MediaWorks Radio
Encyclopedia
MediaWorks Radio is the radio division of MediaWorks New Zealand. MediaWorks operates 7 radio brands nationwide across New Zealand with the majority of the programming on these stations based from Auckland, in addition to the nationwide brands MediaWorks also operate several local radio stations in certain markets.
was started in Taranaki. During the 1980s and 1990s Energy Enterprises expanded their operation by starting up new stations around the North Island of New Zealand or taking over existing privately owned stations. In the late 1990s Energy Enterprises amalgamated with Radio Pacific
and became known as Pacific/RadioWorks Group. The company purchased seven North Island stations owned by Dunedin based Radio Otago
in 1997 allowing Radio Otago to expanded their operations to other markets in the South Island. The two companies Radio Otago
and Pacific/RadioWorks group merged in 1999 to become RadioWorks.
The merger of RadioWorks and Radio Otago allowed RadioWorks to expand their North Island stations into the South Island. By 1999 RadioWorks consisted of The Edge FM and The Rock
(two stations that were originally Hamilton based), Solid Gold
, Radio Pacific
and a collection of local one-off stations in each market. Some markets even had more than one local station. From 1999 onwards all of the local stations were marketed as LocalWorks
stations.
Between 2000 and 2001 CanWest purchased RadioWorks, awaiting company restructuring before completing the year-long takeover, and moved its existing MORE FM group assets, including Channel Z
and The Breeze
Wellington, into the company.
Since its inception in 2004, MediaWorks has moved its local stations over to More FM and The Breeze network; all these stations now carry the network branding and some or all of the network's programming. At the same time, MediaWorks have rolled out new networks Radio Live
and Kiwi FM
, converted Radio Pacific
to LiveSport, and purchased networks Mai FM
and George FM
. MediaWorks owns Times FM in Orewa
, Coromandel FM on the Coromandel Peninsula
and Radio Dunedin
in Otago
.
All MediaWorks-owned and -affiliated stations read or carry Radio Live News
updates hourly or half hourly during their weekday breakfast programmes. Most also carry pre-recorded news and sports updates hourly at other times. Radio Live News took over from the RadioWorks news service, Global News, with the launch of Radio Live in 2005.
, a station that played mostly alternative rock music. Channel Z began as a local station in Wellington and separate stations were later started in Auckland and Christchurch. In 2001 the Wellington and Christchurch stations became networked from Auckland and Channel Z saw a format change in 2003 to include 30% New Zealand music as well as a change of presenters. The changes made were not popular and the stations lost a lot of listeners. As a result RadioWorks replaced Channel Z with Kiwi FM, a station that plays 100% New Zealand. This station did worse in the ratings, however instead of closing down the station the government gave Kiwi FM the use of government-owned frequencies to broadcast on. Today Kiwi FM still broadcasts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Mai FM is an Auckland
-based Māori radio network
which plays mainly hip hop
and R&B
music. The station is targeted at under 35-year-old listeners. Mai FM was operated as an iwi radio station by Ngati Whatua
subsidiary Mai Media Limited between 1992 and 2008, but MediaWorks New Zealand gained ownership and control of the station from March 31, 2008. Today Mai FM can be heard in six markets around the North Island and in Christchurch in the South Island. Programming originates from the studios in Auckland however Northland has its own local breakfast show.
MORE FM is an adult contemporary music station catering to the 25 - 44 year old listeners and is local during the daytime in all markets. MORE FM has its origins as local radio stations broadcasting in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin - the original station was established in Wellington in May 1991. Each station was live and local 24/7 except Dunedin which took Christchurch programming at breakfast, evenings and overnight. There was also a More FM station in Kapiti which relayed programming from Wellington. In December 2004 RadioWorks began rolling out MORE FM nationwide by rebranding their local adult contemporary stations as MORE FM; these were stations operated under the LocalWorks
brand name. Most programming remained local on each station but a networked night show and overnight show were introduced in January 2005. Today all markets are local between 6am and 1pm weekdays, then most markets take a networked drive show followed by the networked night show in all markets. Today MORE FM can be heard in 22 markets across New Zealand.
Main Article: LiveSport
Radio Live is a talkback radio station catered at the 35 - 54-year-old audience and LiveSport is a sports talk station aimed at the 40+ year-old male listeners. LiveSport is used to broadcast Radio Trackside during horse racing hours. Both stations have their origins as Radio Pacific
which was an Auckland talkback station that began in the 1970s. Radio Pacific expanded across all of New Zealand in the early 1990s. Radio Pacific was originally independently owned but merged with Energy Enterprises in the late 1990s to form Radio Pacfic/RadioWorks.
