The Radio Network
Encyclopedia
The Radio Network is the wholly owned New Zealand division of radio company Australian Radio Network
, a partnership of Clear Channel
and APN News & Media
. It is the owner and operator of the Newstalk ZB News service and nationwide Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, ZM, Coast, Hauraki, Easy Mix, Flava and Radio Sport radio network
s. It sells advertising, records programming, reports news and operates over 100 radio stations from headquarters in central Auckland and offices in twenty five other markets across New Zealand.
were divested by the Fourth National government
as part of the Ruthanasia
free market
economic policies of that government. Radio New Zealand Commercial, which included talk networks Newstalk ZB
and Radio Sport
and music networks Classic Hits
and ZM
, became privately owned and was renamed to The Radio Network. In the same year the newly created TRN purchased Prospect Media Limited. This included eleven Auckland
and Hamilton
stations. The brands of Auckland
's Radio Hauraki
and Easy Listening i were retained and launched as nationwide networks. Hamilton's Easy Listening i, Auckland's The Breeze on 91
, Hamilton's The Breeze on 89.8
and the other stations were converted to the former Radio New Zealand brands.
The company was bought out by a syndicate that included The New Zealand Herald
and New Zealand Listener
publisher Wilson & Horton
and United States radio company Clear Channel Communications
; Wilson & Horton was then purchased by Ireland-based media conglomerate Independent News & Media
, and onsold to Independent's Australian subsidiary APN. The Radio Network became an APN and Clear Channel networked commercial radio joint venture, like the Australian Radio Network already was; as a result TRN became part of ARN.
Since 2005 Radio Network has networked all its stations under its eight network brands. Stations may have local idents, advertisements, weather forecasts, promotion events, traffic updates, news bulletins and commentary features. However, aside from local breakouts for breakfast, morning or special event programmes, stations exclusively carry network programming produced from studios at Radio Network on Cook St in Auckland Central
. The move towards the eight nationwide networks took several decades, but a number of changes occurred in 2004 and 2005 which lead to the current networks. The Community Radio Network
was replaced with Classic Hits FM
; where both operated in the same market Community Radio Network was replaced by Newstalk ZB
. Auckland
's Cool Blue 96.1FM was replaced with the first Flava
station; Cool Blue became an independently operated internet-only station. Hawkes Bay's Classic Rock 96FM was replaced with Radio Hauraki
, which was later replaced with ZM
. Easy Listening i was rebranded as Viva FM
in 2005 and then as Easy Mix in August 2007. Hawkes Bay's Jammin' Oldies 1530 was purchased by Radio Network and re-branded as the first Coast
station. Nelson
's The Planet 97FM
was replaced with ZM
, after having operated in the ZM format.
Local stations operated by The Radio Network:
Australian Radio Network
The Australian Radio Network is a group of commercial radio stations around Australia and New Zealand. A joint venture of Australian media conglomerate APN News & Media and United States radio company Clear Channel Communications, the group is the largest radio company in Australasia...
, a partnership of Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
and APN News & Media
APN News & Media
APN News & Media Limited is an Australian and New Zealand media company. Divisions include newspaper publishing, online publishing, broadcast radio and outdoor advertising in Australia and New Zealand...
. It is the owner and operator of the Newstalk ZB News service and nationwide Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, ZM, Coast, Hauraki, Easy Mix, Flava and Radio Sport 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...
s. It sells advertising, records programming, reports news and operates over 100 radio stations from headquarters in central Auckland and offices in twenty five other markets across New Zealand.
History
The network was created in 1996 when the commercial radio activities of Radio New ZealandRadio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
were divested by the Fourth National government
Fourth National Government of New Zealand
The Fourth National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 2 November 1990 to 27 November 1999. Following in the footsteps of the previous Labour government, the fourth National government embarked on an extensive programme of spending cuts...
as part of the Ruthanasia
Ruthanasia
Ruthanasia, a portmanteau of "Ruth" and "euthanasia", is the pejorative name given to the period of free-market economic reform conducted during the first term of the fourth National government in New Zealand, from 1990 to 1993...
free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
economic policies of that government. Radio New Zealand Commercial, which included talk networks Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand . It is available in almost every radio market in the country, and has news reporters based in many of them...
and Radio Sport
Radio Sport
Radio Sport is a New Zealand sports radio network and the talkback sister network of Newstalk ZB. It has commentary rights for most cricket matches, international and domestic rugby union games, some NRL rugby league games, trans-Tasman basketball and New Zealand tennis tournaments. The network...
and music networks Classic Hits
Classic Hits FM
Classic Hits is an Adult Contemporary music radio network broadcasting in 25 markets throughout New Zealand, targeting 25 - 55 year olds. Its a family-focused radio network with some of New Zealand's most experienced broadcasters on air and behind the scenes. It currently has around 387,000...
and ZM
ZM (New Zealand)
ZM is a New Zealand contemporary hit radio network owned by The Radio Network. It broadcasts 19 markets throughout mainland New Zealand via terrestrial FM, and worldwide via the Internet. The network targets the 15–39 demographic specialises in a chart-music playlist of pop, rock, hip hop and dance...
