Sky, Freeview or satellite
Sky Digital
For listeners who have difficulty receiving National and/or Concert, or who want to receive National in better than AM quality, both services are also available on the Sky Digital network.
National is on channel 421 and Concert is on channel 422. For more information visit the Sky website.
Freeview
Radio New Zealand National and Radio New Zealand Concert are both available on Freeview.
Freeview is available either by UHF aerial or by satellite. Satellite allows the service to reach 100% of the country while the terrestrial service is available to about 85% of the population.
A Freeview receiver is required to covert the digital signals into pictures and sound. New TVs are available that have Freeview receivers built in, or you can buy a separate receiver to connect to your television.
Consumers have to pay for the one-off cost of buying the receiver, and an aerial or satellite dish if they don't have one, but after that it is free as there is no ongoing subscription.
Freeview decoders are available nationwide. They come with an electronic programme guide listing all the available channels; there are approved installers, and technical support is available.
On both forms of Freeview:
- Radio New Zealand National is on channel 50.
- Radio New Zealand Concert is on channel 51.
Radio NZ National is available in stereo on the terrestrial Freeview service.
The Freeview website has more information.
Free to Air Satellite Reception
The Sky and Freeview transmissions of National and Concert can also be received by using suitable satellite equipment with no ongoing subscription fees. The transmissions are in DVB compatible, 'Free to Air' format. The Optus satellite provides reception to all of New Zealand including the Chatham Islands.
Sky
- Satellite - Optus D1 160E
- Transponder 5L
- Frequency 12519 H (Horizontal)
- Symbol Rate SR 22500
- Forward Error correction Fec ¾
- PCR for both: 8190
- National: Audio PID = 1151, Service ID = 1101.
- Concert: Audio PID = 1152, Service ID = 1102.
Freeview
- Satellite Optus D1 160E
- Transponder NZ12L
- Frequency 12456 H (Horizontal)
- Symbol rate SR 22500
- Forward Error correction Fec ¾
- National Audio PID = 659, Service ID = 1929
- Concert Audio PID = 660, Service ID = 1930.
