The Word - Bible Radio 24/7

Satellite radio listeners throughout the UK and Europe have been able to listen to continuous readings of the Bible 24 hours a day for several years.

In New Zealand, Radio Rhema is now broadcasting scripture, using three different translations of the Bible, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on a terrestrial radio frequency based in Hamilton

The station has been named The Word – Bible Radio 24/7 on 576 kHz AM (medium wave) . The broadcasts went on air just before Christmas 2006 and will continue at least until the end of the year.

The opportunity to use the frequency arose last year after Radio New Zealand increased its parliamentary coverage to include the Waikato region, making its 576AM frequency, shared with Southern Star, superfluous and enabling Radio Rhema to reassign the frequency for the new station.

Another frequency, 1026AM, has also been freed and a second Bible station will start next month in Invercargill.

Informal monitoring through feedback on the Radio Rhema website will be ongoing and a more formal survey of the new programme will be undertaken within the first six months to gauge its impact.

One woman reported she had turned on the radio in her car expecting a quick 15-minute reading. An hour later she was still in her stationary car, glued to the radio.