So can anybody do this, or what?
Pretty much. Anyone who can come into the studio personally, or has a way of sending us content (mailing us CDs, emailing us mp3s and so on) can make their own radio shows on Hills AM.

But a radio show - that's a lot of work, right?
Not necessarily. The staff here will teach you everything you need to know (which isn't actually all that much) and training usually takes approximately three one-hour sessions. We will even stand over you for your first show or so to make sure you're feeling happy and comfortable. After that, your show is really only as much work as you make it - you can plan out a minute by minute schedule scripting everything down to the pauses for breaths, or you could just sit back and play music on the spur of the moment for an hour or two. It all depends on the kind of show you do, and what kind of tone and feel you want to give it.

Isn't there a "right" way to do it?
Not really. Once you pay your money, the time's pretty much yours to do with as you wish. We'll give you some help, if you want it - but there's no hard-and-fast rules.

Aha! I knew there'd be money involved!
Well, yes - but not much. Here's how it works: Everyone who wants to make radio with us needs to join our Broadcasters' Society. The Society represents you to the Trust, and organises social and fundraising events. Joining the Society costs $50 a year for a group, $35 a year for an individual and $20 a year to be a volunteer-announcer. Our year runs from June to June, and the fee's charged on a sliding scale from when you join (so you'll probably end up paying less in your first year). Once you're a paid-up member of the Society, you have to pay for airtime. This is charged at $15 + GST per half-hour. So a weekly half-hour show will end up costing you something in the region of $67.50 a month. Shows don't have to be any particular length, but most people do either hours or half-hours and you can decide how often you want to broadcast. Heck, if you're really keen, you could do a daily show! You are in control.

I have a friend who owns a business - can they advertise with you guys?
Not really. We're not-for-profit. This means that no-one is allowed to use us to make money. Your friend could, however, sponsor your show. They wouldn't get ads played just any old time throughout the day, but they would get to attach the name of their business to your show so they got promoted together, and we'd record an ad for them which you would play in the course of your show. They'd also be mentioned in our weekly schedule in The Star community newspaper. The precise terms of an agreement like this would be worked out between the broadcaster and the business.

That sounds pretty good - but where can I listen?
I want to know what people are already doing. Simple. We're on 1575 kHz AM. The easiest way to find us is to (first making sure your switched over to AM) turn your dial as far to the right as it will go, then pull it back slowly. If you find yourself listening to Radio Rhema, you've gone past us and need to try again. If you have a fancy digital display instead of a dial, just send it up the AM band 'til it reads 1575... If you want to know what's on in advance, just check the Star (or look at our schedule page).

Right! I'm sold! What's next?
You just need to give us a yell on (03) 471 6161 or send an email to hillsam@earthlight.co.nz. We'll take it from there.