The Radio Network

The Radio Network (TRN) is a division of the Australian Radio Network (ARN), a 50/50 joint venture of APN News & Media and Clear Channel Communications. APN owns many New Zealand newspapers and other publications.

Radio networks operated by The Radio Network include:

*Newstalk ZB
*Classic Hits FM
*ZM
*Radio Sport
*Radio Hauraki
*Easy Mix
*Flava
*Coast

Local stations operated by The Radio Network:

*Hokonui Gold Gore (Privately owned but currently leased to The Radio Network).

Previous stations operated by The Radio Network:
*Cool Blue 96.1FM Auckland - Stopped operation by TRN in 2004 and frequency taken over by Flava. Still available online but no longer operated by The Radio Network.
*Easy Listening i - Rebranded as Viva FM in 2005, and subsequently as Easy Mix in August 2007.
*The Planet 97FM Nelson - Played similar format to ZM and was shut down and replaced with ZM in 2004.
*Community Radio Network - stations taken over by either Newstalk ZB or Classic Hits FM.

History

The network was created in 1996 when the commercial radio activities of Radio New Zealand were divested by the New Zealand government.

The network was bought by a syndicate that included Clear Channel Communications of the United States and Wilson & Horton, a publishing company that owned "The New Zealand Herald" and other publications.

Wilson & Horton was soon purchased by Independent News & Media of Ireland. Independent sold it's NZ interests to APN, which it owned a majority of. ARN, as a radio focused venture of APN and Clear Channel, subsequently took over the network.

External links

* [http://www.trn.co.nz The Radio Network website]