| Broadcast area | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| First air date | 2005 |
| Format | News, Talk, Racing commentaries |
| Owner | MediaWorks New Zealand |
| Website | Live, Live Sport |
Radio Live and Radio Live Sport (previously Radio Pacific and BSport) are nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sports radio networks owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand. They were formed by the 2005 split of talk and racing network Radio Pacific into a dedicated talk network which prioritised breaking news coverage (Radio Live) and a talk network which broadcast live horse racing and greyhound racing commentaries (now Radio Live Sport). The networks compete directly against The Radio Network's Newstalk ZB/Radio Sport group.
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The networks began as one, Auckland's Radio Pacific station, in 1978. Radio Pacific became a New Zealand Stock Exchange listed company, with the Totalisator Agency Board as major shareholder. The company also owned a group of North Island music stations known as Energy Enterprises and merged with the South Island radio company Radio Otago in 1999. The company was purchased by a subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications and changed its name to RadioWorks, and CanWest later sold off the company as part of MediaWorks New Zealand. During the 1990s Pacific became one of the first stations to be networked across the country.[1] Although ownership of the network changed, live races and live betting odds continued to be broadcast on the network in pre-determined, limited periods during the race day under a contract with the New Zealand Racing Board. Between 2001 and 2005, this was complemented by a trial Radio Trackside station in the Southland market which simulcast Trackside TV and Radio Pacific as a dedicated racing station.
At 05:30 11 April 2005, MediaWorks launched the Radio Live talkback network with newsreader Sarah Bradley and talk host Martin Devlin, making it the first New Zealand radio network to begin broadcasting nationwide on the same day. It launched the station, "the new voice of talk radio", as a sister network to Pacific, "more stimulating talk radio". The new network gained many of Radio Pacific's frequencies and presenters, including Michael Laws, Kerry Smith until 2006 and Paul Henry until 2007. Live was a dedicated talkback network that could prioritise breaking news coverage, while Radio Pacific continued as a talkback and racing network on new frequencies. John Banks, Alice Worsley and Martin Crump remained behind on Radio Pacific to present morning talkback, while a Trackside TV simulcast, branded as Radio Trackside, was broadcast in the afternoon. On 29 October 2007 the station changed its morning format to sports radio and introduced new presenters. It was initially branded as "BSport, the station you can bet on" and it was rebranded again as Radio Live Sport in January 2010.
Radio Live broadcasts news updates, breakfast/midday/drive current affairs, open-line talkback, and weekend lifestyle and sports coverage. News, sports and weather updates are broadcast live half-hourly during current affairs programmes and hourly at other times, through a partnership with MediaWorks's twenty-four-hour 3 News service and 3 News at 6 is simulcast live every night.[2]
During the network's breakfast progamme, Marcus Lush Live (06:00-09:00), Marcus Lush interviews a range of contributors and newsmakers, Auckland-based newsreader Hilary Barry provides half-hourly updates with Martin Devlin (Sport) and Live Sport hosts Nathan Rarere, Ian Smith and Dean Lonergan discuss sports. During the day Michael Laws hosts conservative open-line talkback (09:00-12:00) with hourly news updates from Mary-Jane Tomasi, John Tamihere and Willie Jackson host a talkback and interview programme focused on Maori and Political affairs within New Zealand (12:00-15:00). Controversial broadcaster Paul Henry hosts his own news-based "Drive" show, known as Paul Henry Drive (15:00-18:00). A daily 3 News simulcast is followed by early evening talkback with Karyn Hay and Andrew Fagan [3] and late night talkback.
On Saturday mornings Mucking In landscaper Tony Murrell and former New Zealand Woman's Weekly food editor Helen Jackson host the Kitchen and Garden Show. On Sunday mornings the Design and Build Show is hosted by Hamish Dodd and Alex Breingan (who's day job is running the Living (New Zealand TV channel) and 'Food TV') and Sunday Business features analysis and interviews by Andrew Patterson. Graeme Hill's Weekend Variety Wireless airs on weekend mid-mornings, and features contributions from author Shannon Lush, linguist Max Cryer, amateur astronomer Grant Christie, sceptic Vicky Hyde, correspondent Tim Wilson, commentator Tom Frewen and music critic Grant Smithies. Martin Devlin on Sport airs on weekend afternoons, and includes commentary from Matthew Ridge and interviews with sports personalities.[4] Saturday evenings include a simulcast of 3 News, James Coleman's Pop Goes the Weasel music quiz show, and interviews and open-line talkback with Keith Stewart. After Sunday evening's 3 News simulcast, Russell Brown and Damian Christie host current affairs programme Public Address, and Mike King hosts discussion and talkback relating to mental illness called 'The Nutters Club'[5], funded by the Mental Health Foundation in New Zealand. Overnight hosts include Ewing Stevens (Monday-Wednesday mornings), Dudley Stace (Thursday-Saturday mornings) and Bruce Hopkins (Sunday mornings); Richard Loe presents rural affairs and sports programme On the Field at dawn (Tuesday-Saturday mornings).
Live Sport, previously BSport, is a nationwide New Zealand sports talk and horse racing commentary radio network. The Live Sport Breakfast includes a Radio Live link up (06:20-06:30), TAB Sportsdesk (08:45 and 09:45), Martin Devlin Live (09:00-10:00 Mondays and Fridays) and Live Sport Motorsport (09:00-10:00 Wednesdays).
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