Introducing RCR 2.0

The media landscape is evolving rapidly—how people discover news, who they trust, their preferred formats, and when they tune in are all shifting.

Traditional state and corporate-owned media is losing relevance as audiences seek more authentic, in-depth stories that reveal the truth behind the headlines and address the issues legacy outlets try to censor.

Here in New Zealand, RCR has been at the forefront of this transformation. But we know there’s room to improve, and we’re committed to doing just that.

With your support, we turned the simple idea of RCR into a powerful voice in the public square—one that politicians and influential figures could no longer ignore.

Over the past two years, we've produced over 4,000 hours of original content, gaining valuable insights that will help us serve you better and amplify our impact.

Now, with RCR 2.0, we’re taking everything we’ve learned and evolving into a content experience better suited for today’s audience.

Just as platforms like Netflix, Spotify, X, and YouTube have revolutionised how people consume entertainment, we're creating a more accessible, on-demand experience for news and interviews.

Whether it’s deep-dive investigations, breaking news, or long-form conversations, RCR 2.0 will put you in control—so you can engage with the stories that matter, whenever and wherever you choose.

RCR 360 is a new weekly video show hosted by award-winning filmmaker Alistair Harding and media personality Maree Buske—Premiering Thursdays at 8pm.

Each episode dives into pressing global issues, providing clarity and context through a distinctly New Zealand perspective.

With in-depth discussions, expert interviews, and a dedication to reason over rhetoric, RCR 360 cuts through the noise of cancel culture and propaganda—delivering facts and practical steps to inspire meaningful change.

The Daily Brief is a short, standalone audio news bulletin, published weekdays around midday, designed to keep you informed in under 15 minutes—without the need to tune in early.

Covering both international and New Zealand news, plus key highlights from RCR’s expert interviews, each briefing is available on-demand in your content library for playback at any time.

Catch up in the afternoon, evening, or even binge on the weekend—news on your schedule, whenever and wherever you want it.

Authentic, long-form interviews have always been a cornerstone of RCR, but we recognise the growing need for a visual element to strengthen the personal connection between our audience, hosts, and guests.

Therefore going forward interviews will now be premiered with the option to watch a video of the conversation as well as listen to it.

The face-to-face element will provide a richer, more engaging viewing experience to our content lineup.

With the shift to on-demand premiering and the addition of video content, we’ve also completely redesigned our app and website to deliver a more seamless, intuitive playback experience.

Inspired by platforms like Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube, our new interface makes discovering, playing, and navigating content feel more familiar, effortless, and engaging.

Whether you're watching interviews, catching up on news, or saving content for later, RCR 2.0 puts you in control.

To provide a more feature-rich and secure experience, we’re also introducing a free RCR+ account for our regular listeners.

RCR 360 and The Daily Brief will remain playable without an account—allowing new listeners to discover and explore RCR. However, registering for a free RCR+ account will unlock exclusive perks, including RCR 360 show notes and a more personalised, premium experience with access to over 4,000 hours of original content.

• Exclusive Full-Length Video Interviews: Gain insights and in-depth analysis directly from experts and key figures as they tackle the important issues.
• RCR 360 Show Notes & Sources: Enjoy complete transparency knowing the sources and origins of the information and perspectives discussed.
• Downloadable Content for Offline Playback: Listen anytime, anywhere, without needing an internet connection. Download content in-app for consistent playback when cell coverage is low or when you want to save data usage.
• Recently Played History: Easily resume and revisit your previously listened-to content without the hassle of searching.
• One-Click ‘Add to Favorites': Quickly save your preferred episodes for easy navigation and repeated listening.
• Audio-Only Listening Mode: Choose to playback only the audio from video content saving on data usage.
• Weekly Newsletter & News Summary: Stay informed with a concise summary of the week’s most important events and updates from RCR.

All RCR+ benefits are now automatically included with a Foundation Club Membership. If you're already a member, RCR+ features have been added to your account—just log in and enjoy.

• Everything in RCR+: All the premium content and features of RCR+ are included.
• Daily News Email Digest: With RCR Bites, you’ll stay informed in just minutes a day with a concise, curated roundup of the most important news and links, vetted and delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
• Backstage Pass: Get exclusive access to RCR’s monthly Behind the Scenes webinar, where you’ll hear candid discussions with our hosts, ask your burning questions, and get insider insights you won’t find anywhere else.
• 20% Off Merch for Life: No membership is complete without perks. Enjoy a permanent 20% discount on all RCR shop items as long as you're a Foundation Member.
• Exclusive Member-Only Events & Discussions: We’re committed to bringing our community together in person. As we expand our event lineup, Foundation Members will have first access to these exclusive, invite-only gatherings.
• Support Independent Journalism: Perhaps the most important benefit of all—your membership directly funds fearless, independent journalism. At a time when truth is under attack, your support helps keep power in check, amplify important stories, and ensure accountability where it matters most.

Our data from over 4,000 hours of live content reveals a clear trend: 80% of RCR listeners never tune in live, instead opting to catch interview replays at their convenience.

So to better accommodate your playback preferences we’re shifting away from “show” based scheduled programming towards premiering interviews as soon as they’re recorded, making them available immediately on demand—bringing you timely content faster than ever.

Rest assured, while some shows may not exist in their previous form, our hosts will still be hosting, and our guests will still be sharing their insights—just in a more convenient format that fits your schedule, not the other way around.