Newstalk ZB

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Newstalk ZB
Broadcast area New Zealand
Frequency List available below
Format News and talk
Owner The Radio Network
Website www.newstalkzb.co.nz

Newstalk ZB is a nationwide New Zealand talkback radio network operated by The Radio Network of New Zealand (TRN). It is available in almost every radio market in the country, and has news reporters based in most of them. In addition to talkback, the network also broadcasts news, interviews, music, and sports (in partnership with its sister network Radio Sport).

Most of the network's programming is produced in Auckland, but Wellington and Christchurch produce some local programming and most markets produce their own local news and weather updates.

The network took on its modern form in 1993 by the sharing of content and branding between the four ZB stations - 1ZB in Auckland, 2ZB in Wellington, 3ZB in Christchurch and 4ZB in Dunedin. Each of these stations had been part of the commercial arm of Radio New Zealand, and so had just become part of the privatised TRN group.

Contents

[edit] Newstalk ZB News

Newstalk ZB operates one of the largest radio news operations in New Zealand. A total of 45 reporters are employed across most radio markets, including key newsrooms in Parliament and central Auckland. According to TRN's website, the service aims on "being first, fast and factual".

The Auckland news centre produces bulletins for the national Newstalk ZB network, as well as local Auckland bulletins at certain times of day (breakfast and lunchtime). Regional ZB stations either produce their own bulletins or take the network bulletin. The Auckland newsroom also produces bulletins for the national Classic Hits FM network.

The Newstalk ZB Affiliates Unit, based in the Auckland newsroom, produces a variety of radio news bulletins each hour for other stations belonging to the TRN group, including the Radio Hauraki, Coast, Radio Sport and Viva FM networks. It also sells a radio news bulletin to a variety of external clients, including the Rhema network of stations, 1XX Whakatane, and Radio Wanaka.

On the internet it provides a continuously-updated wire service of text articles and streaming audio for websites such as XtraMSN, TelstraClear, NZ City and the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Newstalk ZB also supplies a news wire service to Prime TV, Sky TV and TVNZ.

[edit] Programmes

Newstalk ZB's talkback radio format has been established over a number of years, and its schedule has remained consistently successful, and hence fairly unchanged, since a major relaunch in 1987.

Former announcers Lindsay Yeo and Tim Dower, actor Oliver Driver, and disc-jockey Pat Brittenden make regular appearances as substitutes on Newstalk ZB's schedule.

[edit] Breakfast

The network's programming is lead by its flagship breakfast programme, the Paul Holmes Breakfast. The programme has been presented by the country's highest-paid broadcaster Paul Holmes, since 1987, and has consistently remained the highest-rating breakfast programme on commercial radio in New Zealand. Every half hour the show provides news updates with Bernadine Oliver-Kerby, sports updates with Andrew Saville and local news updates, weather forecasts and traffic reports presented by Wendy Meyer in Auckland and local announcers elsewhere. During the remainder of each half hour Paul Holmes presents commentary, reports, talkback and interviews, including a regular Wednesday segment with Helen Clark.

Christchurch opts out and does not broadcast the Paul Holmes breakfast, instead having a local breakfast show hosted by John Dunne which regularly tops the local radio ratings. Ken Ellis presents news updates every 15 minutes and Brian Ashby presents sports updates.

[edit] Mornings

The morning slot on Newstalk ZB is primarily news-related talkback, with some interviews with newsmakers and regular guests. Most stations broadcast a talkback programme with conservative host Leighton Smith. During this timeslot other stations may broadcast their own talkback and interview programmes: Wellington broadcasts a programme with Justin Du Fresne, Christchurch broadcasts a programme with Ali Jones.

[edit] Afternoons

During the afternoons, between 12:00pm and 4:00pm, Danny Watson presents a talkback programme that also includes regular special interest discussions with specialist journalists.

[edit] Williams Drive

For three hours between 4:00pm and 7:00pm Larry Williams presents a programme on current affairs. There are brief updates of news, local news, sports, weather and traffic every twenty minutes, with longer news updates every hour. Williams also interviews political editor Barry Soper, and offers personal commentary on news issues.

[edit] Evenings

The evening timeslot on Newstalk ZB is almost entirely dedicated to talkback. Between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, Murray Deaker, Peter Montgomery or Willie Lose present an hour of sports-related talkback, known as SportsTalk, simulcast live with Radio Sport. Between 8:00pm and 12:00am, the network broadcasts four hours of nationwide talkback, hosted by Kerre Woodham from Monday to Thursday evenings and Bruce Russell on Friday evenings.

[edit] Overnight

Every morning the 12:00am to 6:00am timeslot features talkback on current affairs, music and hourly news, sports and weather updates. The six hour programme has a heavy reliance on audience participation. The programme is presented by Bruce Russell on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. James King has presented the programme from Thursday to Sunday since replacing Tim Dower in 2000.

[edit] Weekends and Holidays

Weekend and public holiday programming on Newstalk ZB is based around lifestyle features, sports coverage and music.

Saturday and Sunday mornings are dominated by slow-paced discussions on hobbies and personal life. Mike Hosking presents the Saturday Morning Programme between 9:00am and 12:00pm on Saturday mornings, and Kerre Woodham presents a similar programme, called Kerre's Cafe, at the same time on Sunday morning, both featuring interviews and sponsored regular guests segments. From 6:00am till 7:00, 'best of' shows are played with interviews done by morning hosts during the week. Also on Sunday morning, between 7:00am and 8:00am, Ruud Kleinpaste, presents an hour-long gardening programme. On public holidays Kerre Woodham or Oliver Driver present six hours of talkback between 6:00am and 12:00pm.

During the afternoons, between 12:00pm and 6:00pm, Murray Deaker, Peter Montgomery, Willie Lose or Andrew Saville present ScoreBoard, a combination of live sports updates and commentary and sports-related talkback. The programme, which is often simulcast on Radio Sport, includes interviews with major New Zealand sports people. The programme's presenters, especially Murray Deaker, have been ridiculed in the past for their constant advertorial endorsements. Again, Christchurch opts out of this on Saturdays, for its own ScoreBoard show, hosted by Malcolm Ellis, focusing on local sports.

[edit] Frequencies

North Island

South Island

[edit] External links

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