Classic Hits FM

Classic Hits FM

Broadcast area	25 markets in New Zealand
Frequency	See Below
Format	Adult Contemporary
Owner	The Radio Network
Website	classichits.co.nz

Classic Hits is an Adult Contemporary music radio network broadcasting in 25 markets throughout New Zealand, targeting 25 - 55 year olds. Its a family-focused radio network with some of New Zealand's most experienced broadcasters on air and behind the scenes. It currently has around 387,000 listeners nationwide. The head offices and main studios of Classic Hits are located on the corner of Cook & Nelson Streets in Auckland City, along with the other seven stations of The Radio Network. However, each Classic Hits market has its own local studios, as most markets air a local breakfast show.

Classic Hits Nationwide Network

Classic Hits is an AC radio station.

The station line up is:

Breakfast	Monday - Friday 6am - 10am	Local Breakfast Show with nationwide news every 30 minutes with Lucy Walker followed by sport, weather and cancellations. Some regions read out their own local news bulletins (in addition to the nationwide bulletin) as well as local sport. Weather and cancellations are read out locally in all regions.
Network Breakfast	Monday - Friday 6am - 10am	A live networked breakfast show presented by Gareth Lischner. The show is separate from the local Auckland breakfast show and broadcast from a second studio. It is often taken by markets where presenters are on holiday. There are some local elements to the show, in that the host in Auckland pre-records two local voice breaks per hour exclusively for each region taking the network show that day, talking about happenings in the area. Apart from this, all other voice breaks are the same across all regions taking the Network breakfast.
Daytime	Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm	Murray Lindsay At Work
Afternoon	Monday - Friday 2pm - 7pm	Jason "J.T." Tikao in the Afternoon (Night host Estelle Clifford joins JT from 5-7pm)
Night	Monday - Friday 7pm - 12am	Estelle Clifford At Night
Saturday Breakfast	Saturdays 6am-9am	A pre-recorded show from the Classic Hits Christchurch studios. The Christchurch breakfast team of Jason Gunn and Dave Fitzgerald present Saturday mornings, bringing to the network highlights of their local breakfast show from the week. Stations in some markets choose to opt out of this programme and air their own local Saturday Breakfast show.
Sunday Breakfast	Sundays 6am-9am	A pre-recorded show from the Classic Hits Wellington studios. The Wellington Breakfast team of Dave Smart and Camille Guzzwell present Sunday mornings, bringing to the network highlights of their local breakfast show from the week.
The Classic Weekend	Saturdays & Sundays 9am-2pm	This show, hosted by experienced broadcaster John "J.D." Dunstan features music and prizes across the weekend.
Weekend Afternoons	Saturdays 2pm-6pm, Sundays 2pm-7pm	Continuation of music and prizes across the weekend. Hosted by either Night show host Estelle Clifford or Guy Parsons on Saturdays, and either afternoon show host Jason "J.T." Tikao or network breakfast host Gareth Lischner on Sundays.
Sunday Nights	Sundays 7pm-midnight	Sunday nights are pre-recorded, and presented either by Mike Plant or Luke Taplin.
Saturday Night Party Mix	Saturday 6pm - Sunday 2am	Saturday Night commercial free, announcer free party music show. This show is also broadcast on public holidays, regardless of the day in the same timeframe.

Overnight the station is automated.

