The Edge (New Zealand)

This article is about the New Zealand radio network. For other radio stations known as "The Edge", see The Edge (disambiguation).
The Edge
Broadcast area New Zealand
Branding The Edge
Slogan Hit Music Now & Turn It Up
First air date 1994
Format Pop Music
ERP N/A
Class Terrestrial/Internet
Owner MediaWorks New Zealand
Webcast
Website http://www.theedge.co.nz
The Edge TV
Launched 27 June 2014
Owned by MediaWorks New Zealand
Picture format PAL (576i) 16:9
Country New Zealand
Broadcast area national
Sister channel(s) TV3, Four
Availability
Terrestrial
DVB 64-QAM on band IV
Satellite
DVB QPSK on 12644 MHz
Cable
DVB QAM

The Edge is a youth-oriented New Zealand radio network, music television channel and entertainment website owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand. It was founded in Hamilton in 1994, is based in Auckland and broadcasts nationwide avoid multiple channels. 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, whereas rival station ZM is most popular with listeners aged between 20 and 34.[2][3] The station's breakfast progrmame is number two in the ratings for nationwide commercial breakfast radio; its 240,000 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.[5]

The brand's TV channel, The Edge TV, was launched on 27 June 2014 at 4:00 pm as an extension of Mediaworks' radio brand. It plays music videos, screens specialist music and pop culture shows and broadcasts original video content filmed with The Edge radio hosts. It is available free-to-air on Kordia digital terrestrial and Sky satellite services.[6]

History

Early years

The modern The Edge 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 men and women 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.

Relocation to Auckland

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'.

Further expansion

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.

The Edge made a return to Sky Digital on channel 500 in early 2011. Then on 1 June Sky TV channel's changed The Edge can now be heard on Sky channel 420. 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 to The Edge. Today the Sky Digital feed includes the same programming and advertising as Auckland. It is currently the most popular music radio station in New Zealand.

The Edge TV

On 27 June 2014 a TV channel, The Edge TV was launched as an extension of the radio brand. Available on both digital terrestrial and satellite platforms, The Edge TV play music videos, screen specialist music and pop culture shows and broadcast original video content filmed with The Edge radio hosts. The Edge TV replaces C4 which was a music channel run by MediaWorks.

The Edge TV was announced as a replacement for music channel C4. The first broadcast of The Edge TV was at 4:00pm on 27 June 2014 opening with a video giving a brief history of The Edge and the presenters introducing themselves before going into the first show which was Hot Right Now. The very first music video to play on The Edge TV was "Problem" by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea.[7]

Programming

Breakfast

Jay-Jay Harvey, Mike Puru and Dominic Harvey present The Edge's flagship breakfast programme (6.00 – 10:00 Monday-Friday_ with newsreader Michael Kooge and producers Carl Thompson and Sophie Hallwright. Jay-Jay Feeney joined the programme in 1996, Dominic Harvey in 2002, and Mike Puru began in 2004. Michael Kooge joined in 2011, and Carl Thompson and Sophie Hallwright became part of the team in 2012. Daytime host Megan Annear is a substitute host and Tracey Donaldson is a substitute newsreader. Every weekday approximately 2 - 3 hours after the show, a Podcast is released on iTunes, The Edge website and the app for iPhone and android.

Early presenters of this programme included Martin Devlin (1994 until his departure to Radio Sport in 1997), Brian Reid (1996 until his death in 1999), Jason Reeves (1999 until his move to ZM in 2004) and Clarke Gayford (2000 until his departure to Channel Z in 2001). Jason Reeves left The Edge as a result of text abuse by his co-hosts Jay-Jay and Dom.[8][9] Later hosts included Geoff Stagg (2004), Toni Marsh (2004), Chang Hung (2004-2011), Megan Sellers (2005-2011), Sharyn Wakefield (2011-2012) and Tracey Donaldson (2012). Chang and Sharyn have now moved to the drive show.

Weekdays

The Edge Workday of Awesome (10 am–3 pm Monday–Friday) is hosted by Megan Annear. Previous presenters have included Jay Jay Feeney who hosted from 1997 until 1998, and Tasha Tolson who hosted from 1999 until her departure to More FM Wellington in 2005. Angelina Boyd covered the slot from 2004 until joining Kiwi FM in 2006) and Joe Cotton replaced her in 2007 until moving to More FM in 2008. The programme was briefly split between Megan Sellers and Clint Roberts (2009–2010) and Sharyn Casey and Megan Sellers (2011–2013).

The Edge Afternoons with Guy, Sharyn & Clint airs 3 pm–7 pm Monday–Friday. Previous presenters have included Jay-Jay Feeney (1994–1995) and Jason Reeves (1996–1998). Iain Stables hosted the show from 1998 until an employment dispute in 2002. He became the drivetime host on opposition station ZM a year after leaving The Edge and remained in this job until February 2008 when it was reported that he was fired from ZM. He was most recently Drive host on Wellington station X105, until late 2010, when the station closed down.[10] Blair Dowling co-hosted and produced the show from 1998 until his transfer to More FM in 2002.

