| Broadcast area | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Branding | The Edge |
| Slogan | Turn It Up & This Is The Edge Music |
| First air date | 1994 |
| Format | Pop Music |
| ERP | N/A |
| Class | Terrestrial/Internet |
| Owner | MediaWorks New Zealand |
| Webcast | [1] |
| Website | http://www.theedge.co.nz |
The Edge FM is a MediaWorks New Zealand New Zealand youth radio network, playing predominantly pop, rock and R&B. The network's flagship is The Morning Madhouse with Jay Jay Feeney, Mike Puru and Dom Harvey.
The Edge was founded in Hamilton, is based in Auckland and broadcasts nationwide.
Research International audience surveys suggest The Edge has approximately 424,000 listeners across all markets that are surveyed and the station makes up for 7.0% of the New Zealand radio market.[1] The network is most successful in Waikato, Rotorua and Nelson surveys and in the 15–19 and 10–14 female demographics,[2] whereas rival station ZM is most popular with listeners aged between 20 and 34.[3] The Morning Madhouse is number two in the ratings for nationwide commercial breakfast radio programmes; its 237,900 listeners compare with 325,600 listeners for the top-rating Newstalk ZB.[4] This compares with the non-commercial Radio New Zealand National whose breakfast programme, Morning Report, has an audience of 522,000 listeners. Radio New Zealand. [5]
The modern The Edge FM radio network evolved out of a local top 40 Hamilton radio station, Buzzard 98FM. The station, a combination of urban and contemporary hit radio and aimed at women and men under 30, was launched by Energy Enterprises on 1 December 1992 on the 97.8FM frequency still used by The Edge in the Hamilton market. In 1994 the station was rebranded as The Edge FM and introduced its current programme schedule.
From 1998 The Edge began networking around the North Island to smaller markets where Energy Enterprises already operated other stations, such as Taranaki, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay. In 1999 Energy Enterprises merged with Radio Otago to form RadioWorks, the merger allowed RadioWorks to now network their North Island based stations into the South Island As a result The Edge began broadcasting in Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill and later Queenstown and Nelson. In 2000 and 2001 The Edge continued to expanded further into other markets – Wellington, Palmerston North, Taupo, Gisborne, Whangarei, the Bay of Islands and Kapiti. Oamaru and Timaru began broadcasting The Edge in 2002.
In 2001, The Edge prepared to enter New Zealand's largest radio market, Auckland, by moving their studios to the city. From late 2001 to early 2003 The Edge began broadcasting on Sky Digital channel 100 to allowing the network to reach a limited portion of markets such as Auckland in which the network did not have an FM frequency. Programming on Sky Digital had its own set of advertisements using nationwide advertisements, the Sky Digital station also had its own station id, in mid 2002 the Sky Digital feed became advert free with fill in music played during advert breaks this music was also heard on the radio if a local advert break ended sooner than scheduled. While The Edge had been broadcasting from Auckland since 2001 it took until 2003 before the station could go on air in Auckland. Channel Z began broadcasting on 93.8FM through a transmitter outside of Auckland and took over the Sky Digital channel allocation. The Edge was able to take over the 94.2 Auckland frequency previously used by Channel Z. The Edge advertised itself nationally as "New on 94.2", recorded live from the Sky Tower on their first day of broadcast in Auckland, and repeated many of their most successful promotions such as 'Two Strangers and a Wedding'.
The Edge has continued to expand the markets in which it operates. In 2004 The Edge started broadcasting to Central Otago and in Southland coverage was extended to cover Gore which resulted in a loss of sound quality for listeners in the rest of Southland and Dunedin. In April 2008 The Edge ceased broadcasting in Central Otago with The Rock taking over this frequency. On 1 December 2009 The Edge began broadcasting in Blenheim.
Recently The Edge made a return to Sky Digital on channel 500. This channel allocation had been used by The Edge in 2001-2002 and was taken over by Channel Z followed by Channel Z's successor Kiwi FM. This reverted back to The Edge in early 2011. Today the Sky Digital feed includes the same programming and advertising as Auckland.
