Digital Liberation is a new move for Base FM that will see the station, based in Grey Lynn, Auckland, being aired to Freeview boxes all over New Zealand. Managing Director, Jazz Ziedan explains to Grindin’ ‘Going digital means equal rights for us broadcasters. It\u2019s not about being part of a big network with great financial backing, it\u2019s about having the same reach geographically and allowing the people to decide what they want to listen to rather than being limited to what they can get.’<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘No Commercial Bullshit’ has been their point of view even in a time when it didn’t see viable. Arriving at Base and carving out a path for the potential she saw in it nine years ago, Jazz explains in the interview below, that though people tell you it wont work – if you want it bad enough then your job is to prove doubters wrong. Basically It’s the Kiwi dream this German native has helped make possible for many up and coming Kiwi musicians. As part of New Zealand Music Month, Base teamed up with film production company, Reelgood to mark the digital mile stone and celebrate by looking back. Some key artists involved are Tom Scott, Dylan C, Ladi6, MC Slave, Manuel Bundy, Chip Matthews, Isaac Aesili and more.<\/p>\n

What was the main motivation\/inspiration behind turning Base FM digital?<\/strong>
\nThe NZ radio market is more competitive than any other with more radio stations in Auckland than New York or London. Therefore, all full power frequencies are taken and there was literally no way of increasing our broadcasting range without selling out. I had just purchased BASE and needed to find ways of making it financially viable, which it wasn\u2019t at the time without losing its core values: 100% DJs choice, No Commercial Bullshit. One full power frequency gets auctioned per year and the last one went for $800,000 \u2013 even if I would\u2019ve had this much money, which I didn\u2019t, it\u2019d mean 15min adbreaks 3x per hour and becoming mainstream. The Idea of going digital was looking at lot more promising to me than staying limited to our Low Power FM frequency or becoming just another commercial station with a top 40 rotation and annoying & draining adbreaks. This was all in 2008 that I signed up with Freeview and finally, the long term plan is paying off now and everything is falling into place. Base FM is now Nationwide via Freeview (in over 70% of all Kiwi households at current) and worldwide via our live stream online or the TuneIn app. All free to our listeners and still with only 1 minute of ads per hour and Sundays ad-free all together!<\/p>\n

Will Base be available on phone apps as well?<\/strong>
\nBase FM is already available on phone apps. We\u2019ve had an iPhone app for years but are now exclusive on the TuneIn App \u2013 it\u2019s free and accessible worldwide. You can even download the Pro-version for a dollar something and be able to record shows, boom!<\/p>\n