Radio Live to merge with Magic

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quickymart

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#242846 16-Nov-2018 17:18

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/entertainment-top-stories/108622921/mediaworks-radio-arm-radio-live-to-be-merged-with-magic-network

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12160594

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12161319

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12161368

Dunno if anyone is following this, but I don't see this as a good move. People listen to radio stations for a specific format - rock fans listen to The Rock (or Hauraki), Top 40 fans would be The Edge (or ZM). Mixing two different formats might have worked 20-odd years ago when there were less stations, but I don't see it doing so well now. Might be a bit like the old Radio Pacific used to be - sans the horse racing - with a bit more music?

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#2128099 16-Nov-2018 17:26

I thought Mark Jennings put it quite well : "You can't mix Duncan Garner and Mike McRoberts with The Bee Gees and the Everly Brothers".

He has speculated, and I agree, that this is part of a long term plan to de-couple Mediaworks' profitable music radio unit from the rest of their ailing business. Radio can then be sold off as a standalone business.

It is going to be very interesting to see whether NZ On Air renew The Nation's funding for 2019. Since Lisa Owen left Mediaworks there has been speculation that NZ On Air will pull the plug which means that Mediaworks loses the opportunity to effectively source taxpayer subsidised content for Newshub. If that occurs then there will be serious doubts around the commercial viability of Mediaworks' entire news operation. It is not inconceivable that they could kill off everything except their profitable music radio brands such as More FM, The Edge and The Breeze.

quickymart

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#2128104 16-Nov-2018 17:37

You mean this article? Just reading it now.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/15/323322/mediaworks-chases-some-radio-magic?fbclid=IwAR22diLMnISV5a_MzFMam0R_8dd_0xhre6sZbnHUii08N24-t--AJ2w9i8Y

Kiwifan

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#2128106 16-Nov-2018 17:40

This has to be one of the worst thought out ideas ever to cross the MediaWorks desk. I listen to Magic and there is no way I want to listen to someone jabbering on about anything. The reason I tune in to Magic is for the music. Conversely I’m sure the folks who like the chat shows won’t be that interested about music from the 50s, 60s or 70s.

Words fail me.

alasta

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#2128107 16-Nov-2018 17:43

quickymart:

You mean this article? Just reading it now.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/15/323322/mediaworks-chases-some-radio-magic?fbclid=IwAR22diLMnISV5a_MzFMam0R_8dd_0xhre6sZbnHUii08N24-t--AJ2w9i8Y

Yes, and this article on Morning Report is also worth a listen.

alasta

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#2128108 16-Nov-2018 17:46

Kiwifan: This has to be one of the worst thought out ideas ever to cross the MediaWorks desk. I listen to Magic and there is no way I want to listen to someone jabbering on about anything. The reason I tune in to Magic is for the music. Conversely I’m sure the folks who like the chat shows won’t be that interested about music from the 50s, 60s or 70s.

Words fail me.

I have heard conflicting reports with some suggesting that the new station will replace the existing Magic, and others suggesting that Magic Talk will be a new station that simply simulcasts Magic programming outside of talk programming times.

Either way, this is likely to be a stepping stone towards completely killing off Mediaworks' talk radio business, and potentially their entire news and current affairs operation.

Kiwifan

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#2128114 16-Nov-2018 18:05

alasta:
Kiwifan: This has to be one of the worst thought out ideas ever to cross the MediaWorks desk. I listen to Magic and there is no way I want to listen to someone jabbering on about anything. The reason I tune in to Magic is for the music. Conversely I’m sure the folks who like the chat shows won’t be that interested about music from the 50s, 60s or 70s.

Words fail me.

I have heard conflicting reports with some suggesting that the new station will replace the existing Magic, and others suggesting that Magic Talk will be a new station that simply simulcasts Magic programming outside of talk programming times.

Either way, this is likely to be a stepping stone towards completely killing off Mediaworks' talk radio business, and potentially their entire news and current affairs operation.

I emailed Mark at Magic yesterday as soon as I saw the news to see if he knew what was happening but haven’t had a reply as yet which is understandable given the circumstances.

I feel so frustrated, as an old bugger I like the format at Magic although I’m always trying to persuade them to add more artists like Jimi, The Guess Who, BTO, Doors etc but can live with what they play. If it does go partly to talk then I am gone. There are plenty of Oldies stations on the net.....