The Edge has been represented at the New Zealand Radio Awards with the following awards:[6]
| Area | Broadcast details |
| Ashburton | In and around Ashburton, broadcasts on 93.3FM. Station is operated under a franchise agreement with Port FM |
| Auckland | Broadcast in Auckland since 2003 on 94.2FM, having taken over the frequency from Channel Z. |
| Bay of Plenty | The Tauranga station of The Edge uses the frequency of 99.8FM. |
| Blenheim | Broadcasts in Blenheim on 104.9FM since 2009. |
| Christchurch | Broadcasts in Christchurch since August 1999, originally on 88.9FM today on 95.3FM |
| Dunedin | Began broadcasting in Dunedin on 91.8FM in August 1999 |
| Gisborne | In Gisborne The Edge is on 99.7FM. |
| Hawke's Bay | In Napier, Hastings and the surrounding area, broadcasts on 98.3FM. |
| Kapiti Coast | Broadcasts along the Kapiti Coast on 97.3FM. |
| Manawatu | In Palmerston North and the surrounding Manawatu area, broadcasts on 93.0FM. |
| Nelson | 88.8FM is the frequency of The Edge in Nelson. |
| Northland | Broadcasts in Whangarei, the Bay of Islands and the Northland Region on 94.0FM, with a RadioWorks head office in Whangarei. This station replaced Magic FM in 2001. Kaitaia broadcasts on 105.9FM |
| Oamaru | Broadcasts in and around Oamaru on 96.0FM. Station is operated under a franchise agreement with Port FM |
| Queenstown | The Edge is available in Queenstown on 95.2FM sharing advertising with Wanaka |
| Rotorua | In Rotorua, broadcasts on 99.9FM. |
| Southland | Broadcasts in Invercargil and Southland on 97.2FM since August 1999. |
| Taranaki | In New Plymouth and Taranaki, The Edge is on 94.0FM. |
| Taupo | Broadcasts in Taupo on 88.8FM since October 2000. |
| Timaru | Broadcasts in and around Timaru on 95.5FM. Station is operated under a franchise agreement with Port FM |
| Waikato | The original The Edge station, began as a local station in 1994 on 97.8FM station studios are now in Auckland. |
| Wairarapa | In Masterton and Wairarapa, The Edge is on 95.9FM. |
| Wanaka | The Edge is on Wanaka on 98.6FM sharing advertising with Queenstown. |
| Wanganui | In and around Wanganui, broadcasts on 88.8FM. |
| Wellington | Wellington's The Edge station has broadcast on 91.7FM since 2008, originally on 97.5FM. |
| Whangamata | Broadcasts in Whangamata and across the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula on 93.1FM. |
| Sky Digital | Available nationwide through Sky Digital Channel 500. |
| Optus D1 | Available free nationwide through a Digital receiver. |
Jay-Jay, Mike and Dom – 05:30 – 10:00 Monday-Friday
Jay-Jay Feeney, Mike Puru and Dominic Harvey present The Edge's flagship breakfast programme, with producer Chang Hung, newsreader Michael Kooge and sports newsreader Sharyn Wakefield.
Presenter line-ups since 1994 have included:
Presenters who have left the programme include:
Weekdays with Megan & Sharyn – 10:00 – 15:00 Monday-Friday
Sharyn Wakefield presents The Edge morning programme 10:00 to 12:00 and Megan Slovak presents The Edge afternoon programme 12:00 to 15:00.
Presenter line-ups have included:
Tasha Tolson left to become More FM Wellington's breakfast co-host, and Angelina Boyd left to become Kiwi FM's weekdays host.
Fletch & Vaughan – 15:00 – 19:00 Monday-Friday
Carl Fletcher, Vaughan Smith,Entertainment news/News/Other stuff: Megan Slovak. Producer: Chris Reeder
Presenter line-ups have included:
Previous presenters have included:
Brad & Marty – 19:00–00:00 Sunday-Friday
Brad Watson and Marty Hehewerth present The Edge Night Show. Brad Watson has been on the show since 2002 alongside various co-hosts, with Marty Hehewerth.
The Edge TOP20 runs Sunday - Thursday, with All Request Friday on Friday nights with Brad.