Previous Nationwide Announcers

Announcer	Show	Duration	Reason for Leaving	Last known station
Grant Bailey	Drivetime show	2000–2002	Went to breakfast on Easy Listening i	PD at More FM Hawkes Bay
Mark Bunting	Drivetime show	2003–2006	Returned to Waikato to host the breakfast show he previously hosted.	Breakfast Host on Waikato's Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM
Pat Courtenay	Drivetime show	1998–1999		Freelance voice artist
Andrew Dickens	Drivetime show	1999–2000	Moved to Auckland Breakfast Show	Breakfast Host on Auckland's Classic Hits 97.4, up until being axed in November 2010. Now works as a fill-in talkback host on Radio Live.
Andy Dye	Night Show	1998–2000		Hosted Breakfast in Dunedin for Some Time until 2002, Now A Real Estate Agent In Auckland
Pat Brittenden	Friday Night Fever/Weekend Breakasts.	2007–2009	Redundancy due to economy.	Now works as talkback host on Newstalk ZB
Will Johnston	Night show	2007–2008	Moved to Northland Breakfast Show	Breakfast Host on Northland's Classic Hits 96FM
Gael Ludlow	Love Songs to Midnight Nightshow	2001–2002	New format	Presented the same show on Easy Mix, before being made redundant. Still fills in on Easy Mix and is a regular weekend host.
Peter Sinclair	The original Love Songs to Midnight Nightshow.	1993–1997		Died in 2001
Alison Leonard	Nationwide Breakfast Newsreader	2004–2007	Moved to other TRN station Easy Mix	Easy Mix Breakfast Show
Dave Smart	Night show	2004–2007	Moved to Wellington Breakfast Show.	Breakfast Host on Wellington's Classic Hits 90.1FM
Dene Young	Night show	2003–2004	Went overseas	Breakfast host on Radio Hauraki
Heemi Katene-Hill	Night Show	2008–2009
Melanie Homer	Nationwide Breakfast Newsreader	2007–2010	Moved to other TRN station Radio Hauraki	Nationwide Newsreader/On-air Contributor - Radio Hauraki Breakfast show
Jason Reeves	Network Drive Host	2007–2010	Moved to the local Auckland Breakfast Show	Breakfast on Classic Hits Auckland 97.4, still heard on network during weekends/holidays.

Individual stations

Northland's Classic Hits

Classic Hits is covered through the Northland region using four frequencies - 96.4FM in the Far North, 106.1FM in the Bay of Islands, 96.4FM in the Mid North and 95.6FM in Whangarei.

Originally known as Radio Northland and broadcasting on 1026 and 1215 AM with the call sign 1ZN, the station moved to 96 FM in Whangarei during the late 1990s.

The station is located on Bank Street, Whangarei.

The Weekday Breakfast Show hosted by Will Johnston

Auckland's Classic Hits 97.4

Classic Hits 97.4 is the flagship of the brand the network announcers are based here and produce a separate local show for Aucklanders simultaneously with the nationwide show. Classic Hits 97.4FM Auckland is the original Classic Hits station that took on its name when 1ZM changed to a Classic Hits music format (see History section).

Classic Breakfast show is produced exclusively for Auckland by Jason Reeves, Stacey Morrison and Justin Brown. All other shows are produced from the same Auckland studios for the entire Classic Hits network.

Waikato's Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM

Originally Waikato's 1ZH this station was first started in 1949 broadcasting on 1310AM. The station moved to 1296AM in 1978. On air names included 1300 1ZH and Hits and Memories 1ZH during the 1980s.

The station became 98.6 ZHFM on 25 May 1990 when the station switched to FM. The Classic Hits name was actually used on a bumper sticker as well as A Better Music Mix before the station was re branded as Classic Hits ZHFM in 1993.

Breakfast show is hosted by Mark Bunting, and produced and co-hosted by Justine Allen. Mark Bunting joined the station in 2000 as the breakfast host and moved to Classic Hits Auckland to present the Drivetime show over the entire Classic Hits network between 2003 and 2006 and moved back to the Waikato breakfast show in 2007. The 98.6 ZHFM frequency can also be heard in Tauranga and outskirts of Auckland.

The station is located on Hardley Street in Hamilton Central.

South Waikato's Classic Hits 97.3FM

Originally known as 1ZO or Radio Forestland on 1413AM in the 1980s and 1990s, then 'Classic Hits Radio Forestland' before switching to FM in 2006. The station was part of the Classic Hits Community Radio Network.

Breakfast show hosted by Brad Richards. The station is located on Bridge Street in Tokoroa.

