Talk:ZM (New Zealand)
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[edit] Cleanup
How does this article need to be cleaned up? Hyacinth 12:37, 8 April 2006 (UTC)
- NeoNumbers, I think cleanup is better now. Action as per talk page. --Matt von Furrie 20:45, 1 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Proposed changes
I intend to make the following changes once I have someone confirm this is correct, part of the history page shall read as follows.
ZM Auckland In 1983, with the approval by the Broadcasting Tribunal to allow two new private radio stations to be the first fully commercial FM stations in Auckland, 1ZM was forced to change its format to be an alternative commercial free station, largely to allow the new private stations (Magic 91 FM and Stereo 89 FM) to compete successfully for the mainstream contemporary hit radio audience. This was successful, as within 2-3 years 1ZM's market share dropped significantly as young listeners were attracted by the higher quality sound of the FM stations, despite the absence of commercials on 1ZM. 1ZM changed format in 1987 to "Classic Hits" to try to recover audience, but was still costing Radio NZ over $1 million per annum to operate as it was the only "commercial station" legally required to run no commercials! The change to the Classic Hits format saw 1ZM drop the ZM name and become Classic Hits Twelve Fifty One. Subsequent liberalisation of the broadcasting warrant system (which was ultimately abolished in 1989/1990) saw Radio NZ win a licence to broadcast the station on 97.4FM in Auckland and broadcast commercials, with the 1251kHz AM frequency reverting to Christian broadcaster Radio Rhema. The move to FM saw the station change branding to Classic Hit 97FM and this was the birth of theClassic Hits Network we know today, although the Classic Hits brand was not rolled out to other stations until at least 1993. The ZM station that exists in Auckland today is the successor to Magic 91FM which broadcast on 91.0FM playing the same Hit Music format as ZM, however it is believed that The Breeze 91FM also operated on that frequency in 1993.
ZM Wellington and Christchurch Wellington's 2ZM was the first ZM network station to broadcast in FM from 1985 as ZMFM 91 (90.9), but did not cease to broadcast on AM until 1986 with the introduction of a second frequency on 93.5 to provide adequate FM coverage of the hilly Wellington region. Its AM frequency (1161 kHz) was reallocated to Maori station Te Upoko o Te Ika. ZM in Wellington was branded as ZMFM following its switch to FM but in the mid-nineties changed to 91ZM, the same brand name used in Christchurch after their switch to FM. Christchurch's 3ZM followed suit switching to FM in 1986 and ceasing AM broadcasting several months later (also surrendering its AM frequency for Maori broadcasting) on 1323kHz where Radio Liberty ran in the mid 1990's.