Presenters for the 19:00 to 24:00 timeslot have included:
Previous presenters for the evening and overnight shifts include:
Super Saturday Show with Fletch and Vaughan 7:00-10:00
The Stables Fat 40 first hit the airwaves in 1999. Hosted by Iain Stables, co-hosted and produced by Blair Dowling until 2002
2002 - 2004 Hosted by Fletch and Alex and became The Fat 40
Fat 40 with Megan & Clint – 14:00–18:00 Saturdays and Party Hard – 19:00–23:00 Saturdays and Party Hard The Remix – 23:00–03:00 Saturdays with DJ Justin Sane.
Other weekend timeslots are usually filled by such presenters as: Michael Kooge,Clint Roberts, Megan Slovak, Sharyn Wakefield, Nick, Brad Watson, Marty and others.
The Edge has made a name for itself through some of its larger and sometimes controversial competitions.
September 1999, October 2003 and September 2007
The Edge is the only radio station in New Zealand to ever try this competition where the station selects male and female entrant(s) and marries the couple the minute they meet at the altar. While overseas stations have tried this promotion, the result has often seen the couple splitting after a short time. In 2007 the competition was called Three Strangers and a Wedding, where this time the bride was found first instead of the groom and two possible grooms were chosen. The bride then chose her groom when she met both grooms for the first time at the altar. All of the couples formed through this competition – Zane and Paula Nicholl (1999), Steve and Kersha Veix (2003) and Paul and Chantelle Court (2007) – are still together today. All three couples now have children.
March 2000
Five contestants were locked in a luxury Wellington apartment for six weeks where their only contact with the outside world was a computer each where they could chat to the public or by talking through an 0900 number. The public could view the Inmates actions through live Webcams and vote for their favourite Inmate and the Inmate with the least votes for the week went home. While this competition was very much like Big Brother or Survivor, the concept was then new to New Zealanders as this competition took place before both these shows aired on New Zealand TV.
August 2000 and August 2011
A couple already intending on getting married was given the opportunity to have a secret wedding in Las Vegas. Various couples entered and the listeners chose the couple they wanted to see married, names were changed and voices disguised so no one had any idea who was getting married. After the wedding the winning couple had to then call the family and inform them they are in Vegas and have just been married.
September 2000
This competition followed a similar format to Inmates only this time contestants were locked in a SUV in a mall in Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin, with the winner taking home the vehicle.
March 2001
This was a competition to see who could gain the most weight over a period of a few weeks.
July 2001 and March 2003
Listeners were given the opportunity to say why they needed $5000 and then once a winner was selected the public had to vote whether the winner was allowed to keep the money or whether the winner should have to burn it. The first time the winner stated she would use the money for a breast reduction, the listeners voted to burn the money and since it is not legal burn New Zealand money the money was converted into Australian currency and then burnt. The second time round the prize money was $10,000 and the winner chose to bet all the money on the Canterbury Crusaders winning the 2003 Super 12 Final. Listeners voted for the winner to bank the money; however since the Crusaders did not win the final the winner ended up walking away empty handed.
September 2001
During the winter of 2001 New Zealand was at risk of facing a power crisis, similar to the power crisis in New Zealand in 1992 due to low lake levels and New Zealand's reliance on hydro electric power. The New Zealand public were asked to reduce their power usage and as a result The Edge decided to make a competition of the situation. Five households competed to save the most power throughout the duration of the competition; power meters were checked at regular points with the household using the most power being eliminated. There were certain rules in the competition such as each household had to power a radio tuned into The Edge 24 hours a day and certain challenges such as one day the household had to make a pavlova using their oven which would obviously consume more power. The final remaining team that used the least power took away the cash prize.
September 2002
Every day a participant had to find a particular person in New Zealand using only the cryptic clues given a telephone and every phone directory in New Zealand. The participant could only make a maximum of six phone calls to try to find the person in question.
April 2004 and April 2006
Listeners were given a chance to actually win a job working on The Edge as well as many other prizes. The prize was given to an entrant who had the most suitable voice for talking on the radio. Both winners, Vaughan Smith in 2004 and Sharyn Wakefield in 2006, still work for The Edge today.
