Kapiti radio veteran is giving it a 3rd go

Well known local veteran broadcaster Rob Walker is behind the launch of Paraparaumu's 14th FM commercial radio station, albeit a little one to begin with!

Triple X FM is transmitting on a 'free frequency' in the guardband on 107.5 FM until such time as he can acquire a spectrum licence to broadcast on. Using this free frequency means his transmitter output power is restricted to half of one watt. Most other stations in the area have a licence for up to 500 watts. However he has secured an elevated site to transmit from that allows the low powered FM frequency to be heard from Pukerua Bay, thru Raumati, Paraparaumu, and Waikanae. And directly into the CBD of Paraparaumu.

And there's nothing mysterious about the Triple X name. Rob Walker was one of the founders of the original local radio station 2XX (2 double X) and was the breakfast announcer for more years than he can remember. 2XX was subsequently purchased by Radioworks and is now known as More FM Kapiti.

Disillusioned at not being able to find a radio station to listen to that played music he wanted to hear, he started his own. "Kapiti may have 13 commercial radio stations that have a transmitter in the area, but none of them target my demographic. There's 5 stations playing top 40, 4 playing music for the retired population, 3 talk stations, and there's one classic hits station, primarily targeting female listeners and originated 24 hours a day from Auckland" he says. "I am more interested in what's happening in Kapiti than I am in Hollywood! NZ has more radio stations per head of population than any other country in the world, which makes it more surprising that none are targeting me! It may be due to the fact that all stations (bar one) are owned and operated by two networks based in Auckland. It's questionable if they are interested in Kapiti at all."

6 years ago Rob started Kapiti's 99FM transmitting on a newly identified frequency of 99.0 FM. After a year of broadcasting the frequency was put up for auction to the highest bidder by the Government department responsible for governing the airwaves. Mediaworks (who own TV3, C4, and 6 radio frequencies in Kapiti) won the auction and it is now the frequency Radio-Live uses.

This time, knowing the state of the economy well, Rob has launched Triple X FM 107.5 on a shoe string budget. "The studio is in my spare bedroom. Some equipment is on loan, the software is homemade, but I splashed out and purchased a microphone off Trademe."

"It's early days yet. I'm pushing Radio Spectrum Management to grant me a licence to broadcast at full power. I missed out on the one and only 'local commercial FM frequency' offered in this area in the last auction in 2008. It was won by Beach Chestnut Ltd, who have subsequently allowed Beach FM to broadcast on it, on 106.3 FM. It's somewhat questionable as to whether this falls within the strict rules of the 'local commercial FM frequency' auction. But they have use of it..."

Currently Triple X FM offers music not currently being played on the other stations. There's continuous 'classic rock, the big power ballads, the big hair bands of the 80s and classic songs of the 80s'. There are live to air shows too and upon listening to it, you wouldn't think it was coming from a dark bedroom in Paraparaumu!

"Hopefully, we can acquire a full strength licence to broadcast on - to offer a truly locally originated radio station for Kapiti, and not from Hollywood or London. In the meantime we're having heaps of fun! As long as the Networks don't try to shut us down, again".