Alex and Fletch with Alex Behan, Carl Fletcher and Chang Hung aired in 2003 and 2004. Fletch & Vaughan with Carl Fletcher, Vaughan Smith and Will Maisey aired 2005 to2010, Fletch & Vaughan with Carl Fletcher, Vaughan Smith, Megan Sellers and Chris Reeder aired 2011 to 2012. and Fletch & Vaughan with Carl Fletcher, Vaughan Smith, Megan Sellers & James Marbeck aired in 2013.

Nights and weekdends

The Edge Nightshow with Marty & Steph airs 19:00–00:00 Sunday-Thursday. Marty Hehewerth has been hosting since 2011, Steph Monks has been hosting since 2013, and Oscar the intern has been part of the show since 2014. The Edge TOP20 runs Sunday - Thursday from 8pm, Interactive from 10pm, with All Request Friday on Friday nights with Oscar Jackson.

Stu Tolan hosted the show from 1996 until moving to 2XS FM in 1997 and later becoming the ZM night host.Mike Puru presented from 1999 until his move to breakfast in 2004. Long-time host since 2002, Brad Watson, left in 2013 to move to Dubai. Other former hosts include Carolyn Taylor (2004-2006) and Sharyn Wakefield (2006-2010). Dougie Mackie, who presented the overnight programme and appeared on the night programme during 1996–1997 and 2000–2002, moved to London to train in film, and has become a filmmaker.[11]

The flagship weekend programme is an afternoon chart show. The Stables Fat 40 first hit the airwaves in 1999 and hosted by Iain Stables and co-hosted and produced by Blair Dowling until 2002. Fletch and Alex hosted it as The Fat 40 from 2002 to 2004 and t is now hosted by Guy, Sharyn and Clint 14:00–18:00 Saturdays. The Saturday night line-up also includes 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 presenters Michael Kooge, Monica Barton, Hale Speedy, Oscar Jackson, Megan Annear, Carl Thompson, Jacqui Jenson, Janelle.

The Edge TV programmes

Scandal is a entertainment news and celebrity gossip played every other hour from 11am each day with either Jay-Jay, Megan, Sharyn or Steph. …NOW features six videos from one particular artist or theme. U Choose allows viewers to send through their ultimate playlist via The Edge App or website with the viewer's face, name and playlist appearing on screen. Hot Right Now, hosted by Marty and Steph from The Edge Nightshow, counts down the Top Six videos on The Edge ‘right now’. The Music Lab, a half hour feature, showcases new and exclusive music videos from New Zealand and around the world with Sharyn Casey from The Edge Afternoons.

On Saturdays, The Edge Mixdelivers a soundtrack for a Saturday night. The show free and chosen by viewers who can request their favorite party anthems via The Edge App, Website and Facebook page. On Sundays, The Edge Fat 40 chart show counts down the Top 40 songs in New Zealand right now. Hosted by Guy, Sharyn and Clint across TV and Radio, The Edge Fat 40 includes new music releases, music interviews with some of the world’s biggest artists, competitions and up to the minute music news and gossip. Perve features sexually attractive video clips. Hit Music Now includes music videos that have been worldwide hits. Clips from programmes and promotions are also regularly broadcast.[12]

Notable Promotions/Competitions

Two Strangers and a Wedding

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.

Inmates

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.

Elope to Las Vegas

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.

Bank It, Or Burn It

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.

Quit Your Day Job

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. Sharyn Wakefield, the winner in 2006 still works for The Edge today. Vaughan Smith, the winner in 2004 left The Edge at the end of 2013.

Desperate Housewives vs The Crazy Frog

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.

Boyband projects

In September 2006, auditions were held throughout the country to find New Zealand's first-ever manufactured novelty boyband. The criteria for the entrants for the band to be named Boyband were that each of its members had to fit a certain stereotype. Filling the five stereotype roles were Rob Arnold from Wellington as Gay Boy, Gerard Clark from Auckland as Bad Boy, Jay Coote from Bluff as Fat Boy, Chris Murray from Whakatane as Mummy's Boy and Pieter T from Hamilton as Hot Boy. The band manager and creator was Will Maisey from The Edge station. The aim was to get the Boyband formation to release a single to reach the top of the New Zealand music charts. This was achieved on the 9th of October, 2006 when the Boyband cover of The Kinks classic "You Really Got Me" reached number 1 in New Zealand.

In July 2012, The Edge announced a search for a new New Zealand's boyband. This time a more serious campaign was launched searching the whole country for young talents. Live auditions were held in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. On 26 July, 2012 live auditions were held in the radio station's studios with further auditions online. The final 10 boys were sent to a "boot camp", and then the top six were picked as eventual members of the band. The group formed called themselves Titanium and was made up of Andrew Papas, Zac Taylor, Jordi Webber, T.K Paradza, Shaquille Paranihi-Ngauma and Haydn Linsley. Their first single, "Come On Home" debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Jinglebail

The Edge used to run an annual fund-raiser every Christmas called Jingle Bail. The Morning Madhouse presenters locked themselves in a makeshift 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.

