The Rise and Fall of Channel Z

Submitted by Joanna on Thu, 2003-03-20 20:45

I'm doing an article for Debate Magazine (AUT'S student paper) about where Channel Z came from, and where it's gone now, and I'd be interested in gathering thoughts from the nzmusic community to balance the 'official' word that I'll be getting. Did you hear and love it back in the old Welly days? Did you like it when they networked? Do you live in Auckland and miss it now? Etc etc etc.
Thank you.

[ http://hubris.co.nz ]

Comments

Submitted by blindspott#1 on Thu, 2003-03-20 21:10.

im from auckland and i really miss channel z i rung up to complain that i couldnt get it on my radio and mel told me to wait a couple of weeks then everything will be fixed well its been like nearly 2 months now and still nothing has happened i would really like to hear channel z again cuz its such an awesome radio station in my opinion!

[ www.channelz.co.nz ]

Submitted by Soph_ie on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:16.

I saw it would be coming back on in 3 weeks in some ad somewhere today. But...blindspott#1 convert to the rock damnit!

Submitted by Ashez on Fri, 2003-03-21 18:22.

th rock is ok
channel z better be coming back! i would be lost without it!

Submitted by blindspott#1 on Sat, 2003-03-22 22:09.

the rock is ok i have to say but will i ever get back my beloved channel z
there is nothing quite like it!
im am totally dedicated to channel z 100%

PLEASE PLEASE FIX Z! in the 09 area!
before i go insane and crazy its just been too long
a month 2 weeks and 3 days i think! i just cant take it anymore!

[ www.channelz.co.nz ]

Submitted by Heather on Thu, 2003-03-20 21:22.

I was in Wellington during the Golden Years (that is, still under the benevolent guidance of John Diver and Olivia-Queen-Of-The-Night), and it was bloody brilliant - a nice midfield between mainstream and alternative radio. I listened to Jon&Nathan's breakfast show online when I was working late in the UK, mainly because it was a relief to hear a proper kiwi accent. However, post-John Diver, it had lost its edge, and the range of music they played was too narrow. I think they changed the format to become a more heavy-rock oriented station, which, although I still liked that kind of music, I really missed the old playlist. I wouldn't listen to it now, but mainly because my tastes have changed. I'm not really their demographic any more.

Submitted by Heather on Thu, 2003-03-20 21:24.

BTW Olivia-QOTN is my hero. If I ever have kids, I'll name my first girl after her.

Submitted by johnnyjw on Fri, 2003-03-21 08:19.

I got the feeling that many of the early Channel Z DJ's like Olivia, Martin and James really didnt give a crap about the music they played at all. If it wasnt for John, they could sit quite happily in ZM or worse.

Submitted by SoldierBoy on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:14.

It's been crap ever since Diver resigned when CanWest decided to network the Channle Z as a kiddie-rock hits station to spoil ZM. The station is in the doldrums, to be sure.

Submitted by y on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:31.

well as being an aucklander, i used to listen to channel quite a while ago (like 4th-5th form). Cause they played different stuff back then, like not crap zm style music. You know they actually played some slipknot once in a while. But there music sucks now, way to much hip-hop way to much crap.

and as for the presenters. The only ones i liked were Jon & Nathan. And James Coleman, he's still on, and i'd give him a listen to just cause he is funny and makes up for the bad music, but Nick & Rog are better.

Submitted by Joe on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:39.

i used to listen to channel quite a while ago (like 4th-5th form) - what's that in years? I'm pretty sure Channel Z didn't exist when I was in the 4th Form

Submitted by Joe on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:43.

My 2c - I first heard Z when it started broadcasting in ChCh. The first song I heard was Nookie by Limp Bizkit. Jon and Nathan were the presenters and they were so much better than Si and Phil on MoreFM or whoever it was on C93FM (replaced by the Rawk later). Apart from Breakfast, Z was still relatively regional so we had Mel in the evenings and it still felt like local radio for local people.

Submitted by moozik-luva on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:54.

Channel Z has changed heaps over the last 2 years... change to more alternative-rock/hip-hop/adult-pop station (early 2001), change to national format (early 2001), big shuffle around of DJ's (early 2003)... bomber suits nights better and James suits afternoons better. I want it back to it's local, more rock less other shit format.... it was just better in 1999-2000 :/

Submitted by goosus on Thu, 2003-03-20 22:55.

