Channel X FM RDS

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joshhill96

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#304561 15-May-2023 11:30

I’ve recently tuned into Mediaworks Channel X recently and on my RDS dashboard I see they not only include what the channel is but also the current song and they also tell you what’s next. I know RDS is not new but it’s great to see a radio station make the most of the technology as it’s quite helpful!

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#3076293 15-May-2023 11:34

I also noticed this, but unfortunately, my car stereo doesn't stay on the radio screen fir long - it goes back to the info screen, where there is a simple tile arrangement and only the channel showing, along with maps etc. Quite annoying.

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joshhill96

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#3076304 15-May-2023 11:59

Annoying indeed, the selection of music on this station is great! Hope a lot of people come across this to listen.

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farcus

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#3076321 15-May-2023 12:57

seems like they are trying to make their way into BrianFM space.

Interesting that there is no CHCH frequency.

Handsomedan

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#3076322 15-May-2023 12:57

joshhill96: Annoying indeed, the selection of music on this station is great! Hope a lot of people come across this to listen.

It's clearly aimed at Gen Xers

Their tagline "It's like your iPod on shuffle" (or words to that effect) sum it up nicely.

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Handsomedan

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#3076323 15-May-2023 12:59

farcus:

seems like they are trying to make their way into BrianFM space.

Interesting that there is no CHCH frequency.

They've taken the recently vacated Today FM slots, or in AKL's case, the Recently vacated The Rock frequency as they've gone back to 90.2.

Interesting that you're unable to find them in ChCh.

Edit - you're right - no ChCh:
From their website -

Channel X Frequencies

Auckland - 106.2FM
Hamilton - 104.2FM
Tauranga - 100.6FM
Rotorua - 95.1FM
Hawke's Bay - 106.3FM
Manawatu - 94.6FM
Wairarapa - 98.3FM
Kapiti - 99.1FM
Wellington - 104.5FM
Nelson - 96.0FM
Blenheim - 95.3FM
Timaru - 105.9FM
Oamaru - 100.8FM
Southland - 94.0FM
Queenstown - 91.2FM

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alasta

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#3076394 15-May-2023 14:20

Mediaworks is dead to me after the way they handled the Today FM situation.

I really wonder about the long term viability of their radio business if they are solely dependent on music stations. Most older people seem to listen to NZME stations, and most younger people presumably have a streaming music subscription.

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#3076395 15-May-2023 14:26

alasta:

Mediaworks is dead to me after the way they handled the Today FM situation.

I really wonder about the long term viability of their radio business if they are solely dependent on music stations. Most older people seem to listen to NZME stations, and most younger people presumably have a streaming music subscription.

I think this station is an attempt at a new format - no DJ's, no lengthy interruptions - just a long playlist.

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PolicyGuy

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#3076409 15-May-2023 14:30

alasta:

I really wonder about the long term viability of their radio business if they are solely dependent on music stations. Most older people seem to listen to NZME stations, and most younger people presumably have a streaming music subscription.

The older folks that listen to NZME radio stations are also generally not the "big spending" demographic that advertisers want.
The medium term outlook for commercial, advertising-funded radio is pretty grim. "Free to air" paid for by advertising broadcast TV ditto.
IMO of course

ZollyMonsta

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#3076430 15-May-2023 16:54

I've been doing this for a while on my Gen-X station.. I was first (they just have more money!) :-)

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quickymart

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#3076447 15-May-2023 17:35

There is a lack of frequencies in Chch, hence why no Channel X (yet).

As to RDS, as a radio buff (and sometimes presenter myself) this is great to see, moreso that a Mediaworks station is listing the songs. Normally they just show the station name and its slogan; I found it was the NZME stations (especially ZM) that would show the song name as well.

alasta

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#3076457 15-May-2023 18:03

If there is no spectrum available for Channel X in Christchurch, then what frequency was Today FM using? I'm guessing maybe they moved Magic from AM to FM after the execution of Today FM?

Geektastic

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#3076459 15-May-2023 18:11

I’ve never found RDS very well implemented in NZ - especially the part that is supposed to retune it to stronger frequencies as you drive.

When we lived in Martinborough, getting a clean signal on National was nigh on impossible.

In the U.K. they’ve apparently more or less done away with FM since I moved here, according to my brother. It’s all DAB now.

joshhill96

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#3076460 15-May-2023 18:17

I know DAB trials were implemented many years ago but there is still a market out there for these stations to go digital; now that more vehicles and aftermarket radios have DAB functionality, it would be great to see another trial or some of the spectrum being used.

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quickymart

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#3076462 15-May-2023 18:24

DAB won't be going ahead in New Zealand anytime soon, as discussed here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=73&topicid=288465

DjShadow

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#3076469 15-May-2023 19:31

alasta:

If there is no spectrum available for Channel X in Christchurch, then what frequency was Today FM using? I'm guessing maybe they moved Magic from AM to FM after the execution of Today FM?

They put George FM on the Christchurch Frequency

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