Radio Active hasn’t gone to the dogs
Radio Active was ready when lockdown hit but nobody could prepare for a pet dog almost stopping transmission.
The Wellington radio station has managed to keep operating – albeit not from its new studio but from a series of homes around the Wellington region and beyond.
‘‘We are used to broadcasting remotely, from events like the Newtown Festival and the Pride Parade,’’ station technical manager Jesse Walsh said. ‘‘And we were ready for [the since cancelled] CubaDupa.
‘‘So I figured if we could replicate our remote players, and provide enough of them to keep at least most of our regular weekday shows going out live, then our listeners and advertisers would appreciate it.’’
The result is a Radio Active that is being broadcast from locations such as station manager Jen Kyle’s Island Bay home, and breakfast-show host Maggie Tweedie’s aunt’s garage in Hawke’s Bay.
DJ Don Luchito’s show is from a house high in Brooklyn, while the station’s drivetime and specialist music shows are coming in from different spots around Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
‘‘Whilst we are an essential service, I made the call for everyone to work from home so we can do our utmost to help stop the spread of Covid-19,’’ Kyle said.
‘‘I must admit broadcasting Drive from Island Bay is challenging but a lot of fun.’’
Tweedie, who got to Hawke’s Bay before the lockdown hit, said there had been some unnerving moments. ‘‘The dog almost pulled the mixer straight from the desk. For the first week, I was treading water and apprehensive to ask for help from my colleagues at six in the morning.’’
Advertising manager Graeme Tuckett said the station had been around for more than 40 years, and they were ‘‘still playing the music you won’t hear anywhere else’’.
‘‘It seems it will take more than a global pandemic to stop this station going live.’’