The Hits (radio station)
Radio station in markets / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Hits is a Hot adult contemporary music radio network, broadcasting to 26 markets across New Zealand. It was set up by Government broadcaster Radio New Zealand in 1993 by consolidating existing stations into a single brand and has been privately owned since 1996. The Hits has had the broadest broadcast reach of any radio network in the country since 1996,[1] and is now available on 40 full-power FM frequencies and 18 iHeartRadio streams.[2][3]
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Broadcast area | New Zealand |
Frequency | 89.1 FM – 106.1 FM |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English language |
Format | Hot adult contemporary |
Ownership | |
Owner | New Zealand Media and Entertainment |
History | |
First air date | 1993; 31 years ago (1993) |
Former call signs | 1ZM in Auckland |
Technical information | |
Transmitter coordinates | 36.847°S 174.765°E / -36.847; 174.765 |
Links | |
Webcast | 18 webcasts via iHeartRadio |
Website | thehits |
Most of the individual stations started out as local AM stations owned by state broadcaster Radio New Zealand. Many have given a platform to broadcasting names like Selwyn Toogood, Paul Holmes, Peter Sinclair, Jenny-May Clarkson (nee Coffin) and Jason Gunn.[4] John "Boggy" McDowell was an announcer on the Southland station for 33 years.[5] Despite a major reduction in local programmes since 1993, most stations still have a local three-hour breakfast programme or a six-hour daytime programme.[2]
An estimated 282,000 people listen to The Hits every week, including 85,000 people in Auckland region.[6][7] The network targets 25- to 54-year-old homeowners, socially-active parents and price-conscious household shoppers.[8] In April 2014, the network re-branded from Classic Hits to The Hits to attract more younger listeners.[9] Later that year, it came under the ownership of New Zealand Media and Entertainment.[10]