RadioWorks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RadioWorks is a radio broadcaster based in New Zealand. Formally an independent company, listed on the stockmarket it was purchased by CanWest Global Communications through a local subsidiary and in 2004 transferred into the ownership of Canwest MediaWorks NZ.

RadioWorks is one of New Zealand's largest radio station and network operators. It has stations and networks that span the country.

Radioworks was started when Taranaki local radio station Energy FM in New Plymouth went to air in the late 1980s. Over time, it grew from one local station to a number of local radio stations across the North Island. During the 1990s it amalgamated with independant radio operator Radio Pacific and was known as Pacific/Radioworks Group Ltd.

In 1999, Pacific/Radioworks Group Ltd purchased Radio Otago and its South Island-focused collection of networks and independent radio stations.

The two operations were combined with a rationalisation of network brands in the South Island formerly operated by Radio Otago to allow the extension of several North Island based networks including the Solid Gold, The Edge and The Rock into the South Island.

Following the merger, the group took on the name of RadioWorks.

In mid 2000, with the changes within the organisation still to be completed, RadioWorks became the target of a bid from the CanWest owned Global Radio New Zealand who already operated the More FM network, The Breeze and Channel Z.

Global Radio eventually moved to purchase all of the shares of RadioWorks in January of 2001. The operations of the RadioWorks were integrated with those of the Global Radio New Zealand which provided a natural compliment to the RadioWorks brands both in terms of coverage and also demographic fit.

In 2004, Radioworks was transferred into the ownership of Canwest MediaWorks NZ as a way of listing 30 per cent of the Canadian company's New Zealand assets on the New Zealand share market.

As of 2006, RadioWorks had a network of over 140 frequencies throughout New Zealand, including 6 Network Brands – The Edge, Kiwi FM, The Rock, Solid Gold, Radio Live and Radio Pacific. RadioWorks also operates 21 live and local stations broadcasting under the More FM brand and 6 local stations broadcasting as The Breeze. RadioWorks has over 1.2 million listeners tuning into one of their stations each week.

RadioWorks operates:

Local stations