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Revision as of 00:58, 6 December 2009 by Full-date unlinking bot (talk | contribs) (Unlinking full-dates. Details here. Codes: AMreg(×1))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)- This article refers to the defunct New Zealand radio station; for other usesSee also: Channel Z (disambiguation)
| File:Channel Z logo.svg | |
| Broadcast area | 3 markets in New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 93.8 (Auckland) 91.7 – 94.7 (Wellington) 99.3 (Christchurch) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Alternative music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | MediaWorks NZ |
| History | |
| First air date | 1996 (Wellington) 1997 (Auckland) 1999 (Christchurch) |
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 August 19, 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
In January 2005, Channel Z announced it was to relaunch as Kiwi FM on February 6, 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 radiostation compiles the most requested or fitting songs. ALL Channel Z compilatons 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 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).