Classic Hits 95 BOP FM

Originally 1ZD Radio B.O.P. broadcasting on 1008 AM. The station moved to 95.0 FM around 1990 becoming 95 B.O.P. FM. The station was rebranded as Classic Hits in 1993.

Breakfast with BK and the Grays-man (Brian Kelly), Charlie Helliwell and Grayson Ottaway. Unlike other breakfast shows, this show starts at 5am rather than 6am as all other Classic Hits stations do. Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM can also be heard in Tauranga.

The station is located on Harrington Street in Tauranga City.

Rotorua's Classic Hits 97.5

Originally known as Radio Geyserland on 1350 AM. The station moved to FM in 1988 and became known as 97.5 Geyserland FM. When the station was rebranded as Classic Hits in 1993 the name Geyserland was no longer used on air, however it still appeared on the station's logo. Classic Hits 97.5 (as it is now known) also broadcasts on 90.9FM to the Reporoa, Broadlands, Ngakuru and Waikite Valley areas.

Breakfast hosted by AJ Funnell and Chloe Emirali.

The station is located on Fenton Street in Rotorua City.

Taupo's Classic Hits Lakeland FM

Originally known as Radio Lakeland, broadcasting on 1494AM in Taupo and 1386AM in Turangi. The station moved to 96.7FM in 1988 and was then known as Lakeland FM. For a short time a second frequency served Turangi on 89.6, and later 92.4 but was discontinued.

Lakeland FM was the host of the Community Radio Network, a network established between community radio stations operated by The Radio Network. Outside of the breakfast show all Community Radio Network stations received content from Lakeland FM studio. In 2001 all the Community Radio Network stations joined up with Classic Hits with all programming outside of breakfast now coming from Auckland. At this point Lakeland FM became known as Classic Hits Lakeland FM.

Breakfast Hosted By Brendon Weatherley.

The station is located on Paora Hapi Street in Taupo.

Gisborne's Classic Hits 90.9

Originally known as 'The Coaster 2ZG' on 945AM before moving to 90.9FM and later being rebranded as Classic Hits 90.9.

Breakfast hosted by Darryl Mallett and occasionally with Louise Hegarty.

The station is located on the corner of Grey Street and Childers Road in Gisborne.

Taranaki's Classic Hits 90FM

Classic Hits in Taranaki originates from Radio Taranaki which broadcast on 1053AM in New Plymouth and 1557AM in Hawera. Around 1992, the station began simulcasting on 90.0FM which was previously occupied by its sister station 'Q90FM'. It was then known as '90FM Radio Taranaki' before becoming Classic Hits 90FM in 1993.

Breakfast with Barney (Brent Procter) and Eryn Deverson.

The station is located on the corner of Powderham and Brougham Streets in New Plymouth Central.

Hawke's Bay's Classic Hits 89.5

Originally known as 2ZC or Bay City Radio broadcasting on 1280AM since 1 October 1957, the station moved to 89.5FM in 1994 and at became 'Classic Hits 89FM - Bay City Radio'. In 2002, the station's name was tweaked to 'Classic Hits 89.5 - Bay City Radio', but is now known as Classic Hits Eighty-Nine Five.

Breakfast with Martin Good and Sarah Van Der Kley. Saturday breakfast is hosted by Neil Dunn.

This station broadcast's from the famous Broadcasting House building on the corner of Dickens & Dalton Streets in Napier - one of only two central city building's left standing following the 1931 Napier Earthquake.

From 1 Jan 2011, the station began a relay station in Wairoa on 99.7FM.

Manawatu's Classic Hits 97.8 ZAFM

Originally known as 2ZA and broadcasting on 927AM, the station began simulcasting on 97.8FM in the early 1990s under the name 'AM-FM 2ZA'. Soon after the station was relaunched as 'The New 98FM'. 98FM eventually joined the Classic Hits network, but due to the 'Classic Hits' name already being used by an opposition station within the same market, 98FM was forced to adopt the name 'Greatest Hits 98FM'. Presumably, as a result of an agreement or settlement between the two companies, the opposition station dropped the 'Classic Hits' slogan and 98FM became 'Classic Hits 97.8'. Later, after more than 5 years of not using it, part of the 2ZA call sign was returned when the station became Classic Hits 97.8 ZAFM.

Breakfast Show Hosted By Richard Dryden and Kate Robinson. Richard and Kate also host a 'best of the week' show on Saturday mornings between 6-10am.

The station is located on Main Street in Palmerston North.

Classic Hits Wairarapa 90.3

Originally known as 2XB this station was first started in March 1958 broadcasting on 840AM. The stations call sign was changed to 2ZD in 1968 and in 1978 the station moved to 846AM. The station was known on air during the 1980s and 1990s as Radio Wairarapa before becoming 90.1 Wairarapa FM in 1999 when the station began broadcasting on 90.1FM. In 2001 the station was rebranded as Classic Hits Wairarapa. Frequency changed to 90.3FM in October 2010.

Breakfast Show Hosted By Jordan Brannigan.

The station is located on Church Street, Masterton.

Wanganui's Classic Hits River City 89.6

Originally known as 2XA this station began broadcasting in Wanganui in October 1949 on 1200AM. The station was later renamed to 2ZW and moved to 1197AM in 1978. The station was renamed to River City Radio in 1988 and 89.6 River City FM in 1993 after the station began broadcasting on 89.6FM. In 2001 the station became Classic Hits River City FM after joining the Classic Hits network.

Breakfast hosted by Andy Mac.

The station is located on the corner of Guyton and Campbell Streets, Wanganui.

Wellington's Classic Hits 90.1

Originally an FM repeater for Wellington's 2ZB (89.8FM) in the early 1990s, the station was then relaunched as 'Goodtime Oldies B90FM' which also broadcast to the Kapiti Coast on 89.4. The station ran a 60s and 70s music format which originated from the Wellington studio and took no network programming. Around 1996, B90FM became 'Classic Hits 90FM' and an adjustment was made to the station's frequency, shifting from 89.8 to 90.0FM. Unlike the rest of the Classic Hits network, 90FM ran with a "60s, 70s and 80s" format, whereas all other Classic Hits stations (with the exception of Auckland and Christchurch) were playing "70s, 80s and 90s". Programming continued to originate from Wellington until 1999 when local shows succumbed to network programming. The Kapiti Coast repeater was eventually dropped and replaced with Newstalk ZB. On October 27, 2010, the station shifted frequencies to 90.1FM, to comply with Government broadcasting regulations.

Wellington's Classic Hits features The Classic Breakfast with Dave Smart and Camille Guzzwell.

The station is located on the Corner of Taranaki and Abel Smith Streets, in Central Wellington.

Dave and Camille also pre-record a show for the nationwide network to air on Sunday mornings, featuring the best bits from their show each week.

Classic Hits Kapiti-Horowhenua 92.7

Originally Classic Hits broadcast on 89.4FM as a relay of Classic Hits 90FM in Wellington, this station broadcast on 89.4 as far back as 1991 when the station was 2ZB and later B90FM. In 2001 this relay was dropped and replaced with Newstalk ZB. Classic Hits made a return to the Kapiti area in 2004 on 92.7FM a frequency previously used by Sports Roundup/Radio Sport. Programming on the new station was separate to Classic Hits 90FM in Wellington with the station presenting its own local breakfast. However in 2009 this local breakfast show was dropped and replaced with Wellington's Classic Hits breakfast show presented by Dave Smart and Camille Guzzwell.

Despite no local breakfast show, the station still has a local office on Kapiti Road, Paraparaumu.

