4XO

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Radio 4XO was a local radio station in Dunedin, New Zealand which had been around since 1971. The station was originally known as Radio Otago 4XO and was always involved in local events and was one of Dunedin's most well-known stations. Music played was from the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's & today with all announcers and voice overs local. 4XO could be heard throughout Otago. The station's final slogan was "Otago's Music Choice 4XO" & another voice over said "From Oamaru in the North, to Balclutha in the South, this is Otago's Music Choice". The station was closely involved with the website seenindunedin.co.nz which provided 4XO with a website page. However, it was publicly announced in November 2004 that RadioWorks was to rebrand 4XO and merge with the station 98 More FM to be known as Dunedin's 97.4 More FM.

During the mid-late 90s, 4XO became 4XO Gold, and reverted to playing a "Solid Gold" mix of music. For a number of years, 4XO struggled to maintain a stable, well-rating breakfast show.

Mark Bunting (now Waikato's Classic Hits breakfast show host) was brought in to turn the station around, and changed the station to a contemporary adult station, similar to 98 More FM - prior to Radio Otago being sold to RadioWorks. He left after about year, apparently frustrated with the management's decision to aim for an older audience to avoid direct competition.

Eventually, Damian Newell was brought in to host breakfast with Charlotte Butler - "Damian and the Butler" The breakfast show was renamed "The Blue & Gold Brekky Show" when Breffni O'Rourke joined as his co-host.

Radio 4XO broadast first on 1206AM before adding a broadcast on 97.4FM. It broadcast throughout the 1970s and 1980s, mainly from studios in Lower Stuart Street in central Dunedin. In the early nineties the station broadcast from the seven storey Radio Otago House Building from which RadioWorks still operates its stations.

[edit] Frequencies

97.4 FM Covered most of Otago (Official Frequency)
1206 AM Dunedin Area (Official Frequency)
95.4 FM Unofficial frequency for Mosgiel, used initially by Mosgiel FM
93.8 FM Operated from Balclutha as Big River Radio from 6.00 A.M till 12.00 P.M