Radio in New Zealand: Difference between revisions

Until the 1980s, stations used a series of [[List of New Zealand radio station callsigns|New Zealand call signs]], consisting of a single digit and two letters (see right). In addition to YA National programme stations, YC Concert programme stations and a limited number of privately owned X stations, several stations were operated commercially by the government. In each region, the largest city was assigned a ZB station (1ZB Auckland, 2ZB Wellington, 3ZB Christchurch and 4ZB Dunedin) and a ZM music station (1ZM Auckland, 2ZM Wellington and 3ZM Christchurch). The [[Newstalk ZB]] and [[ZMFM|ZM]] brands continue to be used by [[NZME]] (formerly [[The Radio Network]]). The second largest city was assigned a ZA station: 1ZA in [[Taupo]], 2ZA in [[Palmerston North]], 3ZA in [[Greymouth]] and 4ZA in [[Invercargill]]. In other towns and cities the final letter was assigned from the town or city name such as 4ZG in Gore and 1ZH in Hamilton. These ZA and other stations, also now owned by [[NZME]], were rebranded as [[Classic Hits FM|Classic Hits]] and rebranded again in 2014 as The Hits. 1YA, 2YK, 3AQ, 4YA were the first stations operating in the country's four main cities, and 5ZB was a mobile radio station broadcast in railway carriages during the 1940s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/popular/treaty/events-1990s |title=Centenary Celebrations |publisher=Radionz.co.nz |access-date=19 August 2011 |archive-date=10 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710044058/http://www.radionz.co.nz/popular/treaty/events-1990s |url-status=dead }}</ref>

 

 

The Government deregulated the broadcasting market in 1989, and the number of private stations grew exponentially as a result. Most were locally owned and operated, but eventually became part of the Mediaworks group of stations, and by 2004 the majority of former privately owned stations had been rebranded (see below) and owned by the one company.