Nelson's Classic Hits 89.6

Originally an FM simulcast of 'Radio Nelson' (also on 1341AM), this station later became part of the Classic Hits family and was known as Classic Hits 90FM. The station broadcast to Nelson City on 89.8 and to the wider area (including Motueka and Takaka) on 90.4. There is also an AM relay in Golden Bay on 1269AM. More recently, 90FM was known as 'Classic Hits 89.8 and 90.4' but this name was dropped in late 2006 after the 90.4 frequency was shifted to 89.8 (in synchronous transmission with the Nelson City outlet). This left Nelson launching Radio Hauraki on 90.6FM in early 2007. It is now simply known as 'Classic Hits 89.6'. The Classic Breakfast is hosted by Kent Robertson. The station is located on Selwyn Place in Nelson City.

Classic Hits Marlborough 96.9

Originally branded as Radio Marlborough this station was first station in 1965 as 2ZE broadcasting on 1540AM. The station moved to 1539AM in 1978 and then became Radio Marlborough. A relay to Picton was also established in 1981 also on 1539AM but in 1993 moved to 1584AM. Radio Marlborough began broadcasting on 96.9FM in 1991. The station became Classic Hits Radio Marlborough in 2001 and also at around this time the AM frequency was used to launch Radio Sport in the Marlborough region.

Breakfast hosted by Scott Radovanovich.

The station is located on Level 3, 1 Market Street (Clubs of Marlborough end), Blenheim.

West Coast's Classic Hits Scenicland FM

Formerly known as Radio Scenicland, on 747AM in Greymouth (callsign 3ZA), 1287AM in Westport (callsign 3ZW) and 1521AM in Reefton (callsign 3ZR), this station was part of the Community Radio Network. The station later became known as Scenicland FM after moving to the FM band, then joined the Classic Hits network around 2001.

• Westport 90.9FM
• Reefton 97.3FM
• Greymouth 90.7/93.1FM
• Hokitika 93.1FM
• South Westland 90.5FM

Local breakfast show is hosted by Phil Lemon.

The station is based on Mackay Street in Greymouth.

Christchurch's Classic Hits 97.7

Originally known as 'B98FM - The Best Music Mix" in the early 1990s, this station was rebranded as 'Goodtime Oldies B98FM' several years later, taking on an oldies music format. By the mid 1990s, the name was altered to 'Classic Hits B98FM', then again to 'Classic Hits 98FM'. This was the only Classic Hits station to not have its local programming reduced to 4 hours in 1998. It remained live and local 24 hours a day until 2002, operating independently from the rest of the Classic Hits network. In 2003 the station began reducing local content to just during the day and as announcers have left even further now to a point where the breakfast show is the only local part as with other Classic Hits stations.

The local breakfast show is hosted by popular television personality Jason Gunn and Dave Fitzgerald. The show is produced by Joel Palmer. The station is located on Worcester Street, Central Christchurch. However, due to the devastating earthquake on 22 February 2011, the studio has moved temporarily to Riccarton Road, Christchurch.

Jason and Dave also pre-record a show for the nationwide network to air on Saturday mornings, featuring the best bits from their show each week.

Ashburton's Classic Hits 92.5 ZEFM

Originally known as 3ZE on 873AM, this station is part of the Classic Hits Community Radio Network. Now broadcasting on 92.5 FM, as the name suggests. Recently nominated as a finalist in the 2008 New Zealand Radio Awards, for Station Of The Year - Provincial. Breakfast hosted by Phill Hooper.

The station is located on Tancred Street, Ashburton.

South Canterbury's Classic Hits 98.7 & 94.7

Originally known as Radio Caroline on 1152AM, this station joined the Classic Hits network in 1995, originally as Classic Hits 99FM. In 1998 the station was dropped from the Classic Hits network and became part of the Community Radio Network as South Canterbury's 99FM. At this stage programming was reduced to a local breakfast show and outside this time all programming came from the Community Radio Network studio in Taupo. In 2001 all Community Radio Network stations became part of Classic Hits and as a result the station rejoined the Classic Hits network as Classic Hits 98.7, at the same stage the 1152AM frequency was reassigned to Newstalk ZB. In 2005 the station began broadcasting on 94.7FM as well as the existing 98.7FM frequency, as a result the station became known as Classic Hits 98.7 and 94.7. Breakfast hosted by Bradley Craig.

