Extra Spectrum Completes TriTV's Auckland Coverage

Extra spectrum completes Triangle coverage for Auckland region

From early August - for the first time ever – almost all television viewers in the wider Auckland area will be able to tune into the region’s own television station, Triangle Television. It is a milestone for Triangle - Auckland’s only regional, non-commercial television station – and it coincides with the station’s seventh birthday in August.

Until now, pockets of Auckland have been unable to receive Triangle. But, due to the securing of additional broadcast spectrum from the North Shore’s Pinehill translator, now areas such as the North Shore’s East Coast Bays, Albany, parts of Whangaparaoa, Takapuna, Devonport, Freemans Bay, some of the city’s eastern beaches including Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heliers and even parts of the Coromandel will have access to the station.

The new spectrum fills the final gap in the station’s transmission area to the greater Auckland region, and can be received on UHF Channel 42. Based on figures from the last census, it will give Triangle 110,000 potential new viewers boosting its total potential audience to 1.4million, nearly one third of the New Zealand population.

Since the station launched in August seven years ago, Triangle’s main transmitter at Waiatarua has been reaching screens at UHF Channel 41 from parts of Orewa and Whangaparaoa to the Bombay Hills including most of the west and east of Auckland, plus some viewers on Waiheke Island. Last year, the introduction of the Remuera translator gave viewers in Remuera, One Tree Hill, Ellerslie, Newmarket and parts of Mt Eden the opportunity to tune in to Triangle on UHF Channel 52.

Triangle Television Chief Executive Jim Blackman says blanket Auckland coverage has always been a key objective since the station began transmitting seven years ago.

“We expect the Pinehill transponder will help us build our audience significantly because of the numerous requests we’ve received over the years from residents in the area who want to watch Triangle but have been unable until now to receive it. Now we truly represent and broadcast to our whole target market - the wider Auckland public.

“This is a huge milestone for Triangle and Auckland. As the only regional television station solely servicing the wider community, we seek to meet the diverse television needs of Auckland’s many communities - it has always been vital therefore that we broadcast to as much of Auckland as possible. It is extra special that we are switching on to the Pinehill transmitter almost seven years to the day from our initial broadcast – particularly when so many critics predicted our demise before we had even got off the ground.”

Mr Blackman says the penetration into the additional areas is seen as a further major development in the continued growth strategy the station has seen during its seven years of operation. Last year, Triangle was awarded a non-commercial frequency in Wellington and is undertaking broadcast planning for that region as well.

Triangle Television is Auckland’s only regional, non-commercial television station and has operated as a public broadcaster to Greater Auckland since August 1 1998. The channel screens a mix of regional-access television with international news and information programmes. It is non-profit making. Triangle broadcasts 24 hours daily from UHF channel 41 and, in Remuera and surrounding suburbs, from UHF channel 52.

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