4XO
Encyclopedia
Radio 4XO was a local radio station
in Dunedin
, New Zealand
which began in October 1971 as one of the first privately-owned commercial radio stations in the country. The callsign/station identity 4XO was assigned because 4 meant the area south of Canterbury, the X meant private (not a government station) and O stood for the province Otago. The station was originally known as "Radio Otago
4XO" and was always involved in local events and was one of Dunedin's most well-known and popular stations. Music played was from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s & today with all announcers and voice overs local.
Radio 4XO broadcast firstly on 1210 AM (shifting to 1206 AM in the early '80s) before adding a stereo broadcast on 97.4 FM in 1990. It broadcast throughout the 1970s and 1980s, mainly from studios in Radio House in Lower Stuart Street (central Dunedin). In the mid-90s the station moved to the seven storey Radio Otago House Building from which RadioWorks still operates its stations - including Radio Dunedin
which remains live and local.
4XO could be heard throughout Otago. During the early '90s, 4XO broadcast a network show at night across other stations in the Radio Otago group, including Radio Central in Alexandra/Cromwell/Wanaka.
The station's final slogan was "Otago's Music Choice 4XO" & another voice over said "From Oamaru in the North, to Balclutha in the South, this is Otago's Music Choice". The station was closely involved with the website seenindunedin.co.nz which provided 4XO with a website page. However, it was publicly announced in November 2004 that RadioWorks was to rebrand 4XO and merge with the station 98 More FM to be known as Dunedin's 97.4 More FM
.
During the mid-late '90s, 4XO became 4XO Gold, and reverted to playing a "Solid Gold" mix of music. For a number of years, 4XO struggled to maintain a stable, well-rating breakfast show.
Mark Bunting
was brought in to turn the station around, and changed the station to a contemporary adult station, similar to 98 More FM - prior to Radio Otago
being sold to RadioWorks. He left after about year, apparently frustrated with the management's decision to aim for an older audience to avoid direct competition.
Eventually, Damian Newell was brought in to host breakfast with Charlotte Butler - "Damian and the Butler"
The breakfast show was renamed "The Blue & Gold Brekky Show" when Breffni O'Rourke joined as his co-host with Elvis the Pigeon. The final breakfast team before 4XO became 97.4 More FM was Damian Newell, Breffni O'Rourke and Grant McLean.
Damian Newell still hosts the breakfast show on 97.4 More FM, although his co-host is now Nicky Hunt. Aaron Simmonds hosts the 10am-1pm show and Trev Hill hosts the weekend breakfast show, 6-10am Saturday & Sunday. Out of these times the station is networked from Auckland, in what is an increasing trend in New Zealand.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
which began in October 1971 as one of the first privately-owned commercial radio stations in the country. The callsign/station identity 4XO was assigned because 4 meant the area south of Canterbury, the X meant private (not a government station) and O stood for the province Otago. The station was originally known as "Radio Otago
Radio Otago
Radio Otago was a radio company that operated a group of local radio stations in radio markets around New Zealand from the 1970s to the late 1990s...
4XO" and was always involved in local events and was one of Dunedin's most well-known and popular stations. Music played was from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s & today with all announcers and voice overs local.
Radio 4XO broadcast firstly on 1210 AM (shifting to 1206 AM in the early '80s) before adding a stereo broadcast on 97.4 FM in 1990. It broadcast throughout the 1970s and 1980s, mainly from studios in Radio House in Lower Stuart Street (central Dunedin). In the mid-90s the station moved to the seven storey Radio Otago House Building from which RadioWorks still operates its stations - including Radio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin is a radio station, broadcasting from Dunedin on 1305 AM and 99.8 FM. It is rated number 1 for 'Share of Commercial Radio Listening in Dunedin' in the Radio Audience Measurement Survey....
which remains live and local.
4XO could be heard throughout Otago. During the early '90s, 4XO broadcast a network show at night across other stations in the Radio Otago group, including Radio Central in Alexandra/Cromwell/Wanaka.
The station's final slogan was "Otago's Music Choice 4XO" & another voice over said "From Oamaru in the North, to Balclutha in the South, this is Otago's Music Choice". The station was closely involved with the website seenindunedin.co.nz which provided 4XO with a website page. However, it was publicly announced in November 2004 that RadioWorks was to rebrand 4XO and merge with the station 98 More FM to be known as Dunedin's 97.4 More FM
More FM
MORE FM is a New Zealand radio network playing adult contemporary music or Pop music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.MORE FM broadcasts in 22 centres throughout New Zealand with local programming in most markets between 6am and 1pm and networked programming the rest of the day...
.
During the mid-late '90s, 4XO became 4XO Gold, and reverted to playing a "Solid Gold" mix of music. For a number of years, 4XO struggled to maintain a stable, well-rating breakfast show.
Mark Bunting
Mark Bunting
Mark Bunting may refer to:* Mark Bunting , Canadian journalist* Mark Bunting , New Zealand radio announcer...
was brought in to turn the station around, and changed the station to a contemporary adult station, similar to 98 More FM - prior to Radio Otago
Radio Otago
Radio Otago was a radio company that operated a group of local radio stations in radio markets around New Zealand from the 1970s to the late 1990s...
being sold to RadioWorks. He left after about year, apparently frustrated with the management's decision to aim for an older audience to avoid direct competition.
Eventually, Damian Newell was brought in to host breakfast with Charlotte Butler - "Damian and the Butler"
The breakfast show was renamed "The Blue & Gold Brekky Show" when Breffni O'Rourke joined as his co-host with Elvis the Pigeon. The final breakfast team before 4XO became 97.4 More FM was Damian Newell, Breffni O'Rourke and Grant McLean.
Damian Newell still hosts the breakfast show on 97.4 More FM, although his co-host is now Nicky Hunt. Aaron Simmonds hosts the 10am-1pm show and Trev Hill hosts the weekend breakfast show, 6-10am Saturday & Sunday. Out of these times the station is networked from Auckland, in what is an increasing trend in New Zealand.
Frequencies
- 97.4 FM Covered most of Otago (Official Frequency). This frequency now broadcasts More FMMore FMMORE FM is a New Zealand radio network playing adult contemporary music or Pop music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.MORE FM broadcasts in 22 centres throughout New Zealand with local programming in most markets between 6am and 1pm and networked programming the rest of the day...
. - 1206 AM Dunedin Area (Official Frequency) Note - started on 1210 AM and then moved to 1206 kHz with 9kcs separation in the early '80s. This frequency now broadcasts BSportBSportLiveSPORT is a nationwide New Zealand sports talk and horse racing commentary radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Nathan Rarere, Ian Smith and Dean Lonergan present the network's breakfast programme, James McConie and Richard Loe present morning talk programmes and New Zealand Racing...
. - 95.4 FM Unofficial frequency for Mosgiel, used initially by Mosgiel FMMosgiel FMMosgiel FM started in 1994 as a local radio station for the Mosgiel and Taieri Plains area, just south of Dunedin, New Zealand. Breakfast shows were broadcast from studios behind the post office in Gordon Road, in central Mosgiel. Outside broadcasting hours Dunedin's 4XO was relayed...
- 93.8 FM Operated from Balclutha as Big River RadioBig River RadioBig River Radio is a radio station in Balclutha, New Zealand broadcasting a local breakfast show. The 92.9 FM frequency covers central Balclutha, while the 93.7 FM frequency can be heard throughout the South Otago and Northern Southland area .The station was first started in 1992 as way of...
from 6.00 A.M till 12.00 P.M