The station is located on Sophia Street in Timaru.

North Otago's Classic Hits 98.4

Originally known as 'Radio Waitaki' on 1395AM, then as 'Classic Hits 98.4 Waitaki FM' after they converted to FM. The 'Waitaki' name has since been dropped from most station identification and the station is now known as 'North Otago's Classic Hits 98.4'.

Breakfast with Finley Brentwood.

The station is located on Thames Street in Oamaru.

Classic Hits Southern Lakes

A recent member of the Classic Hits Network this station only started in 2005. The station covers Queenstown on 90.4FM, Wanaka on 96.2FM and Alexandra on 99.9FM.

Breakfast hosted by Craig 'Ferg' Ferguson and Grant Stewart.

The station is based on Earl Street, Queenstown.

Dunedin's Classic Hits 89.4

Originally known as 4ZB on 1044AM, then 89.4 ZBFM when the station switched to FM in 1990. ZBFM joined the Classic Hits network in 1993 under the name 'Classic Hits 89FM' which has since been adjusted to 'Classic Hits 89.4'.

• The local breakfast show is hosted by P (Patrina Roche) and Callum Procter. Local news is read by Dominic George every half-hour between 6-9am.

The station is located on George Street, Dunedin City.

Southland's Classic Hits 98.8 ZAFM

Originally Southland's 4ZA on 864AM. After converting to FM in the early 1990s, the station was known as 'Southland's 4ZA 98.8FM' for some time before joining the Classic Hits network as 'Classic Hits ZAFM'. In 2005 there appeared to be a move towards removing the 'ZAFM' part of the name from most station identification with branding becoming 'Southland's Classic Hits 98.8' however, local announcers often leave the 'ZAFM' in during voice breaks as well as in locally created audio for the station although most advertisements for local content on the station is now voiced from Auckland.

John (Boggy) McDowell has hosted a local breakfast show on this station since the 1980s and has been with the station since 1979. The breakfast show still features Bertie Budgie reading out birthday calls every day and Boggy is joined by Andy Mack, Tracy Kilkelly and Malcolm Gayfer reads local news every weekday between 6am-9am, on the half-hour.

The station is located on the corner of Don and Deveron Streets, Invercargill.

Defunct Stations

Classic Hits Radio Waitomo

Originally Radio Waitomo this station was started in Te Kuiti in 1985 broadcasting on 1170AM with the call sign 1ZW, local programming was limited. The station became part of the Community Radio Network in 1998 and joined the Classic Hits network in 2001 when all other Community Radio Network stations became part of Classic Hits. This is the first known station to be removed from the Classic Hits network, in November 2003 the station was closed down however in 2004 the station frequency was taken over by The Voice of Waitomo Trust and relaunched as The Voice of Waitomo and later in 2004 the station reverted to its original name Radio Waitomo. This station closed down in 2005 due to a lack of funding and support from the community.

Classic Hits King Country Radio

Originally 'King Country Radio' this station was started in Taumarunui in 1966 on 1520AM with the call sign 1ZU. The station moved to 1512AM in 1978. In 1998 the station became part of the Community Radio Network. King Country Radio joined the Classic Hits family in 2001, along will all other Community Radio Network stations. The station began broadcasting on 99.9FM in Taumarunui, and in 2006 extended coverage to the rest of the King Country region on 92.7FM.

The station had its local breakfast show dropped in March 2009 at first programming was voicetracked from Hamilton and later Classic Hits introduced a new networked breakfast. The purpose of the networked breakfast was as an alternative show when a local stations announcer was on holiday or sick and no one local could fill in. For King Country the networked breakfast was a permanent fixture featuring local weather and one localised voice break each hour containing region specific information. King Country was the only region to take the networked breakfast permanently.

