Beyond those doors lies a story of sound. MediaWorks NZ calls Auckland home. This media giant specializes in radio. It thrives on outdoor advertising and interactive media.
MediaWorks NZ started as Energy Enterprises in Taranaki. Energy FM was its first radio station in the 1980s. It grew by launching new stations. It took over existing ones around the North Island.
In the late 1990s, Energy Enterprises merged. Radio Pacific joined and they became Pacific RadioWorks Group. They bought seven North Island stations from Radio Otago in 1997. This allowed Radio Otago to expand to the South Island. Radio Otago and Pacific RadioWorks Group merged in 1999. They became RadioWorks.
The merger helped RadioWorks expand its North Island stations. They moved into the South Island. By 1999, RadioWorks had several stations. These included The Edge FM and The Rock. Solid Gold and Radio Pacific were also part of it. Some markets had more than one local station. From 1999, the local stations were branded LocalWorks.
CanWest bought RadioWorks between 2000 and 2001. They moved their MORE FM assets into the company. This included Channel Z and The Breeze Wellington.
In 2004, CanWest combined TVWorks and RadioWorks. This created MediaWorks. 30% of the new company was sold on the NZSX. In 2007, CanWest sold its stake to Ironbridge Capital. They obtained the remaining 30% from other investors.
Oaktree Capital Management bought loans to MediaWorks in 2012. These became equity in 2013. MediaWorks NZ went into receivership in June 2013. It had over NZ$700 million in debt. It emerged from receivership in November 2013. Oaktree Capital Management took full ownership in 2015.
Mark Weldon became CEO in August 2014. He replaced Susan Turner. Weldon resigned in May 2016. David Chalmers replaced him as acting CEO.
MediaWorks has moved its local stations. They became part of More FM and The Breeze. These stations now carry the network branding. MediaWorks also rolled out new networks. Radio Live and Kiwi FM were created. Radio Pacific became LiveSport. Mai FM and George FM were purchased.
MediaWorks owns Radio Dunedin in Otago. Previously, they owned Times FM in Orewa. They also had Coromandel FM. These local stations were rebranded as More FM in 2015.
All MediaWorks stations carry Newshub updates. These are hourly or half hourly during weekday breakfast shows. RadioLive News replaced Global News. This happened when Radio Live launched in 2005. RadioLive became part of Newshub in 2016.
In October 2021, MediaWorks ended its content agreement with Newshub. MediaWorks created its own radio newsroom. It employed over 20 journalists.
MediaWorks replaced Magic Talk with Today FM in November 2021. Today FM launched on 21 March 2022. Newshub’s political editor, Tova O’Brien, became the breakfast host.
In December 2021, MediaWorks acquired Humm FM. On 1 January 2022, The Rock moved to 106.2 FM in Auckland. It was simulcast on both frequencies until Today FM launched.
Today FM was abruptly taken off the air in March 2023. It was replaced by music. The frequencies were reallocated to different brands. In May 2023, Channel X was launched. It focused on classic alternative music.
In March 2024, MediaWorks confirmed a hacker had stolen personal data. It affected 403000 individuals.
MediaWorks’ radio brands include The Breeze. The Edge, George FM and Mai FM are also part of it. Magic, More FM, The Rock and The Sound are included. Channel X completes the list.
MediaWorks NZ has a rich history. It continues to evolve in the media landscape. From its humble beginnings to its current status, MediaWorks NZ remains a significant player in New Zealand. Its brands resonate with audiences across the country. MediaWorks NZ continues to shape the media landscape.