Broadcasting

The radio station is an important community service that disseminates information from all sources and delivers this to the community: from broadcasting Council updates, death and funeral notices (onshore and offshore), interviews, shipping news, local notices, birthday requests, aircraft and weather information as well as other information relating to sports and businesses.

Radio is still the most effective method to get information to the community during the day.

Where required the station broadcasts out of hours with any environmental danger alerts such as cyclone, earthquake or tsunami information.

The site is also home to Norfolk Telecom's satellite and internet O3B dishes and its electronic machinery.

Outside Broadcasts (OB's) are done on an as needed basis, predominantly for the Norfolk Island Central School (NICS) and other local sporting facilities.

Radio is an essential service and is funded by the Norfolk Island Regional Council.

To supplement the radio budget,  a small sponsorship scheme was commenced in 1991 in a format similar to the Australian community stations sponsorship.

Radio Norfolk transmits in both AM and FM frequencies of 89.9FM and 1566AM, and during Island wide power outages, the 1566AM service will still be operational to serve the community.

The Broadcasting section includes the local Broadcasting Service "Radio Norfolk" as well as offshore television services and ABC radio services that are re-transmitted to the Island.

Other FM stations available include:

  • ABC Regional (satellite relay from ABC Dubbo, NSW) on 95.9FM.
  • ABC Radio National on 91.9FM.
  • ABC JJJ on 79.9FM.

Contact Us

Radio Norfolk
PO Box 95
New Cascade Road
NORFOLK Island 2899

Phone: +6723 22137 or +6723 23328
Fax: +6723 23298

Email:

Norfolk Island Broadcasting History

Radio broadcasting began as a means of announcing incoming aircraft during World War II and then during the 1960s and 1970s and provided primarily shipping and aircraft news. 

Radio Norfolk has evolved into a service that now operates 365 days a year.

In the early days of Radio on Norfolk Island, the station was situated in what is now the Office of the Administrator, inside the historical New Military Barracks.

Unfortunately, the station was decimated by fire in the 1970s and since then, Radio Norfolk has been housed in its current premises on New Cascade Road.

In 1999, with Australia moving into the digital area, Radio Norfolk installed a 10 metre satellite dish to enable the continuation to receive and relay overseas TV as a well as radio services on their own dedicated frequencies and to allow re-transmitting certain services overnight at the time, while the local station was closed.

The station has been manned by both paid and voluntary staff, and provides a great mix of music and personalities for the community.

Norfolk Island Broadcasting Sponsorship 

Sponsorship is an integral part of radio. 

The station relies heavily on the support of local and overseas businesses to sponsor on local radio.

We have sponsors for breakfast, morning, lunchbox,  and other varies programming. 

We have time slots available in every shift that can promote your business.

To enquire about becoming a sponsor, please email radiosponsor@nirc.gov.nf  to ask about available spots and programs.

Community Services Offered by Radio Norfolk

Swap Shop

Swap Shop is a free Radio Norfolk service that allows the community to easily buy and sell their items. 

If there is something you need or want to sell, simply email radionews@nirc.gov.nf. 

Swap Shop airs each week on Radio Norfolk:

  • Monday 8:10am
  • Wednesday 8:20am
  • Saturday 9:20am 

Items will remain on Swap Shop for up to two weeks.

Birthday/Anniversary Requests

Requests for the above mentioned special days are played at 7:45am, every day Monday to Sunday.

This is a special part of radio, whereby people of all ages tune in to listen to the requests.

Requests need to be lodged with the Radio Station by 5pm the day before they are to be played on air, in some instances they can be accepted no later than 6:30am, the day it is to be played.

This gives the announcer ample time to locate the song,  and be ready to play at 7:45am.

Requests can be emailed to radionews@nirc.gov.nf or they can be written out and pushed through the slot in the door.

Alternatively, a voice message can be left on the answer machine of phone number: +6723 22137.

Radio Norfolk Programming at a glance

  • Monday to Friday breakfast shows are from 7am to 9:30am.
  • Monday to Friday morning shows are from 9:30am to 12pm
  • Monday to Friday lunchbox shows are from 12pm to 12:15pm. 
  • When the cargo boat arrives on Island, the breakfast announcer commences work at least an hour earlier, in order to get the lighterage call out to all the workers and stevedores, so they know what time and what jetty, the ship will be unloading.
  • Rick Dees American Top 40 is aired Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 2pm. This program is sponsored for the Norfolk community, and gives listeners a taste of what is "tops in music" in the USA. This is a proudly sponsored program.
  • The segment of a morning serial is aired at 10:30am every Monday to Friday (except for public holidays) and is a proudly sponsored program.
  • ABC news from Sydney is aired at 11am, Monday to Friday except on public holidays.
  • Radio New Zealand World and Pacific News is relayed at 8:30am, Monday to Friday. The Satellite relay is transmitted over night every night in the AM band of 1566. 
  • Non-stop music is relayed in the FM band of 89.9 from 3pm every day of the week.

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