In 2005 a new talkback station, Radio Live, was created. The station was networked across all of New Zealand from the first day of broadcast and in most regions broadcast on frequencies used to broadcast Radio Pacific. At this point Radio Pacific then moved to another available frequency in each region and changed format to broadcast Radio Trackside during racing hours and run a music and talk format during mornings. In 2007 Radio Pacific was rebranded as BSport and changed format to become a sports talk station. In 2010 BSport became LiveSport bringing the station's branding in line with Radio Live. Both stations broadcast across New Zealand to more than 30 markets.
Solid Gold FM is an oldies music station playing mostly music from the 60's and 70's targeted at the baby boomer
generation. The format caters to both male and female listeners. Solid Gold began in Auckland in 1997 and the same year began expanding across the North Island, some of the local North Island stations purchased by Energy Enterprises from Radio Otago in 1997 were closed down and replaced with Solid Gold. Following the RadioWorks and Radio Otago merger local stations in the South Island were closed down and replaced with Solid Gold. Today Solid Gold can be heard in 25 markets across New Zealand.
The Breeze is an easy listening
music station catering to 40 - 60-year-old listeners and is targeted mostly at females. The Breeze began in 1993 as an easy listening station in Wellington, there were also local The Breeze stations in Auckland and Hamilton but both stations were closed down and returned some years later. The Breeze in Wellington was originally independently owned and has its origins as Radio Windy
which had been on the air since the 1970s. The Breeze was purchased by the MORE FM Group in 1995 which later became part of CanWest and then RadioWorks. In 2003 RadioWorks began rolling The Breeze out across New Zealand by rebranding local Easy Listening stations owned by RadioWorks as The Breeze. Hamilton was the first market with Christchurch and Manawatu following in 2004. Each The Breeze station was originally local 24/7 except Dunedin which was mostly broadcast from Christchurch. After The Breeze began broadcasting in Auckland a network was established with Dunedin and Manawatu now taking programming from Auckland except breakfast programming. Networking allowed the station to be expanded across New Zealand. Today most markets are networked except those original The Breeze stations where Wellington and Christchurch are local until 7pm and other markets such as Hamilton and Manawatu are local during breakfast only. The Breeze can be heard in 18 markets around New Zealand.
The Edge is a pop music
station catering to 15 - 34-year-old female listeners. The station plays music in the current Top 40 as well as some older tracks. The Edge began in 1994 as a local Hamilton radio station taking over from Buzzard 98FM
, both stations actually broadcast on 97.8FM. In 1998 RadioWorks began expanding the station across the North Island and in 1999 following the RadioWorks and Radio Otago merger The Edge was networked into the South Island. In 2001 The Edge was moved to Auckland but did not begin broadcasting there until 2003. Today The Edge is available in 22 markets across New Zealand.
The Rock is a modern rock
music station playing rock music from the 1980s to today. The station is aimed at the 25 - 44-year-old male audience. The Rock has its origins as a local radio station in Hamilton
which began broadcasting on December 1, 1991. The Rock expanded into Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty as separate local stations during the mid-nineties and later began networking to regions around the North Island, replacing the local programming in Taranaki and Bay of Plenty with programming from Hamilton. In 1999 The Rock moved to Auckland and with RadioWorks and Radio Otago merging The Rock was able to expand into the South Island. The Rock is currently available in 26 markets across New Zealand.
radio network
with a Hot AC music format and hourly Radio Live News updates. It was officially launched by station manager Warren Male in December 1992, but began as short trial broadcasts on Pauanui-Tairua and Whitianga-Whangamata during previous summers. Under a contract with MediaWorks New Zealand, independent affiliate Coromandel FM Limited operates Coromandel FM, The Breeze Mercury Bay and The Rock Mercury Bay from Thames as part of MediaWorks Radio. The daily breakfast programme is hosted by Rex Simpson and includes the Carswell Construction Rural Hour, political commentary from MP Sandra Goudie, Thames-Coromandel Mayor Glenn Leach, and Hauraki Mayor John Tregidga, birthday announcements, and horoscopes. Alan Beagle hosts mid-mornings and Andy Harwood hosts afternoons.