I've been listening to Z for bout 4 years, since 3rd form and I don't think there's ever been a radio station quite like it. Nothing could ever replace channel Z, for me. I absolutely adore it; the music, the presenters. But after all these changes and considering I can't really listen to it anymore, without over-riding fuzziness, I'm starting to lose hope that us 09 listeners will never get out beloved radio station back. I'm saddened to hear of all the people that have converted themselves to other stations like The Rock or even The Edge *sigh*. please let Z be fixed soon.

Submitted by blindspott#1 on Sat, 2003-03-22 22:10.
Submitted by blindspott#1 on Sat, 2003-03-22 22:11.

i know how you feel! its soo sad!
i miss channel z so much nothing at all can replace it!

Submitted by blindspott#1 on Sat, 2003-03-22 22:13.

oops that was a very big accident i wasnt supposed to press enter when i havent typed anything in

Submitted by moozik-luva on Thu, 2003-03-20 23:13.

If the auckland market goes down, then that could spell the end of Channel Z. Which is quite bad as alot of the presenters on there are (some of) the best ever (James Coleman, Bomber, Clarke etc) It would be sad to see them go...

Submitted by SaidInJest on Fri, 2003-03-21 01:08.

When Channel Z came on to the scene it was such a refreshing change from Hauraki. It was much needed at the time, playing decent and recent alternative, not the ancient rock that 99FM played. It was a great station for a few years... I slowly stopped listening to it when Jon and Nathan were Breakfast Hosts, nothing against them but at that time of change the station was changing as well...

The station became cheesey overnight ...And I don't eat cheese. Which was sad, I was a loyal listener and I couldn't be bothered with them.

But I'll tell you this...

Channel Z and Bomber are responisble for one of the greatest nights ever on radio... Bomber on Talk-back had that dick-head from Ed's Night Party on the show for the very first time and they ripped it up. It was so captivating and you didn't want it to end, easily the most entertaining thing Bomber has ever done.... Not long after, his show was extended by an hour.

Submitted by robyn on Fri, 2003-03-21 06:55.

I never liked Channel Z. It think it was mostly that the "your music, your voice" slogan was spoken in that fake American accent, which doesn't even remotely sound like my voice.

Channel Z always seemed like the kind of radio station that other people listen to. I never liked their logo, or the ads that proclaimed the kinds of bands they play, or Bomber, or the selection of music they played. But I'm really sad that the owners are neglecting the Auckland signal because I know how many people like Channel Z.

By the way, Channel Z gets its name from a B-52s song. It was the first single off the 1989 "Cosmic Thing" album ("Love Shack" was the second single). It's work checking out the now spooky opening lyrics from "Channel Z":

Getting nothing but static
Getting nothing but static
Static in my attic from Channel Z

Submitted by Joanna on Sat, 2003-03-22 01:28.

That's what my article is going to be called probably - "Getting nothing but static", especially because the AUT radio station is called Static. I am so funny and witty.

Submitted by Kiezy on Fri, 2003-03-21 20:40.

When I first started listening to channel Z they had a smaller range of music that they have played... over the years that widened and they incorportated playing quite a few more genres of music, I havent listened to them for ages now, since the switch to 93.8 like most.. i cant pick up the frequency, over the past year channel z seem to have started travelling downhill, they seem to have forgotten what they came from and what their original goals were, they're great supporters of NZ musci but thats not enough, sunday night talkbacks become awful, I dont know how bomber manages to keep his job, they already have one loud opiniated male (james) why keep two on board?
It was awesome when it was in wellington.. since its expanded its lost alot of the magic it had and i've since switched to 'the rock'... most of the music channel Z now play can be found there and if not you can try ZM ha! or MOREFM to get the more generalised music they play.
They've done themselves a disservice neglecting to sort out the frequency problems.

Submitted by scr on Sun, 2003-03-23 00:19.

I haven't listened to Channel Z for over 2 months now.

I only really listened in the first place because of Nathan.

Anyway, now that I can pick up RDU at home, I listen to that.

Submitted by Lucifer_Sam on Sun, 2003-03-23 17:01.

i stopped listening to Z around late 1999 - the rock was way better.

Submitted by moosus on Mon, 2003-03-24 01:12.

i go to extremes... i listen to it over the net all the time. my family complains bout me being on the computer so much but i dont care... i get to listen to Z. it sometimes jumps and skips bout 2 seconds out of songs and stuff but other times like right now its been going for 38 minutes with out skipping. in my eyes its better then nothing! and better than the rock to! far far better :D

Submitted by moosus on Mon, 2003-03-24 01:13.

oh yeah ive listend to it since i was form 1 or 2 and now im form 6! and i dont plan on giving up that easy!