, became privately owned and was renamed to The Radio Network. In the same year the newly created TRN purchased Prospect Media Limited. This included eleven 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...
and 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...
stations. The brands of 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...
's Radio Hauraki
Radio Hauraki
Radio Hauraki is a New Zealand radio network, specialising in album-oriented rock and classic rock. It was the first private commercial radio station of the modern broadcasting era in New Zealand and operated illegally from 1966-1970 to break the monopoly held by the government...
and Easy Listening i were retained and launched as nationwide networks. Hamilton's Easy Listening i, Auckland's The Breeze on 91
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...
, Hamilton's The Breeze on 89.8
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...
and the other stations were converted to the former Radio New Zealand brands.
The company was bought out by a syndicate that included The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
and New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Listener
The New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
publisher Wilson & Horton
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
and United States radio company Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
; Wilson & Horton was then purchased by Ireland-based media conglomerate Independent News & Media
Independent News & Media
Independent News & Media plc , is a media organisation based in Dublin, Ireland, with interests in 22 countries on 4 continents worldwide. The company owns over 200 print titles, more than 130 radio stations, over 100 commercial websites and many billboard locations, and is a leading press player...
, and onsold to Independent's Australian subsidiary APN. The Radio Network became an APN and Clear Channel networked commercial radio joint venture, like the Australian Radio Network already was; as a result TRN became part of ARN.
Since 2005 Radio Network has networked all its stations under its eight network brands. Stations may have local idents, advertisements, weather forecasts, promotion events, traffic updates, news bulletins and commentary features. However, aside from local breakouts for breakfast, morning or special event programmes, stations exclusively carry network programming produced from studios at Radio Network on Cook St in Auckland Central
Auckland Central
Auckland Central is a New Zealand electoral division returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Its current representative is Nikki Kaye, a member of the National Party; she has represented the seat since 2008....
. The move towards the eight nationwide networks took several decades, but a number of changes occurred in 2004 and 2005 which lead to the current networks. The Community Radio Network
Community Radio Network
The Community Radio Network was a network of radio stations based in provincial centres across New Zealand. The network was operated by The Radio Network ....
was replaced with Classic Hits FM
Classic Hits FM
Classic Hits is an Adult Contemporary music radio network broadcasting in 25 markets throughout New Zealand, targeting 25 - 55 year olds. Its a family-focused radio network with some of New Zealand's most experienced broadcasters on air and behind the scenes. It currently has around 387,000...
; where both operated in the same market Community Radio Network was replaced by Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand . It is available in almost every radio market in the country, and has news reporters based in many of them...
. 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...
's Cool Blue 96.1FM was replaced with the first Flava
Flava (radio station)
Flava is a New Zealand hiphop and contemporary R&B music radio network. It broadcasts on 95.8FM in Auckland, 89.5FM in Rotorua, 106FM in Whangarei and on 96.7FM in Hawkes Bay...
station; Cool Blue became an independently operated internet-only station. Hawkes Bay's Classic Rock 96FM was replaced with Radio Hauraki
Radio Hauraki
Radio Hauraki is a New Zealand radio network, specialising in album-oriented rock and classic rock. It was the first private commercial radio station of the modern broadcasting era in New Zealand and operated illegally from 1966-1970 to break the monopoly held by the government...
, which was later replaced with ZM
ZM (New Zealand)
ZM is a New Zealand contemporary hit radio network owned by The Radio Network. It broadcasts 19 markets throughout mainland New Zealand via terrestrial FM, and worldwide via the Internet. The network targets the 15–39 demographic specialises in a chart-music playlist of pop, rock, hip hop and dance...
