Kiwi FM
 
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| Broadcast area | Three markets in New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Slogan | "About The Music" |
| First air date | 1996-2015 |
| Format | Alternative music |
| Owner | MediaWorks New Zealand |
Kiwi FM (formerly Channel Z) was a New Zealand alternative music radio network. From 1996 to 2005, as Channel Z, it broadcast alternative and local music for a youth-oriented market. From 2005 to 2015, as Kiwi FM, it broadcast predominantly New Zealand independent music, to showcase local music across a wide range of genres and enable greater access to an international market for local contemporary artists. The station broadcast in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on FM frequencies and globally through an internet stream. During its later years it operated as a non-profit subsidiary of MediaWorks New Zealand, and was affiliated with XFM and Triple J.
Channel Z released four compilation albums based on listener polls and staff selections: Channel Z: the Best of Volume One, Channel Z: Up Loud!, Channel Z: the Best of Volume Two, and Channel Z: the Best of Volume Three. It also released a compilation of live recordings, Coleman Sessions: recorded live at York Street. All the compilations featured New Zealand bands.
Channel Z began as a modern rock and alternative rock radio station with a youth to adult demographic in Wellington from 19 August 1996, expanding to Auckland in 1997 and Christchurch in 1999. Channel Z was named after The B-52's song of the same name, and played a vital role in lynchpinning alternative NZ and international artists other stations claimed were too "dangerous" to play. John Diver was the station's first programme director and Martin Devlin, John Diver, James Coleman, and Olivia Sinclair-Thomson were among the station's earliest presenters. The station was part of the More FM group of stations. The group in turn became part of CanWest-owned Global Radio, which later became RadioWorks.
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