Fred99

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#2128120 16-Nov-2018 18:29

This is great - one step closer to the inevitable (but IMO welcome) death of commercial radio.

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Dunnersfella

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#2128149 16-Nov-2018 19:48

Commercial radio is still extremely profitable, employs a bunch of people and is tied in with small / medium sized businesses through out NZ. This isn't even a baby-step towards the death of the industry, sorry to rain on your parade.

Re: gassing Radio Live. I remember when they described it as a 10 year project to take on ZB, well, time's up and it didn't succeed. It doesn't matter how many people rave about hating Mike Hosking, but he clearly gets bigger numbers than the opposition and that's without a simulcast TV show to boost his ratings. Interesting that a left leaning editorial failed against a blatantly right wing approach. Not that I listen to either Live or Magic unless there's nothing else I can find while roaming around NZ...

alasta

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#2128151 16-Nov-2018 19:57

I'm not convinced that NZME has any reason to be smug about the performance of their talk station. If you look at commercial radio ratings generally, Mediaworks outrate NZME by 2-to-1 in the under 54 age bracket.

NZME is dependant on oldies for their ratings, and the new generation that will replace those oldies are definitely not going to be 2ZB listeners. They're probably not even going to be listening to commercial broadcast radio at all.

quickymart

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#2128190 16-Nov-2018 21:44

Dunnersfella:

Commercial radio is still extremely profitable, employs a bunch of people and is tied in with small / medium sized businesses through out NZ. This isn't even a baby-step towards the death of the industry, sorry to rain on your parade.

Re: gassing Radio Live. I remember when they described it as a 10 year project to take on ZB, well, time's up and it didn't succeed. It doesn't matter how many people rave about hating Mike Hosking, but he clearly gets bigger numbers than the opposition and that's without a simulcast TV show to boost his ratings. Interesting that a left leaning editorial failed against a blatantly right wing approach. Not that I listen to either Live or Magic unless there's nothing else I can find while roaming around NZ...

Speaking of Mr Hosking...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/81397310/mike-hosking-love-him-or-loathe-him-were-stuck-with-him

It's a pity he's like that now, he wasn't always this way - I remember him on the RNZ commercial network in the early 1990's, and he was a completely more humble person to what he is now, IMO.

Geektastic

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#2128200 16-Nov-2018 22:27

I can honestly say that I have not listened to either station. Ever.

Aredwood

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#2128238 16-Nov-2018 23:54

I'm just surprised that people still listen to the radio. When there is streaming, torrents ECT as alternative options.

farcus

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#2128241 17-Nov-2018 00:01

Graeme Hill's show on Radio Live on Saturday / Sunday nights is really the best best thing on radio . . . science, astronomy, scepticism, environment etc etc.
Really gonna be sad to see is show come to an end . . . but then I never listened to it on Radio Live anyway and only downloaded it as a podcast.

quickymart

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#2128242 17-Nov-2018 00:15

Aredwood: I'm just surprised that people still listen to the radio. When there is streaming, torrents ECT as alternative options.

Magic's audience is usually older and not really into streaming. They still listen to the radio. I still listen to the radio too.

nickb800

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#2128265 17-Nov-2018 07:31

Kiwifan:
alasta:
Kiwifan: This has to be one of the worst thought out ideas ever to cross the MediaWorks desk. I listen to Magic and there is no way I want to listen to someone jabbering on about anything. The reason I tune in to Magic is for the music. Conversely I’m sure the folks who like the chat shows won’t be that interested about music from the 50s, 60s or 70s.

Words fail me.

I have heard conflicting reports with some suggesting that the new station will replace the existing Magic, and others suggesting that Magic Talk will be a new station that simply simulcasts Magic programming outside of talk programming times.

Either way, this is likely to be a stepping stone towards completely killing off Mediaworks' talk radio business, and potentially their entire news and current affairs operation.

I emailed Mark at Magic yesterday as soon as I saw the news to see if he knew what was happening but haven’t had a reply as yet which is understandable given the circumstances.

I feel so frustrated, as an old bugger I like the format at Magic although I’m always trying to persuade them to add more artists like Jimi, The Guess Who, BTO, Doors etc but can live with what they play. If it does go partly to talk then I am gone. There are plenty of Oldies stations on the net.....

Wouldn't you be better off on The Sound - they play those artists?

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