Radio Live

RadioLive
Broadcast area New Zealand
Slogan Entertaining Talk & News as it Happens
First air date 2005
Format News, Talk,
Owner MediaWorks New Zealand
Website radiolive.co.nz

Radio Live (stylised as RadioLIVE) is a nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sport radio network owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.

It was 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 LiveSport). Together, the networks compete directly against The Radio Network stations Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport.

History

Radio Pacific

The network began as one, Auckland's Radio Pacific station, in 1978. Set up originally by talkback host Gordon Dryden, Radio Pacific became a New Zealand Stock Exchange listed company, with the Totalisator Agency Board as major shareholder. The company also bought a share of a group of North Island music stations known as Energy Enterprises and merged with the South Island radio company Radio Otago in 1999. The merged company, now known as Radioworks was purchased by a subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications which at that time owned the MORE FM radio network and TV3. 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.

Relaunch

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 LiveSport in January 2010.

Programmes

Radio Live broadcasts news updates, breakfast and 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.

Breakfast

James Coleman hosts Radio Live's 'First@Five' news show (5am - 6am) with local and international news, business, interviews and full weather and marine forecasts.

The network's breakfast programme with Marcus Lush featured a range of contributors and newsmakers. Auckland-based newsreader Hilary Barry provides half-hourly updates with Hamish McKay on sport.[2] LiveSport hosts Nathan Rarere and Ian Smith crossed into the programme live to discuss sport news. The show was previously hosted by Martin Devlin, with Sarah Bradley as the original newsreader.

Daytime

During the morning Sean Plunket hosts a news, current affairs and talkback, in a timeslot originally hosted by Michael Laws. In the afternoon, Alison Mau and Willie Jackson host a talkback and interview programme focused on political affairs and human interest stories within New Zealand. This show was originally hosted by Kerry Smith in 2005 and 2006, and Jemma Dempsey briefly hosted a midday current affairs show in 2007.

Drive

Duncan Garner presents the drive-time programme (Radio Live Drive) which mixes current affairs and breaking news with features on food, gardening, music and film. Previous drive hosts have included Paul Henry during 2005 and 2007 James Coleman in 2006, Bill Ralston in 2008, Maggie Barry in 2009 and 2010 and Brent Impey in 2011.

Nights

A daily 3 News simulcast is followed by early evening talkback with former Radio with Pictures host Karyn Hay and The Mockers frontman Andrew Fagan.[3] The show was hosted by Marcus Lush in 2005 and 2006, before Christine Rankin and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait presented the show in 2007.

Mitch Harris hosts a late-night talkback slot, having taken over from Martin Crump. Mike King hosted mental health programme The Nutters Club on the station between 2009 and 2011. The Overnighter slot is hosted by either Ewing Stevens or Emma Lange, with Bruce Hopkins one of the timeslot's previous presenters.

Weekend days

On Saturday mornings from 6am Mucking In landscaper Tony Murrell hosts The Home and Garden Show. He is joined by former New Zealand Woman's Weekly food editor Helen Jackson for the kitchen segment and interior designer Hamish Dodd for advice on DIY. On Sunday mornings from 6am, Mark Sainsbury hosts a weekly round-up of current affairs, before Sunday Business at 11am features analysis and interviews with Andrew Patterson.

Weekend Sport, hosted by Glen Larmer on Saturday and Hamish McKay on Sunday, airs from midday, and includes interviews with sports personalities.[4]

Weekend nights

Weekend Variety Wireless airs both Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm until midnight. The talk programme has been part of the station since its inception, and focuses on music, conservation, world issues and science.[5] Regular contributors include linguist Max Cryer, Stardome Observatory astronomer Grant Christie, sceptic Vicky Hyde, political commentator Tom Frewen and music critic Grant Smithies.

Host Graeme Hill is a former Radio Sport and bFM announcer, Sports Cafe presenter and The Able Tasmans band member. His on-air name is a musical pseudonym, due to his embarrassment performing under his real name.[6] Wine critic Keith Stewart previously hosted his Saturday night slot.

FM Frequencies

  • 100.7 Mid-Northland
  • 90.8FM Whangarei
  • 92.8FM Rodney
  • 100.2FM Whangaparaoa
  • 100.6FM Auckland
  • 100.2FM Waikato
  • 100.6FM Tauranga
  • 92.1FM Whakatane
  • 95.1FM Rotorua
  • 99.2FM Taupo
  • 94.9FM Gisborne
  • 106.3FM/1368AM Hawke's Bay
  • 89.2FM Taranaki
  • 96.0FM Whanganui
  • 93.8FM Manawatu
  • 99.1FM Kapiti
  • 98.9FM Upper Hut
  • 98.3FM Wairarapa
  • 98.9FM/1233AM Wellington
  • 95.3FM Blenheim
  • 96.0FM Nelson
  • 92.3FM Picton
  • 90.1FM Westport
  • 89.1FM Kaikoura
  • 99.3FM Christchurch
  • 89.9FM Timaru
  • 95.9FM Alexandra
  • 91.2FM Queenstown
  • 96.6FM Dunedin
  • 94.0FM Southland

References

  1. ↑ Morris William Shanahan, Karen Neill (2005). The Great New Zealand Radio Experiment. p. 132. ISBN 0-17-012480-0. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  2. ↑ http://www.radiolive.co.nz/WeekdayHosts/MarcusLush.aspx
  3. ↑ http://www.radiolive.co.nz/WeekdayHosts/KarynHayandAndrewFagan.aspx
  4. ↑ http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Shows/WeekendSport.aspx
  5. ↑ http://www.radiolive.co.nz/WeekendHosts/WeekendVarietyWirelesswithGraemeHill.aspx
  6. ↑ Nick Bollinger, Baroque Dreams, The Listener, 25–31 March 2006, Volume 203 No. 3437.

External links