its nice to have the radio on today listening to the sound A_Z
i know they drag this out once every few months, how refreshing it would be to have the gems
they play on the AZ played on a more reg basis
the sound are good but the playlist can be widened a little more
Magic Talk live talkback this weekend replacing the āweek that wasā catchups in the afternoons and music till 11pm. Sean Plunket was on yesterday from 1pm with a special show after PMās address to the nation. Richard Green, Hayden Rickard followed. More talkback today I think too.
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Very impressed with Magic Talkās weekend lineup for once. Their coverage yesterday in particular was far superior than ZBās IMO.
guess it will get to the stage that the tv news will devote the schedule to rolling coverage as this keeps evolving
Radio Sport to stop broadcasting.
https://www.radiosport.co.nz/sport-news/radio-sport-to-stop-broadcasting/
Today, NZME has made the incredibly difficult decision to stop broadcasting Radio Sport from 1pm (30 March 2020). Radio Sport frequencies will now carry Newstalk ZB programming indefinitely.
With the cancellation and suspension of virtually all local, national and international events and competitions, NZME has been forced to look closely at the level of sports coverage, including live events across all platforms.
NZME has been working hard to avoid this but the reality of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis is that these decisions have to be made.
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an incredibly sad day but guess you cannot broadcast if there is no product just another
innoncent victim of this hiedous situation
Is it worth doing anything with the few Radio Sport FM frequencies, even temporarily? Thereās five frequencies listed on their website - Blenheim (98.5), Greymouth (89.9), Masterton (87.6), Taupo (107.7) and Westport (91.7)
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So its closing for good? Not pausing until the crisis ends?
Iād dare say it might be the end.
If it were to continue, I doubt weāll see it again until 2021, when certainty of competition should return. Weāll have a better idea of what seriesā survive, a better idea of what rights they can go for, so the Reps have something they can put to advertisers.
Iām pretty sure NZME have most, if not all their suite of services in those places (at least to a saleable level to sustain them), so probably not. Theyāre pretty small markets.
But if thereās any Spyers in those places, keep an ear out, eh?
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Seems like a decision they wonāt reverse. I canāt help but think if this was on the cards anyway as a drastic cost saving measure for the company. Itās one of the lower rating networks across the country but quite expensive to operate compared to music radio I would think.
When sports comps resume they could continue coverage of events utilising the existing Radio Sport frequencies under the Newstalk ZB banner or would they go down the Triple M route and use Hauraki instead.
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Perhaps do what they do for their Radio Sport Extra stations on iheartradio. With the frequencies they donāt use for ZB, a classic rock station with live sport when itās on
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I always thought how could sustain a sporting station on commercial radio. Its sad to see it go though 
.
While the Coronavirusā impact on sport has accelerated things, Radio Sport/NZME failing to renew their cricket rights deal was perhaps a sign that this day was coming
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Yep agree with you & @Jeffmister. No doubt the media companies are really struggling atm but not renewing the cricket rights was a sure sign RadioSport wasnāt top priority for them. Next would have come āratings drop, no longer sustainableā
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in most cirumstances yes, if you have no live sport
guess no point in carrying on, i notice sky sports news on tv has been replaced already
and all the fox sports talk shows in australia have been
reformatted trying times for everyone
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Iām wondering is nzme still going ahead with Jono & Ben, on the hits breakfast tomorrow April 1st & Sam & Toni still going to Coast
I personally think still Jono & Ben dont suit the hits demographic & AC Format
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I donāt think 1st April was their intended first day on air, NZME just said April.
I would assume that plan is on hold for the time under the current circumstances. Maintaining normality for the listeners would be a priority and such a major transition would be very hard for all the people involved especially as next to none of them would be working on site right now - Laura, Sam and Toni are currently broadcasting from their respective homes.
I agree with you about the suitability of format. Maybe the pair of them will change their style to suit the demo of The Hits, they are both married with children so they will probably lean in on this experience more.
Sadly it will probably be tough times for radio ahead. I have noticed increased promotion of iheart radio on ZM and The Hits both on air and online in regards to people listening at home as so many of them would either be listening at work and in the car usually. Fletch, Vaughn and Megan also livestream their studio feed 7am-9am at the moment.
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With Radio Sport off the air, what about Trackside Radio? It seems that Trackside Radio is still on the air, despite the fact that the race meetings have been called off due to Covid-19.
Otherwise, Trackside Radio may be replaced by Magic which encompasses both Magic Talk and Magic Music.
Trackside Radio has nothing to do with Mediaworks Radio/Magic so there is no chance of it being taken over, Unless the station completely shut up permanently and the frequencies were also placed up for sale and Mediaworks Radio were able to purchase all of them outside of the standard government frequency auctions.
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@theGradyConnell Thanks for the heads up! I wish Magicās nationwide coverage could be extended, especially to Taranaki where, late last year, Magic Talk was replaced by Magic Music on 89.2FM.
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