2ZA
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The Radio Network after 1996 | |
| Technical information | |
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Transmitter coordinates | 40°21′07″S 175°37′06″E / 40.3518459°S 175.6182481°E |
2ZA was a
History
Early years
2ZA was started by Radio New Zealand, which, in 1938, was known as the National Broadcasting Service, broadcasting on 940AM. The station was branded as call sign 2ZA. In 1978 the station moved to 927AM after New Zealand changed from 10 kHz spacing on the AM band to 9 kHz spacing.
Switch to FM
In 1991 2ZA began broadcasting on 97.8FM in addition to the 927AM frequency. On air the station became known as AM-FM 2ZA. In September 1992 AM-FM 2ZA was divided into two separate stations. The FM frequency was relaunched as a music station as The New 98FM and later shortened to 98FM, the AM frequency was used to run talkback, news and sports shows as The Manawatu's 2ZA.
Rebranding as Greatest Hits 98FM
In 1993 Radio New Zealand began rebranding most of their local heritage stations as
In 1994 rival station Classic Hits 828 and 98.6FM was rebranded as Magic 828 & 98.6FM and as result Radio New Zealand were able to rename Greatest Hits 98FM to Classic Hits 97.8FM.
Change of ownership and reduction in local programming
In July 1996 the
In 1997 Classic Hits 97.8FM was renamed to Classic Hits ZAFM, at the time Southland's Classic Hits station was also known as Classic Hits ZAFM.
In 1998 Classic Hits ZAFM was reduced to just 4 hours of local programming between 6 and 10 am 7 days a week. Outside this time nationwide shows based from Auckland took over, and the announcers simply called the station Classic Hits. The breakfast show was shortened to a 3-hour show in 2012 on all Classic Hits stations and local weekend programming removed.
In 2001 branding was changed to Classic Hits 97.8 ZAFM and changed to Classic Hits 97.8 in 2008.
Rebranding as The Hits
On 28 April 2014, all stations part of the Classic Hits network were rebranded as
References
- The Christchurch Press. 21 September 1996. p. 29.
External links
- 2ZA Radio Golden Years Reinvented on Stage at the Regent on Broadway
- Theme song to "Garner's Request Session", broadcast Monday to Friday from 9 to 9.30am. (Hubert Bath: 'March: Empire Builders', from Rhodes of Africa. Gaumont British Symphony Orchestra cond. Louis Levy)