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#REDIRECT ]
:''This article refers to the defunct ] radio station. For other uses, see ]''
{{infobox Radio station
| image =
| name = Channel Z
| airdate = 1996(Wellington)1997-1999(Auckland,Christchurch)
| area = 3 Markets in ]
| frequency = 93.8(Auckland-later years,91.7-94.7(Wellington)99.3(Christchurch)
| format = New Zealand(30%) and international Modern Alternative 90's Rock
| owner = ]
| slogan = "Your music,your voice","About the music","Sounds different"
|}}

'''Channel Z''' was an ] radio station which had a high youth demographic (preeteens- 35 )broadcasting in ], ] and ], ]. In early 2005 the station was relaunched as ] and only plays New Zealand music.

== Early years ==
Channel Z appeared on the air in Wellington, New Zealand, in mid-August ]. Its founding programme director was John Diver. Channel Z was part of the ] Group of stations, later to become the ]-owned RadioWorks Group. Early presenters included: ], John Diver, James Coleman, and Olivia.
Channel Z was named after the ] song of the same name, and played a vital role in lynchpining alternative NZ and international artists other stations claimed were too "dangerous" to play.

== Later years ==
In 1998, long time presenter Pheobe Spiers and breakfast hosts Jon Bridges and Nathan Rarere joined the station. Channel Z ] was launched in 1999, with Willy Macalister presenting a local daytime show, Melanie Wise on the night time show and networked mornings and drive shows. In 2001, major changes to Channel Z were made, including the abolishment of local shows in both Wellington and Christchurch and everything being networked from Auckland. This was obviously not a positive move, especially for Wellingtonians (where Channel Z began). Jon & Nathan's breakfast show was also later canned in favour of a new show featuring James Coleman on his own, with Bomber and ] moving from Nights to Drive.

== The end ==
In January 2005, Channel Z announced it was to relaunch as ] on ], ].Channel Z's final apparent song was Pretty Vacant by the ]. The station would only play 100% ]. This announcement came with mixed views with skepticism that it would not work. Many said there was no other station that kept a perfect distance from mainstream and eclecticism in radio. And former listeners considered it the lynchpin of radio, because of its continued support for alternative music, and without Channel Z, stations still find its music too risky.

== Shows ==
Other than the normal afternoon and local shows, there were others as well.
*Riot!-a punk show, breaking through new punk/alternative punk acts from overseas and New Zealand.

*Talkback with Bomber-Possibly the first talkback station on alternative radio to reach a youth market. Teenage topics mainly.

*Breakfast-Included the Dick 84 brekie with Nathan Rarere and Jon Bridges and company. Changed around with James coleman-changed to the Coleman Breakfast show.

*Local shows-From the markets individually. Stopped and syndicated from Auckland in 2001.

==Music==
Channel Z played a lot of alternative acts in it's time on air, often being the only station to play the bands/artists in its style of radio, which was often a close format with b.net stations only not as "distant" or eclectic. Overseas acts included:The Von Bondies,Andrew WK,Sugar Ray,Snot,Beck Henson,Alice in Chains,Second Coming,Tool and other alternative bands/artists such as Lit, Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Static X and P.J Harvey etc.

== Bring back z ==
An online petition and forum was started by Jonathon Kerkhofs and Hayden McCabe, called bring back z. The website had a forum, with rumored members that include former channel Z presenter ] and known musicians. The website was run for a year before funding ran out and the site was forced to close. There were exposure campaigns organized,one user asked about a Channel Z memorian album.
The Website was mentioned several times in ] issue No. 305 and a letter was included from co creator Jonathon Kerkhofs. The magazine was largely skeptical of the potential success of the web site giving it as much chance of success as "a Pop Idol winner has at a second album deal".
In the same issue Bradbury, who was at the time editor of Rip it Up, cited the need for a station such as channel Z to support the NZ music industry. He claimed "Channel Z served an important role between the ] and the commercial stations" and that with it gone "Nz music is going to find it a much harder place to get heard".
To date the petition has attracted over 1400 signatures, far short of the 10,000 expected to be necessary to have any influence.

== Channel Z revivals ==
Many good-intentioned former Channel Z listeners have tried to buy its rights to make the station on air again. However, these have not worked because of the feeling of the station(un-alternative playlists and lack of support).

== Other Channel Zs ==

* ] ] is an ] started on July 1st 2007 information can be found at http://www.chzradio.info . This Station plays the Best in New and Classic Alternative, Indie and Punk music. This is the second station owned by ] ]'s main station plays a wide range of ] and ] Music from the 70s to now. Information on WGPR can be found at http://www.wgpr.net.

* ] in ] was an ] station that went by the name "Channel Z-95.1" from 1992 to 1996, when the station changed format under a ] to 70s Oldies as "Z-95". The station today is known as "95 Rock" with an ] format.

*''']''' was the title of a song by the ] about a fictional radio station whose motto is ‘‘Channel Z: All static, All day, Forever!’’

*''']''' (1998-2003) in Cincinnati, Ohio; now called "94.9 The Sound"

*''']''' (1997-2000) in Columbus, Ohio; now called "105.7 The Brew"
* is a film production, HD post-production and visual effects company in Germany. The company did the screen design for the final draw for the ] in Germany for the ARD (Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen).

*Channel Z was also the name for the prototype ] computer by Commodore.

*Chann3lZ (named after the B-52's song "Channel Z") is an addictive ] ] that permits anyone to add and remove videos from its channels.

== See also ==
Channel Z is also is a rock cover band based out of Tampa Bay Florida.]The band was started in 1996 and its current members are Dan Michaels, Rob Stapleton, Ron Aschleman and Scott Johnson.


== References ==
*Rip It Up, June/July 2005 issue No.305
*Channel z Get Frank editorial-
]
]

Latest revision as of 15:12, 6 December 2014

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