. Easy Listening i was rebranded as Viva FM
Viva FM
Easy Mix, is a New Zealand radio network. The network broadcasts easy listening music and news.The network station is based in Auckland and currently networked into Tauranga, Hawke's Bay and Wellington....
in 2005 and then as Easy Mix in August 2007. Hawkes Bay's Jammin' Oldies 1530 was purchased by Radio Network and re-branded as the first Coast
Coast (New Zealand radio)
Coast is a New Zealand radio network owned by The Radio Network that plays middle of the road music with an emphasis on music from the fifties and sixties...
station. Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
's The Planet 97FM
The Planet 97FM
The Planet 97FM was a radio station in Nelson New Zealand.The station was first started in 1999 by Kevin Ihaia who was responsible for starting Fifeshire FM in Nelson. Ihaia left Fifeshire in 1998 after the station was sold....
was replaced with ZM
ZM (New Zealand)
ZM is a New Zealand contemporary hit radio network owned by The Radio Network. It broadcasts 19 markets throughout mainland New Zealand via terrestrial FM, and worldwide via the Internet. The network targets the 15–39 demographic specialises in a chart-music playlist of pop, rock, hip hop and dance...
, after having operated in the ZM format.
Radio networks operated by The Radio Network
- Newstalk ZBNewstalk ZBNewstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talk radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand . It is available in almost every radio market in the country, and has news reporters based in many of them...
- Classic Hits FMClassic Hits FMClassic Hits is an Adult Contemporary music radio network broadcasting in 25 markets throughout New Zealand, targeting 25 - 55 year olds. Its a family-focused radio network with some of New Zealand's most experienced broadcasters on air and behind the scenes. It currently has around 387,000...
- ZMZM (New Zealand)ZM is a New Zealand contemporary hit radio network owned by The Radio Network. It broadcasts 19 markets throughout mainland New Zealand via terrestrial FM, and worldwide via the Internet. The network targets the 15–39 demographic specialises in a chart-music playlist of pop, rock, hip hop and dance...
- Radio SportRadio SportRadio Sport is a New Zealand sports radio network and the talkback sister network of Newstalk ZB. It has commentary rights for most cricket matches, international and domestic rugby union games, some NRL rugby league games, trans-Tasman basketball and New Zealand tennis tournaments. The network...
- Radio HaurakiRadio HaurakiRadio Hauraki is a New Zealand radio network, specialising in album-oriented rock and classic rock. It was the first private commercial radio station of the modern broadcasting era in New Zealand and operated illegally from 1966-1970 to break the monopoly held by the government...
- Easy Mix
- Flava
- CoastCoast (New Zealand radio)Coast is a New Zealand radio network owned by The Radio Network that plays middle of the road music with an emphasis on music from the fifties and sixties...
Local stations operated by The Radio Network:
- Hokonui GoldHokonui GoldHokonui Gold is an easy listening radio station that is based in Gore, New Zealand.The station was formerly known as 4ZG or Radio Hokonui, which broadcast on 558 AM and was operated by Radio New Zealand...
Gore (Privately owned but currently leased to The Radio Network).
Previous stations operated by The Radio Network
- Community Radio NetworkCommunity Radio NetworkThe Community Radio Network was a network of radio stations based in provincial centres across New Zealand. The network was operated by The Radio Network ....
- Local stations taken over by either Newstalk ZB or Classic Hits FM. - Cool Blue 96.1FMCool Blue 96.1FMCool Blue was a radio station in Auckland New Zealand, operated by The Radio Network broadcasting on 96.1 FM between 2001 and 2004. Unlike other radio stations operated by The Radio Network, Cool Blue was only available in the Auckland region and not networked to other regions. Due to low ratings...
Auckland - Stopped operation by TRN in 2004 and frequency taken over by Flava. Still available online but no longer operated by The Radio Network. - Classic Rock 96FM Hawkes Bay - Replaced with Radio Hauraki and later ZM.
- Easy Listening i - Rebranded as Viva FMViva FMEasy Mix, is a New Zealand radio network. The network broadcasts easy listening music and news.The network station is based in Auckland and currently networked into Tauranga, Hawke's Bay and Wellington....
in 2005, and subsequently as Easy Mix in August 2007. - Jammin' Oldies 1530 Hawkes Bay - Local station taken over by TRN and later rebranded as the very first CoastCoast (New Zealand radio)Coast is a New Zealand radio network owned by The Radio Network that plays middle of the road music with an emphasis on music from the fifties and sixties...
station. - The Breeze on 91The 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...
Auckland and The Breeze on 89.8 Hamiton (Both stations closed down and frequency used to launch ZM in these regions) The Breeze station in Wellington remained on air as this station was under different ownership. - The Planet 97FMThe Planet 97FMThe Planet 97FM was a radio station in Nelson New Zealand.The station was first started in 1999 by Kevin Ihaia who was responsible for starting Fifeshire FM in Nelson. Ihaia left Fifeshire in 1998 after the station was sold....
Nelson - Played similar format to ZM and was shut down and replaced with ZM in 2004.
External links
- The Radio Network website
- ZM Online
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