Radio Sport's new FM frequencies

Established radio network Radio Sport, will begin broadcasting on several new FM frequencies from 30 June 2012.

Launched in 1998, Radio Sport has, until now, been limited to a largely AM audience. The addition of FM frequencies in main centres Auckland, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington broadens the potential audience for the station.

New Zealand’s most popular talk-radio style sports station already has a large and loyal audience.

“Simply by moving to FM we believe we will attract a new market to the station and further strengthen its appeal, with an even wider audience,” says David Brice, Group General Manager, Content, The Radio Network (TRN).

“A large part of the listening audience never thinks to visit the AM dial. I’m very pleased that we are going to deliver an enhanced listening experience for the Radio Sport audience using the superior broadcast quality of FM."

The new additional FM frequencies Radio Sport will broadcast on are Auckland 98.2FM, Tauranga 99.0FM, Hawke’s Bay 96.7FM, and Wellington 104.5FM/93.7FM.

The extension of FM broadcast of Radio Sport has meant TRN has had to consolidate its offering and make some tough decisions to accommodate the change. Long-running radio station, Easy Mix, which used the FM frequencies until now, will close down on 22 June 2012.

“The FM band is a crowded and competitive broadcast space already with very limited options to get Radio Sport onto FM. The company had to reassess how we used our FM resources to achieve the best outcomes for our listeners and clients," he says.

“Our goal is to grow Radio Sport to be the clear number two talk network behind our premier brand Newstalk ZB, the number one radio network in New Zealand."

New FM frequencies:

• Auckland 98.2FM

• Tauranga 99.0FM

• Hawke’s Bay 96.7FM

• Wellington 104.5FM and 93.7FM

Existing frequencies:

• Ashburton 702AM

• Auckland 1332AM

• Blenheim 98.5FM

• Christchurch 1503AM

• Dunedin 693AM

• Greymouth 89.9FM

• Hawke’s Bay 1125AM

• Kapiti 1377AM

• Manawatu 1089AM

• Masterton 91.9FM

• Nelson 549AM

• Northland 729AM

• Rotorua 1350AM

• Southland 558AM

• Taranaki 774AM

• Taupo 90.4FM

• Tauranga 1521AM

• Timaru 1494AM

• Waikato 792AM

• Wanganui 1062AM

• Wellington 1503AM