive archive of Pacific news and information. "While reliable Internet connections in the Pacific are still not widely available, we're aware that there's a significant and growing online audience for RNZI's programmes and services," he said. (rnzi)
