Channel X (New Zealand radio station)
 | It has been suggested that ChannelX (New Zealand) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2023. |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | 16 markets |
| Branding | Your Throwback Playlist |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic alternative |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Mediaworks New Zealand |
| History | |
First air date | May 8, 2023 |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | channelx |
Channel X is a New Zealand classic alternative music station owned by MediaWorks. The station can be heard in 16 markets across New Zealand, and online through MediaWorks' streaming platform Rova[1]. The station plays uninterrupted music from the 1990s to 2010s with occasional one-liners or station IDs.[2] The station does not have announcers and currently does not air news, sport, weather, traffic information or have advertising.
History
Channel X began on 8 May following the demise of news and talk station Today FM a month earlier. A pre-recorded message aired confirming the closure of Today FM and that a new radio station would launch on the Today FM frequencies during April 2023.[3] Days later MediaWorks backtracked on their statement about the launch of a new radio station and instead advised that the frequencies previously used by Today FM would be reallocated to other brands operated by MediaWorks varying between regions.[4] Regions where another brand was not allocated ran a music only playlist of songs from the 80s and 90s.
In mid-April Mediaworks filed for trademark of the "Channel X" brand name and domain channelx.co.nz.[5]
The station was announced on 3 May through an encoded message playing on what would become Channel X's frequencies with the station's name. This was visible using an audio spectrogram.[6] On 5 May, the loop was updated to encode the date and time the station would begin airing.[7]
At noon on 8 May 2023, the station began with a countdown where they encoded "5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. hello :)" into the audio[8] before introducing the radio station that "doesn't have any prizes, or shows." This was followed by a skit referencing the Now That's What I Call Music! album compilations that were popular in the late 90s. The first song to play on the station was the 2006 single "When You Were Young" by The Killers.[2][9]
Frequencies
Channel X broadcasts to 16 markets[2] on these FM frequencies:
References
- ^ "Rova Entertainment on Command". rova.nz. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ a b c "Mediaworks Welcomes a New Music Only Radio Station to the Whānau" (PDF). MediaWorks. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Today FM abruptly axed, new station to launch on same frequency in April". Newshub. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "MediaWorks backtracks after broadcasting wrong information on Today FM closure". Stuff. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Channel X Trademark". Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "'Now, I'm in charge': Revealed - Duncan Garner's new role at MediaWorks". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Channel X date spoiler". MediaSpy. 2023-05-07. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ "Channel X launch spectrogram". MediaSpy. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ Channel X New Zealand - Station Launch (May 8th, 2023), retrieved 2023-05-08