Summer Jam

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. The first Summer Jam took place in Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in 2001 and featured Zed, Stellar*, Breathe, Garageland and international act Killing Heidi. The second Summer Jam in 2002 featured Silverchair as the international act and New Zealand bands The Feelers, Tadpole, Che Fu and Rubicon.In 2003, with The Edge now broadcasting in Auckland the city became a venue alongside Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch with Good Charlotte playing alongside Taxi Ride, Zed, Nesian Mystik, Rubicon, Carly Binding and Elemeno P.[13]

Summer Jam became known as Edgefest in 2004, Shihad, Alien Ant Farm and Yellowcard playing with Elemeno P, The Feelers, Scribe, Blindspott, Zed, Che Fu and the Krates, Nesian Mystik and Steriogram;. The 2005 event included Chingy, Blindspott, The Feelers, P-Money, Steriogram, Fast Crew, 48 May, Dei Hamo, Misfits of Science, Savage and Goodnight Nurse. Another Edgefest took place in 2006 with P.O.D., Presidents of the United States of America, Matafix, The Living End, Thirsty Merc and Elemeno P, Nesian Mystik, Frontline, Savage Feat. Aaradhna and Goodnight Nurse. The Edge Summer Jam was revived in 2009 with The Veronicas, Metro Station, P-Money, and Midnight Youth, taking place in Hamilton but not Dunedin.[14]

Frequencies

North Island frequencies

MarketLocationTransmitterFrequencyFounding
01. Northland Whangarei Maungataniwha & Parahaki FM 94.0 2002
02. Auckland Auckland Sky Tower FM 94.2 2003
03. Coromandel Whangamata Tirohanga Drive FM 93.1
04. Waikato Hamilton Ruru FM 97.8 1994
05. Bay of Plenty Tauranga Kopukairua FM 99.8
06. Rotorua Rotorua Pukepoto FM 99.9
07. Taupo Taupo Whakaroa FM 88.8 2000
08. Gisborne Gisborne Gisborne FM

99.7

09. Hawke's Bay Napier Mount Erin FM 98.3
10. Taranaki New Plymouth Mount Egmont FM 94.0
11. Whanganui Wanganui Bastia Hill FM 88.8
12. Manawatu Palmerston North Wharite FM 93.0
13. Wairarapa Masterton Popoiti FM 95.9
14. Kapiti Paraparaumu Ngarara FM 97.5 2010
15. Wellington Wellington Fitzherbert & Kaukau FM 91.7 2008

South Island frequencies

MarketLocationTransmitterFrequencyFounding
01. Nelson Nelson Grampians FM 88.8
02. Marlborough Blenheim Wither Hills FM 104.9 2009
03. Canterbury Christchurch Sugarloaf FM 95.3 1999
04. Otago Dunedin Mount Cargill FM 91.8 1999
05. Queentsown Wanaka Mount Maude FM 98.6
06. Queenstown Queenstown Peninsula Hill FM 95.2
07. Southland Invercargill Hedgehope FM 97.2 1999

Franchised frequencies

MarketLocationFrequency
1. Ashburton Ashburton FM 93.3
2. Canterbury Twizel FM 99.8
3. South Canterbury Timaru FM 95.5
4. North Otago Oamaru FM 96.0

Other channels

ChannelAvailability
Sky Digital Available nationwide through Sky Digital Channel 420.
Optus D1 Available free nationwide through a Digital receiver.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Radio Scope Ratings April 2008". RadioScope. 4 April 2008.
  2. ↑ "The Edge Network Audience Distribution vs. All Commercial Radio, Mon-Sun 6am-12pm". The Radio Bureau. 4 April 2008.
  3. ↑ "ZM Network Audience Distribution vs. All Commercial Radio, Mon-Sun 6am-12pm". The Radio Bureau. 4 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "Radio Chick Radio Ratings October 2007". [www.youtube.com/samywa]. 25 October 2007.
  5. ↑ "Radio New Zealand About Us". 28 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "The Edge TV takes off". stuff.co.nz. stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Edge TV: What you need to know". nzherald.co.nz. www.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Bust-up puts radio star on leave". New Zealand Herald. 6 November 2004.
  9. ↑ Spratt, Amanda (19 May 2005). "Reeves settles cellphone hoax case with CanWest". New Zealand Herald.
  10. ↑ "Jackass: The Radio Show". New Zealand Listener. 15 August 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  11. ↑ http://www.dougiemackie.com
  12. ↑ The Edge TV: What you need to know
  13. ↑ NZ Girl Summerjam
  14. ↑ Revenge is sweeter: The Edge Summer Jam Music Festival