3ZB
| City | Christchurch |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1098AM - 3ZB 97.7FM - B98FM |
| First air date | 1937 |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Language(s) | English language |
| Transmitter coordinates | 43°31′33″S 172°36′26″E / 43.5259227°S 172.6073114°ECoordinates: 43°31′33″S 172°36′26″E / 43.5259227°S 172.6073114°E |
| Owner |
Radio New Zealand until 1996 The Radio Network after 1996 |
3ZB was a radio station based in Christchurch, New Zealand. This station was run by Radio New Zealand (formally the NZBS/NZBC/BCNZ) and eventually spawned a second FM station called B98FM. Today 3ZB and B98FM are part of a nationwide networks Newstalk ZB and The Hits
The station was started by Radio New Zealand (which at the time was known as the National Broadcasting Service) in 1937 originally broadcasting on 1110AM. The station was branded from the stations callsign 3ZB. ZB stations were assigned to the four main regions in New Zealand, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. While content was local some network shows were heard such as Aunt Daisy up until 1963. In 1978 the station moved to 1098AM after New Zealand changed from 10khz spacing on the AM band to 9khz spacing.
3ZB began broadcasting on 96.1FM in 1990 in additional to the 1098AM frequency. For a short period in 1990 the station also broadcast on 93.7FM. In July 1991 broadcasting on 96.1FM was discontinued and at the same time a decision was made to launch a new station on 97.7FM.
A secondary station was launched in July 1991 called B98FM, broadcasting on 97.7FM. The new station shared some programming with 3ZB such as both 3ZB and B98FM had the same breakfast show presented by John Dunne and Ken Ellis. B98FM was a music station originally playing an adult contemporary music format. In 1993 B98FM changed format to an oldies with the brand name Good Time Oldies B98FM, a similar station called Good Time Oldies B90FM was also launched in Wellington which was run in tandem with 2ZB similar to 3ZB and B98FM.
Following the launch of B98FM in 1991 the 3ZB 1098AM station made a move towards a talkback format. Auckland station 1ZB and Wellington 2ZB had also moved to a talkback format and 4ZB Dunedin continued to run a FM music station called ZBFM and a talk station on the original AM frequency. By 1993 Radio New Zealand had moved most of their local AM radio stations around the country to an FM frequency in addition to the original AM frequency. At this point a decision was made to network Auckland's Newstalk 1ZB station across the country utilizing the AM frequencies once used by the local stations. In 1993 3ZB became Newstalk ZB, the station continued to run local talkback programming throughout the day.
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