George FM is an Auckland
dance music
radio station
operated from Ponsonby Road headquarters and relayed on Freeview Channel 70 and radio frequencies around New Zealand
. Seventy-five presenters present the station's twenty four hour mix of house
, breaks, drum and bass
, electro, soul
, downbeat
, jazz
, funk
, indietronica
, hip-hop and other dance
and electronica
music. The station is targeted at the 25 - 44 year old age group.
George FM was set up in 1998 as a volunteer-run low power station based in a Grey Lynn
spare bedroom. George FM began broadcasting on a high powered FM frequency in 2001 and became a commercial station with paid staff in 2003. The station was relayed to other centres in later years through the use of low powered frequencies. George FM was available for a while on Sky Digital and since 2007 has broadcast on Freeview. The station was purchased by MediaWorks on 16 February 2009. However, it continues to retain a laid-back style: news is limited to informal Auckland
-specific news, weather, traffic and surf reports hourly during breakfast and drive shows and the choice of music and presenting style is entirely that of programme hosts.
George broadcasts on Auckland
96.6 FM and on low powered FM frequencies in other markets around New Zealand.
Radio Dunedin is a Dunedin
radio station
broadcasting easy listening music
from the 1960s
, 1970s
and 1980s
to 40+ audiences on 1305 AM and 99.8 FM. It claims to be the first radio station in New Zealand
, the fifth oldest station in the world and five weeks older than the BBC
. Announcers on air during the daytime between 6am and 7pm are employed by MediaWorks and are paid announcers. On weeknights and weekends the Otago Radio Association leases air time to broadcast a variety of community radio
programming, announcers during these times are unpaid volunteers.
The station first went to air on 4 October 1922, and celebrated 85 years in 2007. It has previously been known as DN, 4AB, 4ZB (not part of government ZB network), Pioneer Radio and 4XD and has previously broadcast on 1431 AM and 1305 AM. The station was operated non-commercially and voluntarily by the Otago Radio Association until 1990, became a commercial station and was sold to Radio Otago Limited in 1993, and subsequently became part of MediaWorks Radio. On May 6, 2008 it began broadcasting on 99.8 FM and in mid-2007 it began online streaming. All programming is broadcast from studios in Radio Otago House in central Dunedin.
. The station was purchased by RadioWorks in 2002. It broadcasts on 88.9FM and 97.8FM, serving the Rodney District
and the Hibiscus Coast
, to the north and north-west of Auckland.
History
MediaWorks radio has its origins as a Taranaki-based radio company Energy Enterprises. Energy Enterprises was started in the 1980s when local station Energy FMEnergy FM
Energy FM is the brand name of several radio stations:* Energy FM * Energy FM * Energy FM * Energy FM * Energy FM * Energy FM * Energy FM * NRJ Russia, also known as Energy FM...
was started in Taranaki. During the 1980s and 1990s Energy Enterprises expanded their operation by starting up new stations around the North Island of New Zealand or taking over existing privately owned stations. In the late 1990s Energy Enterprises amalgamated with Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
and became known as Pacific/RadioWorks Group. The company purchased seven North Island stations owned by Dunedin based Radio Otago
Radio Otago
Radio Otago was a radio company that operated a group of local radio stations in radio markets around New Zealand from the 1970s to the late 1990s...
in 1997 allowing Radio Otago to expanded their operations to other markets in the South Island. The two companies Radio Otago
Radio Otago
Radio Otago was a radio company that operated a group of local radio stations in radio markets around New Zealand from the 1970s to the late 1990s...
and Pacific/RadioWorks group merged in 1999 to become RadioWorks.
The merger of RadioWorks and Radio Otago allowed RadioWorks to expand their North Island stations into the South Island. By 1999 RadioWorks consisted of The Edge FM and The Rock
The Rock (New Zealand)
The Rock is a New Zealand rock music radio station. It currently holds the #1 ratings spot out of the music stations nationwide. The station is known to broadcast material of a controversial nature, and The Rock has in the past had some issues with the Broadcasting Standards Authority with a number...
(two stations that were originally Hamilton based), Solid Gold
Solid Gold (radio)
Solid Gold FM is a New Zealand radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand and dedicated to the music of the 1960s and 1970s. It began broadcasting in late 1997...
, Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
and a collection of local one-off stations in each market. Some markets even had more than one local station. From 1999 onwards all of the local stations were marketed as LocalWorks
LocalWorks
LocalWorks was the name used to catergorise all of the local heritage radio stations operated by RadioWorks in New Zealand. The music format on most of the LocalWorks stations was an Adult Contemporary format, Hot AC format or Easy Listening format....
stations.
Between 2000 and 2001 CanWest purchased RadioWorks, awaiting company restructuring before completing the year-long takeover, and moved its existing MORE FM group assets, including Channel Z
Channel Z
Channel Z was an alternative music radio station which had a high youth demographic broadcasting in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, New Zealand. In early 2005, the station was relaunched as Kiwi FM and only plays New Zealand music....
and The Breeze
The Breeze (New Zealand)
The Breeze is a group of New Zealand easy-listening radio stations owned by RadioWorks, a MediaWorks New Zealand company. The Breeze plays easy-listening music from the 1970s to the present day, aimed at a 35–54 year old female audience...
Wellington, into the company.
Since its inception in 2004, MediaWorks has moved its local stations over to More FM and The Breeze network; all these stations now carry the network branding and some or all of the network's programming. At the same time, MediaWorks have rolled out new networks Radio Live
Radio Live
Radio Live and Radio Live Sport are nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sports radio networks owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand...
and Kiwi FM
Kiwi FM
Kiwi FM is a New Zealand Radio Network playing 100 percent New Zealand music both nationally and to the world via its 24/7 live stream. The network was designed specifically to showcase the best New Zealand music across the broadest range of genres, enabling greater access to an international...
, converted Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
to LiveSport, and purchased networks Mai FM
Mai FM
Mai FM - The Hottest Hip Hop and RnBMai FM is a Māori radio station located in Auckland, New Zealand. The station broadcasts on 88.6 FM in Auckland, 98.8 FM in Whangarei, 96.6 FM in Tauranga, 105.5 FM in Rotorua, 105.5 FM in Hawke's Bay, 97.0 FM in Manawatu and 88.9 FM in Christchurch. It plays...
and George FM
George FM
George FM is an Auckland dance music radio station, owned and operated by MediaWorks from Ponsonby Road headquarters and relayed on Freeview and radio frequencies around New Zealand...
. MediaWorks owns Times FM in Orewa
Orewa
Orewa, a town in New Zealand's North Island lies on the Hibiscus Coast, just north of the base of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and 40 kilometres north of central Auckland. Orewa's population was 7,326 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,692 from 2001. It is a popular holiday destination...
, Coromandel FM on the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
and Radio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin is a radio station, broadcasting from Dunedin on 1305 AM and 99.8 FM. It is rated number 1 for 'Share of Commercial Radio Listening in Dunedin' in the Radio Audience Measurement Survey....
in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
.
All MediaWorks-owned and -affiliated stations read or carry Radio Live News
3 News
3 News is the television, internet and radio news service of New Zealand's TV3. Its flagship bulletin, which airs every evening at 6:00pm, is anchored by Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts. Carolyn Robinson and Simon Shepherd are weekend and substitute anchors...
updates hourly or half hourly during their weekday breakfast programmes. Most also carry pre-recorded news and sports updates hourly at other times. Radio Live News took over from the RadioWorks news service, Global News, with the launch of Radio Live in 2005.
KIWI FM
Kiwi FM is a station that plays 100% New Zealand music. The station is targeted at the 25 - 44 year old age group. Kiwi FM has its origins as Channel ZChannel Z
Channel Z was an alternative music radio station which had a high youth demographic broadcasting in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, New Zealand. In early 2005, the station was relaunched as Kiwi FM and only plays New Zealand music....
, a station that played mostly alternative rock music. Channel Z began as a local station in Wellington and separate stations were later started in Auckland and Christchurch. In 2001 the Wellington and Christchurch stations became networked from Auckland and Channel Z saw a format change in 2003 to include 30% New Zealand music as well as a change of presenters. The changes made were not popular and the stations lost a lot of listeners. As a result RadioWorks replaced Channel Z with Kiwi FM, a station that plays 100% New Zealand. This station did worse in the ratings, however instead of closing down the station the government gave Kiwi FM the use of government-owned frequencies to broadcast on. Today Kiwi FM still broadcasts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Mai FM
Main Article: Mai FMMai FM
Mai FM - The Hottest Hip Hop and RnBMai FM is a Māori radio station located in Auckland, New Zealand. The station broadcasts on 88.6 FM in Auckland, 98.8 FM in Whangarei, 96.6 FM in Tauranga, 105.5 FM in Rotorua, 105.5 FM in Hawke's Bay, 97.0 FM in Manawatu and 88.9 FM in Christchurch. It plays...