The Radio Network announced in February 2010 that Classic Hits King Country Radio would be closing down, and the station ceased broadcasting on March 31, 2010. The company had originally planned to shut down the frequencies of the station, but they reached a deal so that they were sold to Peak FM, a Ruapehu owned and operated company which also broadcasts to National Park, Raetihi, Ohakune, Waiouru and Taihape.

History

Classic Hits started in Auckland in 1987 when 1ZM (also known at the time as 1251ZM) changed music format to play "classic hits" music and branding was changed to Classic Hits Twelve Fifty One. The ZM station that exists in Auckland today is a new station that was created in 1997 replacing Magic 91FM. In 1989 Auckland's Classic Hits moved to FM, becoming Classic Hits 97FM.

During the 1990s, Radio New Zealand split many of their traditional local stations which broadcast on AM and FM into two. The FM frequency was rebranded as Classic Hits FM, while the AM become Newstalk ZB. This saw the Classic Hits FM brand rolled out across New Zealand, all stations took on the uniform logo of a green diamond with the station name printed on the diamond, this logo was used by all Classic Hits stations until June 2011.

Many of the local stations adapted their traditional heritage name into the Classic Hits name, such as Bay City Radio in Napier, which become Classic Hits Bay City Radio. The station still incorporates the original name in its branding - now "Classic Hits 89.5 Bay City Radio". Classic Hits also took over many of the Community Radio Network (CRN) frequencies from smaller markets during the late 90s too, this was done in an effort to streamline the company's brands from a programming perspective. Doing this gave Classic Hits more frequencies and in turn, more broadcast area than any other station in New Zealand. Originally Classic Hits was live and local in every region throughout the day but during the evenings, overnight and on Sundays a network show from Auckland played instead.

In July 1996, the New Zealand Government sold off the commercial arm of Radio New Zealand which included among others, the Classic Hits brand. The Radio Network (TRN) is the current owner.

In 1998 Classic Hits was reduced to just 4 hours of local programming during the Breakfast show in all regions except Christchurch. Christchurch remained local, but as announcers left their shows were replaced with the network product. Today all of the Classic Hits stations play the same songs in the same sequence even when a local show is on the air, this means that there will be no double ups of songs between 9am and 5pm when Classic Hits runs the No Repeat Workday.

In 2001 many of the Classic Hits stations in each region were given a minor name-change to include the full local frequency, for example Auckland's Classic Hits 97FM became Classic Hits 97.4 including the entire frequency. Other examples are Waikato's Classic Hits ZHFM became Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM and Christchurch's Classic Hits 98FM became Classic Hits 97.7.

In 2008 the heritage branding was dropped from the majority of the Classic Hits stations, stations such as Classic Hits 97.8 ZAFM in Manawatu is now known simply as Classic Hits 97.8 and Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM in Waikato became Classic Hits 98.6. Stations not affected by this change are Classic Hits stations that broadcast on multiple frequencies such as Classic Hits Northland and Classic Hits Southern Lakes. In 2009 local branding in each market was changed to remove the point from the frequency for example Classic Hits 97.4 is now announced as Classic Hits 97-4.

In 2009 the network breakfast was introduced while all regions have their own local breakfast show this show is available for regions when the local announcer is unable to present the show and no one local can fill in. King Country did take this show permanently for a year before the station was eventually closed down.

In 2010 local breakfast shows at weekends were dropped in most markets. Prior to 2010 a networked weekend breakfast show was available for markets that did not have a local announcer available to present a local weekend breakfast show, this show was networked from Auckland. In 2010 this was replaced with a pre-recorded show from Christchurch on Saturdays and Wellington on Sunday, these shows were highlight shows from the local Christchurch and Wellington breakfast shows. At this point The Radio Network cut funding for local breakfast shows at weekends however some markets such as Southland remained local as the announcer chose to present the show without pay or the case of Dunedin the show is a highlights show of the local breakfast show.

