Australian Radio Network
Encyclopedia
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
. It includes the Classic Hits and Mix networks in Australia and the Newstalk ZB
, Classic Hits FM
, ZM
, Radio Sport
, Radio Hauraki
, Easy Mix, Flava and Coast
networks in New Zealand. It also owns a 30% stake in the World Movies
television channel.
The company operates the ARN News service in Australia and the Newstalk ZB News
service in New Zealand. Both services share reporters and international correspondents and source news stories from AAP
in Australia, CNN
from the United States and Sky News
and IRN from the United Kingdom. ARN has newsrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra
, Brisbane
, Adelaide
, Auckland
, Hamilton
, Wellington
, Christchurch
and Dunedin
.
In Australia the company owns and operates twelve capital city stations for 25 to 54 year olds. These stations all broadcast entirely local programming, although network stations have the same format and logo.
In Sydney on Mix 106.5
, in Melbourne on Mix 101.1, in Adelaide
on Mix 102.3
, in Brisbane
on 97.3 and in Canberra
on Mix 106.3
, the MIX network plays Hot Adult Contemporary for 25 to 44 year olds.
In Sydney on 101.7, in Melbourne on 104.3
and in Brisbane
on 693AM
, Classic Hits plays music from the 1960s to the early 2000s, for the older 35–54 year old market. It uses the tagline ""Good times and great classic hits".
Other stations carry different formats. Katoomba
-licenced The Edge 96.ONE is a hip-hop, urban and R&B station reaching most of Sydney. Adelaide
Classic Hits station 5DN was converted into easy listening
station Cruise 1323
. Nationwide internet-only station PureCountry
was set up August 2006 to play a contemporary country music
format but subsequently closed down. ARN's joint venture station in Canberra (104.7) is part of the Today network run by Austereo.
& Talk
network Newstalk ZB
, Classic Hits
network Classic Hits FM
, Contemporary Hit Radio
network ZM
, Sports Radio
network Radio Sport
, Rock network Radio Hauraki
, Easy listening
network Easy Mix, hip hop
and R&B network Flava and 1950s, 1960s and 1970s network Coast
. It also operates Gore
-based station Hokonui Gold
through a lease agreement with the station's owners.
The network was created in 1996 when the commercial radio activities of Radio 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 Commerce Commission ruled that as part of the take over of Prospect Media, The Radio Network was to on sell or dispose of some stations to prevent the company having a dominant position in Auckland and Hamilton. The Radio Network chose to keep the brands of Auckland
's Radio Hauraki
and Easy Listening i as is but were later launched as nationwide networks. The other stations Kool 93 in Auckland and Country FM in both Auckland and Hamilton were closed down. The Kool 93 frequency was purchased by Energy Enterprises and used to start Solid Gold FM
and the Country FM frequency was sold to the More FM Group
and used to start Channel Z
in Auckland. In Hamilton Radio Hauraki was dropped with the frequency being taken over by Radio Pacific
but Hauraki returned to Hamilton years later. Easy Listening i was retained in Hamilton but later dropped and replaced with Newstalk ZB. Country FM was dropped in Hamilton with the frequency sold to the Rhema Group
and used to network Life FM
into Hamilton. Auckland's The Breeze on 91
and Hamilton's The Breeze on 89.8
were closed down and a new ZM station was started in Auckland with the programming networked to Hamilton.
The network 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 years, but a number of changes occurred between 1998 and 2005 which lead to the current networks. Hawkes Bay's Classic Rock 96FM was replaced with Radio Hauraki
in 1998, which was later replaced with ZM
in 1999 now networked from Auckland. Also in Manawatu Q91 Classic Rock was replaced with ZM initially networked from Wellington.
The Community Radio Network
was established in 1998, with all local stations one off stations having local content outside breakfast replaced with a network feed from Taupo, at the same time Classic Hits FM
replaced local programming outside breakfast with networked programming from Auckland. Later all Community Network stations were replaced with Classic Hits FM
with all programming on these stations outside breakfast now originating from Auckland, Newstalk ZB
was also expanded into these markets at the same time.
In 2000 ZM switched their network programming to a single feed for Invercargill and Dunedin this meant programming was now networked from Auckland instead of Christchurch and in Palmerston North programming was networked from Auckland instead of Wellington. A year later ZM closed their Christchurch studio and Wellington's successful breakfast show became the new nationwide breakfast show. Auckland
's Cool Blue 96.1FM
was started in 2001 but was replaced with the first Flava station in 2004; Cool Blue became an independently operated internet-only station. Easy Listening i was rebranded as Viva FM
in 2005 and then as Easy Mix in August 2007. Hawkes Bay's Gold 1530 was purchased by Radio Network in 2000 and re-branded as JO 1530 (Jammin Oldies) and in 2002 as the first Coast
station, Coast was later moved to Auckland networked across the whole country. Nelson
's The Planet 97FM
was purchased by TRN in 2002 and was replaced with ZM
in 2004.
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...
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...