Mai FM is an Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
-based Māori radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
which plays mainly hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
music. The station is targeted at under 35-year-old listeners. Mai FM was operated as an iwi radio station by Ngati Whatua
Ngati Whatua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi of New Zealand. It consists of four hapu : Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taoū, and Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei....
subsidiary Mai Media Limited between 1992 and 2008, but MediaWorks New Zealand gained ownership and control of the station from March 31, 2008. Today Mai FM can be heard in six markets around the North Island and in Christchurch in the South Island. Programming originates from the studios in Auckland however Northland has its own local breakfast show.
MORE FM
Main Article: MORE FMMore FM
MORE FM is a New Zealand radio network playing adult contemporary music or Pop music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.MORE FM broadcasts in 22 centres throughout New Zealand with local programming in most markets between 6am and 1pm and networked programming the rest of the day...
MORE FM is an adult contemporary music station catering to the 25 - 44 year old listeners and is local during the daytime in all markets. MORE FM has its origins as local radio stations broadcasting in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin - the original station was established in Wellington in May 1991. Each station was live and local 24/7 except Dunedin which took Christchurch programming at breakfast, evenings and overnight. There was also a More FM station in Kapiti which relayed programming from Wellington. In December 2004 RadioWorks began rolling out MORE FM nationwide by rebranding their local adult contemporary stations as MORE FM; these were stations operated under the LocalWorks
LocalWorks
LocalWorks was the name used to catergorise all of the local heritage radio stations operated by RadioWorks in New Zealand. The music format on most of the LocalWorks stations was an Adult Contemporary format, Hot AC format or Easy Listening format....
brand name. Most programming remained local on each station but a networked night show and overnight show were introduced in January 2005. Today all markets are local between 6am and 1pm weekdays, then most markets take a networked drive show followed by the networked night show in all markets. Today MORE FM can be heard in 22 markets across New Zealand.
Radio Live and Live Sport
Main Article: Radio LiveRadio Live
Radio Live and Radio Live Sport are nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sports radio networks owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand...
Main Article: LiveSport
Radio Live is a talkback radio station catered at the 35 - 54-year-old audience and LiveSport is a sports talk station aimed at the 40+ year-old male listeners. LiveSport is used to broadcast Radio Trackside during horse racing hours. Both stations have their origins as Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific
Radio Pacific was a New Zealand talkback radio station. The station also broadcast an extensive selection of horse racing commentary.-History:The station was originally started in Auckland in 1978 on 1593am...
which was an Auckland talkback station that began in the 1970s. Radio Pacific expanded across all of New Zealand in the early 1990s. Radio Pacific was originally independently owned but merged with Energy Enterprises in the late 1990s to form Radio Pacfic/RadioWorks.
In 2005 a new talkback station, Radio Live, was created. The station was networked across all of New Zealand from the first day of broadcast and in most regions broadcast on frequencies used to broadcast Radio Pacific. At this point Radio Pacific then moved to another available frequency in each region and changed format to broadcast Radio Trackside during racing hours and run a music and talk format during mornings. In 2007 Radio Pacific was rebranded as BSport and changed format to become a sports talk station. In 2010 BSport became LiveSport bringing the station's branding in line with Radio Live. Both stations broadcast across New Zealand to more than 30 markets.
Solid Gold FM
Main Article: Solid Gold FMSolid Gold (radio)
Solid Gold FM is a New Zealand radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand and dedicated to the music of the 1960s and 1970s. It began broadcasting in late 1997...
Solid Gold FM is an oldies music station playing mostly music from the 60's and 70's targeted at the baby boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
generation. The format caters to both male and female listeners. Solid Gold began in Auckland in 1997 and the same year began expanding across the North Island, some of the local North Island stations purchased by Energy Enterprises from Radio Otago in 1997 were closed down and replaced with Solid Gold. Following the RadioWorks and Radio Otago merger local stations in the South Island were closed down and replaced with Solid Gold. Today Solid Gold can be heard in 25 markets across New Zealand.
The Breeze
Main Article: The BreezeThe Breeze (New Zealand)
The Breeze is a group of New Zealand easy-listening radio stations owned by RadioWorks, a MediaWorks New Zealand company. The Breeze plays easy-listening music from the 1970s to the present day, aimed at a 35–54 year old female audience...