September 2004
Listeners had to make their own television advertisement for The Morning Madhouse breakfast show on The Edge. Finalists advertisements were screened on New Zealand television networks and online with viewers given the opportunity to vote for their favourite. The winner took away a cash prize and had their advertisement screened on television. The advertisements only screened for a brief period this is likely due to Jason Reeves leaving The Edge shortly after the competition as Reeves was mentioned in the advertisement along with his co-hosts Jay Jay and Dom.
September 2005
This time in order to win $3,000 a mother and her children had a sit in a caravan while The Crazy Frog played over and over again; in order to win the mother and her child had to stay in the caravan until Axel F from The Crazy Frog had played 3000 times. There were various complaints about this competition and CYFS actually offered to give the contestant $2,000 if she forfeited from the competition immediately.
September 2006
Auditions were held throughout the country to find New Zealand's first ever manufactured boyband. The criteria for the entrants were they had to fit a certain stereotype of a boyband member, either Gay Boy, Mummy's Boy, Bad Boy, Fat Boy and Hot Boy. The aim was to get a Boyband single to number one of the New Zealand music charts and this goal was reached with their cover of The Kinks classic "You Really Got Me".
February–March 2008
This was a competition where The Edge paid a listener's credit card bill; the prize was for $50,000.
September 2008
The Edge ran a competition similar to 'Inmates', where a group of listeners were locked up in an apartment, and over a number of weeks gradually eliminated. Elimination criteria were based on the number of friends each contestant had accrued using the Social Networking sites Facebook, Bebo and MySpace along with The Edge's own website. Contestants were able to use these sites, as well as the in-house webcams and participation in various competitions and challenges, to woo listeners into becoming their 'friends' on the various Social Networking sites. The Contestants were Ruakura Waiti from Wellington, Nicola Pugh from Nelson, Jamie Moran, Sean Pang, Hannah Cochrane and Lee Warn from Auckland, Ollie Hampton and Freya Jones from Christchurch, Shanae Barker - Whangarei, Patrick Cavill - Papamoa. Amongst the Top Ten there is a swimming champ; a nanny, a part-time Model, a chef, business entrepreneur, equestrian rider, computer wizz-kid, registered nurse, wheelchair sporting hero and New Zealand's current social networking champ. In the end Ollie Hampton won this competition taking away a prize of $10,000.
September 2009
The Edge started a contest by the name of Nudie Nuptials where a couple was going to win a $100,000 wedding. The only catch was that they would have to get married in the nude. Shane Carson and Cherie Carson (nee Taylor) were married in the Bay of Islands on September the 24th.
August–September 2010, 2011
For a number of weeks in August, The Edge began taking applications from listeners to participate in Lost In A Box, where they would be locked up in a box for 21 days in an unknown location for $10,000, from 1 September. The winning listener was Emma Lee Lewis from Christchurch. For her to win the money, she must be found by The Edge listeners guessing where she is on an interactive map on the station's website. The person who correctly guesses where the box is, within 200 metres, will also win $10,000.
They repeated this promotion in 2011. This time listeners entered and a top 6 were decided on. These 6 contestants briefly competed to enter the box and were whittled down to a final two, Lilia Petrova and Paul Larsen. They would find out on the day who would enter the box, but both ended up in the box. On day 14, Lilia was evicted and replaced (on day 15) with another contestant from the top 6, Pagan Frisbee. Only one contestant would be able to win the money which had been increased to $25000. One listener who correctly guessed where the box was, within 100 metres, would win $10000 and each day $100 would be given away to anyone who had placed a guess anywhere on the interactive map. Just before the conclusion Paul was offered the chance to win a bathroom renovation voucher instead of the money if he won, as he had said he would give the money to his mother to help finish renovating her house. Pagan said she would get a 'boob job' if she won. Paul accepted the offer and did end up winning.
The Edge used to run an annual fund-raiser every Christmas called Jingle Bail. The Morning Madhouse presenters locked themselves in a make-shift jail cell somewhere in the country and stayed there 24 hours a day until the target amount was raised.
The deserving children were nominated by listeners, these were children who are sick or have been through a rough time.
Every summer between 2001 and 2006 The Edge put on major concerts featuring popular bands from its playlists. Starting as Summer Jam, the concert series has grown significantly over the years, featuring a steadily increasing number of international acts.
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