Plains Media

Plains FM96.9 is in Christchurch, New Zealand and is the Canterbury region’s only community access media entity. We provide training and facilities to groups and individuals who wish to make their own content by, for and about their community of interest or air their views, concerns, music, language and ideas. Part-funded by NZ On AIR, we support the aspirations of local people to have a voice in the media. Plains FM, named after the Canterbury Plains on which we are situated, broadcasts over 90 locally-made programmes in 18 different languages. We specifically cater for under represented groups as defined in the Broadcasting Act 1989 such as women, children and youth, CALD groups and other minority interests. We broadcast from a transmitter at Sugarloaf over Christchurch, north to Cheviot, south to Selwyn, west to the Southern Alps, and into Lyttelton Harbour on Banks Peninsula. Since our birth in February 1988 our studios have been located on the Ara Institute of Technology campus in Christchurch's CBD. Content is also live streamed and available on demand as podcasts via plainsfm.org.nz and other popular platforms. Between programmes Plains FM provides a diverse ‘adult alternative’ playlist of new music encompassing swing, blues, acoustic/singer/songwriter, alt-country and NZ-made sounds. We also provide an array of programming sourced from the BBC World Service and other independent broadcast entities. New Zealand music content scheduled averages around 25% per month.