The Word (radio network)
Encyclopedia
The Word is a New Zealand
Christian
radio network broadcasting continuous spoken Bible readings. It has been owned and operated in Auckland
by Rhema Broadcasting Group
since its formation in 2007. A pre-recorded, automated, uninterrupted programme of readings from The Bible Experience
is relayed to stations in Hamilton
, New Plymouth
, Christchurch
, Dunedin
, Te Anau
and Invercargill
and is streamed online.
In the North Island
, the network broadcasts to Hamilton
and the surrounding Waikato on 576 AM, and New Plymouth
on 1278AM. In the South
, it broadcasts to Invercargill
and the surrounding Southland region on 1026 AM, Dunedin
on 1377 AM, Christchurch
on 540 AM, and Te Anau
on 88.0 FM. Both stations carry the "Bible Radio 24/7" brand and the hand-painted "W" logo.
The frequencies were originally acquired by Rhema Broadcasting Group (RBG) to be part of the Southern Star radio network. While RBG could broadcast the programmes outside Parliament sitting hours on the AM Network
under a contract with Radio New Zealand
, neither Hamilton nor Invercargill had an AM Network transmitter and frequency so RBG had to acquire its own. In 2007, when Radio New Zealand
and the New Zealand Parliament launched AM Networks in both centres, and RBG's airtime lease contract was extended to both of the new transmitters, the old Southern Star frequencies became available for RBG to put to new use as The Word network.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
radio network broadcasting continuous spoken Bible readings. It has been owned and operated in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
by Rhema Broadcasting Group
Rhema Broadcasting Group
Rhema Broadcasting Group is New Zealand's largest Christian media organisation, broadcasting four radio networks and a television station, and publishing a quarterly devotional publication, from the Rhema Broadcasting Centre on Upper Queen Street in the central Auckland suburb of Newton...
since its formation in 2007. A pre-recorded, automated, uninterrupted programme of readings from The Bible Experience
The Bible Experience
Inspired by...The Bible Experience is an audio version of the Bible published by Zondervan. The script used is the Today's New International Version Bible translation. The re-enactment was performed by a cast of more than 200 African-American actors, musicians, personalities, and clergy, including...
is relayed to stations in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, Te Anau
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857...
and Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
and is streamed online.
In the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, the network broadcasts to Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and the surrounding Waikato on 576 AM, and New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
on 1278AM. In the South
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, it broadcasts to Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
and the surrounding Southland region on 1026 AM, Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
on 1377 AM, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
on 540 AM, and Te Anau
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857...
on 88.0 FM. Both stations carry the "Bible Radio 24/7" brand and the hand-painted "W" logo.
The frequencies were originally acquired by Rhema Broadcasting Group (RBG) to be part of the Southern Star radio network. While RBG could broadcast the programmes outside Parliament sitting hours on the AM Network
AM Network
The AM Network is a network of radio transmitters operated by Radio New Zealand, which broadcasts Radio New Zealand Parliament and Southern Star Network...
under a contract with Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
, neither Hamilton nor Invercargill had an AM Network transmitter and frequency so RBG had to acquire its own. In 2007, when Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
and the New Zealand Parliament launched AM Networks in both centres, and RBG's airtime lease contract was extended to both of the new transmitters, the old Southern Star frequencies became available for RBG to put to new use as The Word network.
See also
- Rhema Broadcasting GroupRhema Broadcasting GroupRhema Broadcasting Group is New Zealand's largest Christian media organisation, broadcasting four radio networks and a television station, and publishing a quarterly devotional publication, from the Rhema Broadcasting Centre on Upper Queen Street in the central Auckland suburb of Newton...
- New Zealand's Rhema
- Southern Star
- Life FM
- The WordThe WordThe Word may mean:in bookstores:*The Word Bookstore, a philosophy and poetry bookstore in Montreal*Word , a Christian bookstore chain in Australiain the Christian faith:*The Bible*Christ the Logos...
- Shine TVShine TVShine TV is a New Zealand Christian television channel operated by Rhema Broadcasting Group and broadcast on Sky TV channel 111, Christchurch UHF 56, Nelson UHF 44, Telstra Clear Digital TV and Freeview Channel 25 . It includes a mixture of locally made and overseas programming.Shine TV is...
- The Word For TodayThe Word For TodayThe Word For Today is a free, daily devotional written by Bob Gass and published around the world by United Christian Broadcasters .- Background :...
External links
- The Word - Official website
- Online streaming
- Rhema Broadcasting Group