, the group is the largest radio company in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
. It includes the Classic Hits and Mix networks in Australia and the 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, Easy Mix, Flava and 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...
networks in New Zealand. It also owns a 30% stake in the World Movies
World Movies
World Movies is an Australian subscription television channel dedicated to foreign films, available on Foxtel, Optus TV and Austar. The channel features foreign film, documentaries, independent cinema, and interviews with international movie stars....
television channel.
The company operates the ARN News service in Australia and the Newstalk ZB News
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...
service in New Zealand. Both services share reporters and international correspondents and source news stories from AAP
Australian Associated Press
Australian Associated Press is Australia's national news agency. The organisation was established in 1935 by Fairfax and The Herald and Weekly Times.AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaux in all Australian states and territories...
in Australia, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
from the United States and Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
and IRN from the United Kingdom. ARN has newsrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, 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...
, 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...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and 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...
.
Australia
In Sydney on Mix 106.5
Mix 106.5
Mix 106.5 is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network...
, in Melbourne on Mix 101.1, in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on Mix 102.3
MIX 102.3
Mix 102.3 is a commercial radio station in Adelaide, Australia, owned by The Australian Radio Network .Mix 102.3 plays current hits and a variety of 70s, 80s and 90s music , primarily targeted at the 25-54 age group, the group most valued by advertisers...
, in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 97.3 and in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
on Mix 106.3
Mix 106.3
MIX 106.3 is a commercial radio station in Canberra, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network and Southern Cross Austereo....
, the MIX network plays Hot Adult Contemporary for 25 to 44 year olds.
In Sydney on 101.7, in Melbourne on 104.3
3KZ
Gold 104.3 is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Australia. Gold 104.3 is part of the Australian Radio Classic Hits Network and broadcasts on the 104.3 MHz frequency.- History :...
and in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 693AM
4KQ
4KQ is a commercial radio station in Brisbane, Australia owned by the Australian Radio Network. 4KQ began broadcasting on the 7th of May 1947 on 690 kHz AM moving to 693 kHz in 1978. 4KQ broadcasts from its studios in the Brisbane suburb of Stones Corner, along with its sister station 97.3 FM...
, Classic Hits plays music from the 1960s to the early 2000s, for the older 35–54 year old market. It uses the tagline ""Good times and great classic hits".
Other stations carry different formats. Katoomba
Katoomba, New South Wales
Katoomba is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia and the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. It is on the Great Western Highway 110 kilometres west of Sydney and 39 kilometres south-east of Lithgow. Katoomba railway station is on the...
-licenced The Edge 96.ONE is a hip-hop, urban and R&B station reaching most of Sydney. Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
Classic Hits station 5DN was converted into 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...
station Cruise 1323
Cruise 1323
Cruise 1323 is one of Adelaide's longest running radio stations. In its 80+ years it has changed considerably. It was the first commercial station to begin broadcasting in South Australia.- History :...
. Nationwide internet-only station PureCountry
PureCountry
PureCountry was an internet-based radio station created and operated by the Australian Radio Network , commencing broadcast in August 2006....
was set up August 2006 to play a contemporary country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format but subsequently closed down. ARN's joint venture station in Canberra (104.7) is part of the Today network run by Austereo.
Greater Sydney
- Mix 106.5Mix 106.5Mix 106.5 is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network...
Hot adult contemporary (http://www.mix1065.com.au/) - WSFM 101.7 Classic Hits (http://www.wsfm.com.au/)
- Edge 96.1Edge 96.1The Edge 96.One is a music radio station based in outer Sydney, Australia but licensed to Katoomba. It is operated by the Australian Radio Network.-History:...
Hip Hop/R&B (http://www.theedge961.com.au/)
Melbourne
- Mix 101.1 Hot adult contemporary (http://www.mix1011.com.au/)
- Gold 104.3 Classic Hits (http://www.gold1043.com.au/)
Brisbane
- 4KQ4KQ4KQ is a commercial radio station in Brisbane, Australia owned by the Australian Radio Network. 4KQ began broadcasting on the 7th of May 1947 on 690 kHz AM moving to 693 kHz in 1978. 4KQ broadcasts from its studios in the Brisbane suburb of Stones Corner, along with its sister station 97.3 FM...
693 AM Classic Hits (http://www.4kq.com.au/) - 97.3 FM (ARN) Hot adult contemporary (http://www.973fm.com.au/)
Adelaide
- Cruise 1323Cruise 1323Cruise 1323 is one of Adelaide's longest running radio stations. In its 80+ years it has changed considerably. It was the first commercial station to begin broadcasting in South Australia.- History :...
Easy listening – formerly 5DN (http://www.cruise1323.com.au/) - Mix 102.3MIX 102.3Mix 102.3 is a commercial radio station in Adelaide, Australia, owned by The Australian Radio Network .Mix 102.3 plays current hits and a variety of 70s, 80s and 90s music , primarily targeted at the 25-54 age group, the group most valued by advertisers...
Adult contemporary (http://www.mix1023.com.au/)
Canberra
- Mix 106.3Mix 106.3MIX 106.3 is a commercial radio station in Canberra, Australia and is owned by the Australian Radio Network and Southern Cross Austereo....
