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

Early years

Channel Z appeared on the air in Wellington, New Zealand, on 19 August, 1996. Its founding programme director was John Diver. Channel Z was part of the More FM Group of stations, later to become the CanWest-owned RadioWorks Group. Early presenters included: Martin Devlin, John Diver, James Coleman, and Olivia. Channel Z was named after the B-52's 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 Christchurch 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 Clarke Gayford moving from Nights to Drive.

The end

The old 94.2 frequency in Auckland was switched to The Edge in early 2003, and Channel Z was subsequently moved to a lower powered 93.8 frequency. This ultimately led to the demise of the station, as many listeners were unable to tune in, although eventually the transmitter was relocated to the Sky Tower from its previous position on Waiheke Island.

In January 2005, Channel Z announced it was to relaunch as Kiwi FM on 6 February 2005. Channel Z's final apparent song was Pretty Vacant by the Sex Pistols. The station would only play 100% New Zealand music. 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.

Compilations

Channel Z made several compilations in its radiospan. The compilation tracklistings are either chosen/voted for by the listeners online, or the radio station compiles the most requested or fitting songs. ALL Channel Z compilations feature New Zealand Bands.

• Channel Z-Best of 1,2 and 3
• Channel Z Up Loud!
• Channel Z Coleman Sesions

Bring back z

An online petition and forum was started by Jonathon Kerkhofs and Hayden McCabe, called Bring Back Channel Z. The website had a forum, with rumored members that include former channel Z presenter Martyn 'Bomber' Bradbury 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 Rip It Up 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 b.net 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).

Return / Demise of Channel Z on The Rock

On Monday 18 January 2010 a version of the Channel Z format was brought back on radio station The Rock. From 7PM to 10PM The Rock aired Channel Z Nights based on the modern rock format similar to that of Channel Z in the early 2000s. The show was fronted by Jason Mac and his sidekick Dunc. "Channel Z Nights" had the plug pulled on it a week prior to Christmas 2010 with Jason Mac and Dunc set to return in 2011, with a more traditional "Rock Nights" format, similar to the day time programming of the station.

Both The Rock and Channel Z came under the same ownership in 2001 when Channel Z owner Canwest purchased RadioWorks with all stations eventually falling under the same management umbrella.

References

• Rip It Up, June/July 2005 issue No.305
• Channel z Get Frank editorial-

1. http://www.therock.net.nz/Shows/TheNightshift/tabid/397/Default.aspx?ref=ha_cz

• Use dmy dates from October 2011
• Radio stations in New Zealand
• Modern rock radio stations