Radio Live

Radio Pacific

The network began as one, Auckland's Radio Pacific station, in 1978. Set up originally by talkback host Gordon Dryden, Radio Pacific became a New Zealand Stock Exchange listed company, with the Totalisator Agency Board as major shareholder. The company also bought a share of a group of North Island music stations known as Energy Enterprises and merged with the South Island radio company Radio Otago in 1999. The merged company, now known as Radioworks was purchased by a subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications which at that time owned the MORE FM radio network and TV3. CanWest later sold off the company as part of MediaWorks New Zealand.

During the 1990s Pacific became one of the first stations to be networked across the country. Although ownership of the network changed, live races and live betting odds continued to be broadcast on the network in pre-determined, limited periods during the race day under a contract with the New Zealand Racing Board. Between 2001 and 2005, this was complemented by a trial Radio Trackside station in the Southland market which simulcast Trackside TV and Radio Pacific as a dedicated racing station.

Relaunch

At 05:30 11 April 2005, MediaWorks launched the Radio Live talkback network with newsreader Sarah Bradley and talk host Martin Devlin, making it the first New Zealand radio network to begin broadcasting nationwide on the same day. It launched the station, "the new voice of talk radio", as a sister network to Pacific, "more stimulating talk radio". The new network gained many of Radio Pacific's frequencies and presenters, including Michael Laws, Kerry Smith until 2006 and Paul Henry until 2007.

Live was a dedicated talkback network that could prioritise breaking news coverage, while Radio Pacific continued as a talkback and racing network on new frequencies. John Banks, Alice Worsley and Martin Crump remained behind on Radio Pacific to present morning talkback, while a Trackside TV simulcast, branded as Radio Trackside, was broadcast in the afternoon. On 29 October 2007 the station changed its morning format to sports radio and introduced new presenters. It was initially branded as "BSport, the station you can bet on" and it was rebranded again as LiveSport in January 2010.

Programmes

Radio Live broadcasts news updates, breakfast and drive current affairs, open-line talkback, and weekend lifestyle and sports coverage. News, sports and weather updates are broadcast live half-hourly during current affairs programmes and hourly at other times, through a partnership with MediaWorks's twenty-four-hour Newshub service and Newshub Live at 6 is simulcast live every night.

Breakfast

James Coleman hosts Radio Live's 'First@Five' news show (5am - 6am) with local and international news, business, interviews and full weather and marine forecasts.

From 6am til 9am is The AM Show with Duncan Garner as host, Amanda Gillies reading the news and Mark Richardson on sport. The programme is also broadcast on Three and online.

Daytime

During the morning from 9AM until midday Mark Sainsbury hosts a news, current affairs and talkback. Formally hosted by Sean Plunket, in a timeslot originally hosted by Michael Laws

The afternoon talk programme is currently awaiting a permanent host with Mitch Harris (Willie & Ali's former producer) filling in until a permanent announcement is made. Former afternoon hosts include Alison Mau and Willie Jackson, This show was originally hosted by Kerry Smith in 2005 and 2006, and Jemma Dempsey briefly hosted a midday current affairs show in 2007.

Drive

From 2017 the drive programme is hosted by Alison Mau which mixes current affairs and breaking news with features on food, gardening, music and film. 3:00pm–6:00pm Previous drive hosts have included Paul Henry during 2005 and 2007 James Coleman in 2006, Bill Ralston in 2008, Maggie Barry in 2009 and 2010, Brent Impey in 2011 and Duncan Garner 2011-2016

Early Evenings

A daily Newshub simulcast at 6:00pm is followed by The Project from 7:00pm–7:30pm.

Following The Project Monday -Thursday Radio Live replays the best of The AM Show with the featured interviews from the day just been.

Friday Nights it's the Fishing show plays from 7pm-8pm which repeats on Saturday Morning between 5am-6am

Nights

Evening talkback with former Radio with Pictures host Karyn Hay 8:00pm–12:00am . The show was hosted by Marcus Lush in 2005 and 2006, before Christine Rankin and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait presented the show in 2007.

The Overnighter 12:00am–5:00am slot is hosted by Joe Reid, ( Thursday - Saturday) with Tony Amos hosting (Sunday - Wednesdays).

Weekend days

On Weekend mornings from 6:00am–10:00am Mucking In landscaper Tony Murrell hosts The Home and Garden Show. He is joined by former New Zealand Woman's Weekly food editor Helen Jackson for the kitchen segment and interior designer Hamish Dodd for advice on DIY. ]

Saturday fresh with Carly Flynn broadcasts from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Your Sunday with rotating hosts as the show that takes you inside the big and interesting yarns of the week, Previous host Heather du Plessis-Allan

Saturday Sport Sport, hosted by Brendan Telfer on Saturday airs from 2pm till 6pm, and includes interviews with sports personalities.

Sunday Sport hosted by Andrew Gourdie and friends on Sunday airs from 2pm till 6pm, and includes interviews with sports personalities.

Previous programs, Sunday mornings from 6am, Mark Sainsbury hosted a weekly round-up of current affairs, before Sunday Business at 11am features analysis and interviews with Andrew Patterson.

Weekend nights

Saturdays 7pm - 8pm airs the Outdoors Hour and on Sundays airs Sunday Social With Vaughn Davis.

Weekend Variety Wireless airs both Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm until midnight. The talk programme has been part of the station since its inception, and focuses on music, conservation, world issues and science. Regular contributors include linguist Max Cryer, Stardome Observatory astronomer Grant Christie, sceptic Vicky Hyde, political commentator Tom Frewen and music critic Grant Smithies.

Host Graeme Hill is a former Radio Sport and bFM announcer, Sports Cafe presenter and The Able Tasmans band member. His on-air name is a musical pseudonym, due to his embarrassment performing under his real name. Wine critic Keith Stewart previously hosted his Saturday night slot.

Newshub News Bulletins

Award-winning news bulletins, presented live hourly, are produced by the Newshub Radio service. Network weekday newsreaders include Amanda Gillies (The AM Show), Mary-Jane Tomasi (Workdays), Geoff Bryan (Drive), and Aroha Hathaway (Evenings/Overnights). Weekend and fill-in newsreaders include Trudi Nelson, Leanne Malcolm, Karen McCarthy, Brin Rudkin, Lucy Warhurst, Bridget Hastie, Grace Cocker, Jenny Marcroft, Kim Blair and Kaye Albyt. Sports readers include John McNeil, Chris Forster, John Day, Bruce Rickard and Jeff McTainsh.

Frequencies

These are the frequencies Radio Live broadcasts on: