2ZB
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2016) |
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Technical information | |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°17′20″S 174°46′38″E / 41.28889°S 174.77722°E |
2ZB was a
History
Early years
The station was started by
Switch to FM
In early 1991 2ZB began broadcasting on 89.8FM and also extended programming to the Kapiti region broadcasting on 89.4FM. The station continued to broadcast on 1035AM.
Launch of B90FM and 2ZB becomes Newstalk ZB
By 1993 Radio New Zealand had moved most of their local AM radio stations around the country to an FM frequency and in most cases each station continued to broadcast on the original AM frequency. At this point a decision was made to network Auckland's Newstalk 1ZB station across the country utilising the AM frequencies once used by the local station. In 1993 the 2ZB 1035AM frequency became Newstalk ZB, the Wellington station continued to run local programming throughout the day and some of the 2ZB announcers remained with Newstalk ZB Wellington into the late 2000s. At the same time 2ZB on 89.8FM was relaunched as Goodtime Oldies B90FM, this station was similar to Christchurch radio station Goodtime Oldies B98FM.
Goodtime Oldies B90FM becomes Classics Hits B90FM
In 1993 Radio New Zealand consolidated their local FM stations into a single brand called
In 1995 Classic Hits B90FM became Classic Hits 90FM with the station moving towards the same format as the other Classic Hits stations. At the same time the Wellington station moved to 90.0FM broadcasting from four separate transmitters located at Tinakori Hill (Wellington), Towai (Lower Hutt), Haywards (Upper Hutt) and Colonial Knob (Porirua).
Change of ownership and reduction in local programming
In July 1996 the
In 1998 Classic Hits 90FM 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 network announcers simply called the station Classic Hits. Local programming has also been gradually reduced on Newstalk ZB Wellington since the late nineties.
Kapiti station
In 2001 the 89.4FM frequency in Kapiti was replaced with the Newstalk ZB network program. In 2004 a new Classic Hits station was launched in Kapiti on 92.7FM as
Stations today
Newstalk ZB Wellington
The original 1035AM frequency used for 2ZB is still used to broadcast Newstalk ZB Wellington. Over the years local content has been reduced on Wellington's Newstalk ZB.
The Hits 90.1FM Wellington
The FM station was moved to 90.1FM in 2010. On 28 April 2014 all stations part of the Classic Hits network were rebranded as
The Hits 89.4FM Kapiti
The Kapiti 89.4 station was also rebranded as The Hits. The Kapiti station contains the same local shows as the Wellington station but contains its own local advertising.
References
- The Christchurch Press. 21 September 1996. p. 29.