The Breeze is an easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
music station catering to 40 - 60-year-old listeners and is targeted mostly at females. The Breeze began in 1993 as an easy listening station in Wellington, there were also local The Breeze stations in Auckland and Hamilton but both stations were closed down and returned some years later. The Breeze in Wellington was originally independently owned and has its origins as Radio Windy
Radio Windy
Radio Windy was a local radio station in Wellington, New Zealand. Radio Windy first started by Capital Radio Radio Limited broadcasting in Wellington in 1973 on 1080 kHz with the call sign 2XW...
which had been on the air since the 1970s. The Breeze was purchased by the MORE FM Group in 1995 which later became part of CanWest and then RadioWorks. In 2003 RadioWorks began rolling The Breeze out across New Zealand by rebranding local Easy Listening stations owned by RadioWorks as The Breeze. Hamilton was the first market with Christchurch and Manawatu following in 2004. Each The Breeze station was originally local 24/7 except Dunedin which was mostly broadcast from Christchurch. After The Breeze began broadcasting in Auckland a network was established with Dunedin and Manawatu now taking programming from Auckland except breakfast programming. Networking allowed the station to be expanded across New Zealand. Today most markets are networked except those original The Breeze stations where Wellington and Christchurch are local until 7pm and other markets such as Hamilton and Manawatu are local during breakfast only. The Breeze can be heard in 18 markets around New Zealand.
The Edge
Main Article: The EdgeThe Edge is a pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
station catering to 15 - 34-year-old female listeners. The station plays music in the current Top 40 as well as some older tracks. The Edge began in 1994 as a local Hamilton radio station taking over from Buzzard 98FM
Buzzard 98FM
Buzzard 98FM was a radio station in Hamilton on 97.8FM which launched on 1 December 1992. The station's format was a cross between urban and contemporary hit radio, aimed at the under-30s market. In 1994 Buzzard 98FM was rebranded as 97.8 The Edge creating a station that later was networked across...
, both stations actually broadcast on 97.8FM. In 1998 RadioWorks began expanding the station across the North Island and in 1999 following the RadioWorks and Radio Otago merger The Edge was networked into the South Island. In 2001 The Edge was moved to Auckland but did not begin broadcasting there until 2003. Today The Edge is available in 22 markets across New Zealand.
The Rock
Main Article: The RockThe Rock (New Zealand)
The Rock is a New Zealand rock music radio station. It currently holds the #1 ratings spot out of the music stations nationwide. The station is known to broadcast material of a controversial nature, and The Rock has in the past had some issues with the Broadcasting Standards Authority with a number...
The Rock is a modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
music station playing rock music from the 1980s to today. The station is aimed at the 25 - 44-year-old male audience. The Rock has its origins as a local radio station in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
which began broadcasting on December 1, 1991. The Rock expanded into Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty as separate local stations during the mid-nineties and later began networking to regions around the North Island, replacing the local programming in Taranaki and Bay of Plenty with programming from Hamilton. In 1999 The Rock moved to Auckland and with RadioWorks and Radio Otago merging The Rock was able to expand into the South Island. The Rock is currently available in 26 markets across New Zealand.
Coromandel FM
Coromandel FM is a regional Coromandel PeninsulaCoromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
with a Hot AC music format and hourly Radio Live News updates. It was officially launched by station manager Warren Male in December 1992, but began as short trial broadcasts on Pauanui-Tairua and Whitianga-Whangamata during previous summers. Under a contract with MediaWorks New Zealand, independent affiliate Coromandel FM Limited operates Coromandel FM, The Breeze Mercury Bay and The Rock Mercury Bay from Thames as part of MediaWorks Radio. The daily breakfast programme is hosted by Rex Simpson and includes the Carswell Construction Rural Hour, political commentary from MP Sandra Goudie, Thames-Coromandel Mayor Glenn Leach, and Hauraki Mayor John Tregidga, birthday announcements, and horoscopes. Alan Beagle hosts mid-mornings and Andy Harwood hosts afternoons.
George FM
Main Article: George FMGeorge FM
George FM is an Auckland dance music radio station, owned and operated by MediaWorks from Ponsonby Road headquarters and relayed on Freeview and radio frequencies around New Zealand...