Hot adult contemporary (http://www.mix106.com.au/) - 104.7 (Canberra) Contemporary hit radio (http://www.1047.com.au/)
Digital Radio
ARN broadcast a number of digital only radio stations, in addition to simulcasts of their existing AM and FM stations, broadcasting the following stations, except on the Canberra trial service.- The Edge Digital, a station playing a music format based on Katoomba licensed Edge 96.1Edge 96.1The Edge 96.One is a music radio station based in outer Sydney, Australia but licensed to Katoomba. It is operated by the Australian Radio Network.-History:...
. The station is not a direct simulcast of that station, but shares resources, including logo and some promotions. - Classic Hits Plus, a station that is named based on the local 'Classic Hits' station, for example 'Gold Plus' in Melbourne and 'Mix 102.3 Plus' in Adelaide. Station has a featured artist or theme that is played exclusively on a monthly basis, with previous examples including Queen, David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac. This station is also the only one of the five stations broadcast in Canberra.
- Classic Hits Live, a new addition that plays only live recorded tracks from artists played on the main Classic Hits station. This includes a lot of content previously played as part of an artist's feature month on Classic Hits Plus.
- Mix '80s, a station that is named based on the local 'Mix' station playing the very music best of the 1980s, This station is broadcast in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
- Chemist Warehouse's Mix '90s, a station that is named based on the local 'Mix' station playing the very music best of the 1990s, This station is broadcast in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
New Zealand
Radio Network (TRN) is the New Zealand division of the ARN. It operates eight nationwide networks, over 100 radio stations and the twenty-four hour Newstalk ZB News service. Its networks include NewsNews Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
& Talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
network 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...
, Classic Hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
network 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...
, Contemporary Hit Radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
network 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...
, Sports Radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
network 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...
, Rock network 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...
, 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...
network Easy Mix, hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and R&B network Flava and 1950s, 1960s and 1970s network 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...
. It also operates Gore
Gore, New Zealand
Gore is a town, surrounding borough, and district in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand.-Geography:The Gore District has a land area of 1,251.62 km² and a resident population of...
-based station Hokonui Gold
Hokonui Gold
Hokonui 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...
through a lease agreement with the station's owners.
The network was created in 1996 when the commercial radio activities of Radio New Zealand
Radio 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
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
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 Commerce Commission ruled that as part of the take over of Prospect Media, The Radio Network was to on sell or dispose of some stations to prevent the company having a dominant position in Auckland and Hamilton. The Radio Network chose to keep 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 as is but were later launched as nationwide networks. The other stations Kool 93 in Auckland and Country FM in both Auckland and Hamilton were closed down. The Kool 93 frequency was purchased by Energy Enterprises and used to start Solid Gold FM
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...
and the Country FM frequency was sold to the More FM Group
More 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...
and used to start 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....
in Auckland. In Hamilton Radio Hauraki was dropped with the frequency being taken over by 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...
but Hauraki returned to Hamilton years later. Easy Listening i was retained in Hamilton but later dropped and replaced with Newstalk ZB. Country FM was dropped in Hamilton with the frequency sold to the Rhema Group
Radio Rhema
New Zealand's Rhema is an evangelical Christian talk and music radio network owned and operated by Rhema Broadcasting Group since 1978. The network currently features programmes from Aaron Ironside, Laurel McCulloch, Rob Holding and Rosemary Jane and pre-recorded daily preaching from Joyce Meyer,...
and used to network Life FM
Life FM
Life FM is a New Zealand Christian RBG-owned radio network broadcasting popular contemporary Christian music across New Zealand and online with MMS. It was launched as a secular alternative rock station in 1994, as an alternative Christian rock network in 1997 and as a Christian top 40 station in...
into Hamilton. 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...
and 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...
were closed down and a new ZM station was started in Auckland with the programming networked to Hamilton.
The network 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 years, but a number of changes occurred between 1998 and 2005 which lead to the current networks. 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...
in 1998, 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...
in 1999 now networked from Auckland. Also in Manawatu Q91 Classic Rock was replaced with ZM initially networked from Wellington.
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 established in 1998, with all local stations one off stations having local content outside breakfast replaced with a network feed from Taupo, at the same time 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...
replaced local programming outside breakfast with networked programming from Auckland. Later all Community Network stations were 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...
with all programming on these stations outside breakfast now originating from Auckland, 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...
was also expanded into these markets at the same time.
In 2000 ZM switched their network programming to a single feed for Invercargill and Dunedin this meant programming was now networked from Auckland instead of Christchurch and in Palmerston North programming was networked from Auckland instead of Wellington. A year later ZM closed their Christchurch studio and Wellington's successful breakfast show became the new nationwide breakfast show. 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
Cool Blue 96.1FM
Cool 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...
was started in 2001 but was replaced with the first Flava station in 2004; Cool Blue became an independently operated internet-only station. 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 Gold 1530 was purchased by Radio Network in 2000 and re-branded as JO 1530 (Jammin Oldies) and in 2002 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, Coast was later moved to Auckland networked across the whole country. 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 purchased by TRN in 2002 and 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...
in 2004.