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  The Original Classic Hits 1251 Logo from 1987

• 

  The Classic Hits 97FM Logo used in 1989

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  Auckland's Classic Hits 97FM logo used from 1992 to 2001. Other stations that were rebranded as Classic Hits adopted their own local version of this logo.

• 

  Logo used for Classic Hits 97.4 Auckland between 2001 and 2011, branding now includes the entire frequency for all regions.

• 

  Logo used for Classic Hits 97.4 Auckland from 2011 onwards, all regions changed their logos at this time.

• 

  The original nationwide Classic Hits logo used for national branding of Classic Hits used between 1993 and 1998

• 

  The Classic Hits logo used between 1998 and 2011 for national branding of Classic Hits.

• 

  The Classic Hits logo used nationally from 2011 onwards.

Classic Hits Music

Classic Hits plays an Adult Contemporary mix of music however in more recent years the stations playlist have tended to be aimed towards a more younger audience. When Classic Hits was rolled out across New Zealand in 1993 and 1994 all stations were still local and made up their own playlists. In Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch the Classic Hits stations played mostly music from the 1960s and 1970s as an oldies format. The rest of New Zealand made up their playlist using a mixture of music from the 1960s to current hits in the 1990s. For many stations becoming part of the Classic Hits network saw a slight change in format with many older tracks being added into the stations playlists. By 1996 music from the sixties had been dropped from the playlists of Classic Hits stations except in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch 1960s music was dropped from these regions much later. By 1998 all regions were playing the same music, although at this point Christchurch remained local and made up its own playlist. In 2005 music from the 1970s began being dropped from the playlist and more tracks from the 2000s added in. By 2008 Classic Hits was typically playing one 1970s track per hour as a 'Back in the day Classic' at the same time more tracks from artists such as Nirvana, Snoop Dog and Evanesance were being added into the playlist as the station aimed to target a younger audience. In 2009 music from the Eighties began being reduced as well the song each hour known as the 'Back in the day Classic' is typically from the 1980s with most music on the station now from the 1990s and 2000s.

Slogans

Classic Hits has used the following slogans over the years.

1987: The best of the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s (Auckland)

1993 - 1995: All the Hits from the 1960s to the 1990s

1993 - 1995: Good Time Oldies (Wellington and Christchurch)

1993 - 1998: A Better Music Mix <followed by the local frequency>

1996 - 1998: From the Nineties to the Seventies

1998 - 1999: Hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s

2000 - 2005: Hits of the 70s, 80s, 90s and Today

2005 - 2007: 80s, 90s and Whatever!

2007 - 2009: 80s, 90s and Now!

Between August 2009 and May 2011 no slogan was associated with Classic Hits stations.

2011–Present: 80s 90s Today

Frequency

City/Town	Frequency
Northland	95.6FM 106.1FM 96.4FM 96.4FM
Auckland	97.4FM
Waikato	98.6FM
Tauranga	95.0FM 98.6FM
Rotorua	97.5FM 90.8FM
Taupo	96.8FM
Tokoroa	97.3FM
Gisborne	90.9FM
Taranaki	90.0FM 91.2FM
Hawkes Bay	89.5FM
Wairoa	99.7FM
Wanganui	89.6FM
Manawatu	97.8FM
Kapiti Coast	92.7FM
Wairarapa	90.3FM
Wellington	90.1FM
Nelson	89.6FM only
Marlborough	96.9FM 1584AM
Greymouth	90.7FM 93.1FM 97.3FM 90.9FM 90.5FM
Christchurch	97.7FM 96.5FM
Ashburton	92.5FM
Timaru	94.7FM 98.7FM
Twizel	1485AM
Oamaru	98.4FM
Central Otago	90.4FM 99.9FM 96.2FM
Dunedin	89.4FM
Southland	98.8FM 90.4FM

External links

• Classic Hits FM Official Website
• Radio Network's Information Site About Classic Hits FM