George FM is an Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
operated from Ponsonby Road headquarters and relayed on Freeview Channel 70 and radio frequencies around New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Seventy-five presenters present the station's twenty four hour mix of house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, breaks, drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, electro, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, downbeat
Downtempo
Downtempo is a laid-back electronic music style similar to ambient music, but usually with a beat or groove unlike the beatless forms of Ambient music. The beat is sometimes made from loops that have a hypnotic feeling...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, indietronica
Indietronica
Indietronica is a music genre that combines indie, electronica, rock and pop music. Typical instruments used in indietronica music are electronic keyboard, synthesizer, sampler and drum machine...
, hip-hop and other dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
music. The station is targeted at the 25 - 44 year old age group.
George FM was set up in 1998 as a volunteer-run low power station based in a Grey Lynn
Grey Lynn
Grey Lynn is an inner residential suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand, located three kilometres to the west of the city centre. Originally a separate borough, Grey Lynn amalgamated with Auckland City in 1914....
spare bedroom. George FM began broadcasting on a high powered FM frequency in 2001 and became a commercial station with paid staff in 2003. The station was relayed to other centres in later years through the use of low powered frequencies. George FM was available for a while on Sky Digital and since 2007 has broadcast on Freeview. The station was purchased by MediaWorks on 16 February 2009. However, it continues to retain a laid-back style: news is limited to informal Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
-specific news, weather, traffic and surf reports hourly during breakfast and drive shows and the choice of music and presenting style is entirely that of programme hosts.
George broadcasts on Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
96.6 FM and on low powered FM frequencies in other markets around New Zealand.
Radio Dunedin
Main Article: Radio DunedinRadio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin is a radio station, broadcasting from Dunedin on 1305 AM and 99.8 FM. It is rated number 1 for 'Share of Commercial Radio Listening in Dunedin' in the Radio Audience Measurement Survey....
Radio Dunedin is a Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting easy listening music
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
from the 1960s
1960s in music
For music from a year in the 1960s, go to 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1960s....
, 1970s
1970s in music
For music from a year in the 1970s, go to 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79This article includes an overview of the major events and trends in popular music in the 1970s....
and 1980s
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
to 40+ audiences on 1305 AM and 99.8 FM. It claims to be the first radio station in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the fifth oldest station in the world and five weeks older than the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Announcers on air during the daytime between 6am and 7pm are employed by MediaWorks and are paid announcers. On weeknights and weekends the Otago Radio Association leases air time to broadcast a variety of community radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
programming, announcers during these times are unpaid volunteers.
The station first went to air on 4 October 1922, and celebrated 85 years in 2007. It has previously been known as DN, 4AB, 4ZB (not part of government ZB network), Pioneer Radio and 4XD and has previously broadcast on 1431 AM and 1305 AM. The station was operated non-commercially and voluntarily by the Otago Radio Association until 1990, became a commercial station and was sold to Radio Otago Limited in 1993, and subsequently became part of MediaWorks Radio. On May 6, 2008 it began broadcasting on 99.8 FM and in mid-2007 it began online streaming. All programming is broadcast from studios in Radio Otago House in central Dunedin.
Times FM
Times FM operates from OrewaOrewa
Orewa, a town in New Zealand's North Island lies on the Hibiscus Coast, just north of the base of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and 40 kilometres north of central Auckland. Orewa's population was 7,326 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,692 from 2001. It is a popular holiday destination...
. The station was purchased by RadioWorks in 2002. It broadcasts on 88.9FM and 97.8FM, serving the Rodney District
Rodney District
The Rodney District of New Zealand was a local government area in the northernmost part in New Zealand's Auckland Region, created in 1989 from the amalgamation of Helensville Borough and Rodney County. The seat of the district council is at Orewa, and the district includes Kawau Island to the...
and the Hibiscus Coast
Hibiscus Coast
The Hibiscus Coast is a stretch of the Hauraki Gulf coast located in New Zealand's Rodney District, 10 minutes north of the former North Shore City by car. It contains the northernmost part of the Auckland metropolitan area....
, to the north and north-west of Auckland.
External links
- Mai FM Official Website
- Official Ruia Mai website
- Official George FM website
- Radio Dunedin Official website
- Radio Dunedin Listen Now (Live stream)
- Radio Dunedin RadioVault history
- RadioWorks Information Site About RadioLIVE
- Listen Live
- Media Works notice of Launch for BSport
- The Sound Official Website