History

Back in 2000 when Auckland Hospital Radio moved studios in Escomb Road tests were carried out on a 2nd Channel. AHR Extra was an alternative music service which transmitted alongside the main service. Although very popular with the patients, the service closed in 2002 when the new hospital opened as capacity was limited on the Patientline system.

Auckland Gold

After 5 years of consistenty being number one in the listening figures, Auckland Hospital Radio put forward a proposal to Patientline which would see AHR to providing a 2nd channel originally intended to replace BBC Radio 3 which was the lowest listened to service in the hospital. Whilst the service was being commissioned it was decided to create a 7th radio channel on the Patientline system, the first hospital in the UK to have such a set up. The service remains exclusive to the patients listening via the Hospedia system (Patientline’s 2008 rebrand).

Ray Oxley, former Chairman of Auckland Hospital Radio took on the challenge of selecting a format and schedule for Auckland Gold. He proposed a spoken word format with the aim of offering a true “Alternative” which he describes as “Pure Entertainment”. Auckland Gold is a very popular channel and the combined listening figures from Auckland Hospital Radio and Auckland Gold yield consistently over 70% audience share on a weekly basis.

Programming

The selection of programming on Auckland Gold is wide and varied. Programmes range from “The Golden Years”, a look back at the music and news from a particular year to local poetry and stories. Auckland Gold is almost exclusively automated providing an eight weekly schedule. The daily programmes repeat every 12 hours giving a listen again facility.

The channel also provides additional capacity for Auckland Hospital Radio to broadcast special events such as outside broadcasts and sports coverage without impacting on the primary patient and request based service on Auckland Hospital Radio.