1XX History

1971 – June 30
1XX 1240 Goes On The Air!

The Eastern Bay of Plenty now has its very own voice.
"From the Eastern Bay of Plenty, wherever you may go,
the entertainment's better when you dial 1 2 4 0....." -

(Part of 1XX's very 1st set of station jingles)
 
At 10:30am on Wednesday June 30th, 1971, 1XX went on the air for the very 1st time to the people of the Eastern Bay, broadcasting on 1240 kHz (AM). 
 
An official opening ceremony took place in the 1XX carpark at 12:30pm that afternoon.  This was broadcast live on 1XX and was "blasted onto the air" by then Broadcasting Minister, Mr. H.J. Walker. (He used a quarryman's plunger explosion devise to push down which was then followed on air by an explosion sound effect and a 1XX station jingle). 

The crowd outside the new radio station 1XX on Opening Day - Wednesday, 30th June, 1971

The 1970’s at 1XX

1XX Coastline Radio - Go Find the Knob, 1XX on TV & Casey Kasem

In the 1970's 1XX broadcast for 19 and a half hours a day.  The on-air day started at 5am and went through until 12:30am, seven days a week; although there were a few summers in the mid-70's where special 24 hour licenses were granted. This went through to about 1979.

Some of the early 1XX team.

Left - Right: 1XX Announcer Paul Lineham (who is holding a cigarette), next to him at the rear is "The Unreal" Lee Hanner, Ian Magan (one of the original Radio Hauraki "Good Guys"), then it's David Gapes (Radio Hauraki General Manager who came to run 1XX for a while) and the Radio Hauraki accountant, the late George Wadsworth (who also helped run 1XX from 1973 - 1993). In the front row is 1XX Breakfast Announcer (1971 - 1973) Fred Botica, Mike Baker (who also came to help out for a while) and Brian Strong - 1XX's original Programme Director.

There was no advertising on Sundays during the 1970's on 1XX.
 
There were no network radio news feeds - the 1XX News crew did ALL the news & sports - Local, National & International.

1XX Building: Coastline Radio 1240 kHz (AM) – 1977

In the mid-late 1970's 1XX was referred to on-air by several names.  These included, Coastline Radio, Coastline One 24, Coastline 1-2-4, One 24 Double X or Coastline Double X.
 
In 1974 1XX conducted a promotion which remains one of the most memorable ever carried out at the station. The promotion involved a massive Bay-wide hunt for a hidden colour TV knob.  The winner was awarded with a brand new colour television set.  Colour television had just arrived in the country a few months earlier in late 1973, spreading around the country throughout 1974 and therefore was seen as a huge prize.
 
Just after celebrating its sixth birthday, 1XX featured in a 30 minute documentary made by Television New Zealand.  This screened on Television One on Sunday July 3rd, 1977 as part of the ‘Seven Days’ series called ‘The Country Giant’.

On air in the mid 70's 1XX had imported radio shows for the USA - "American Country Countdown" and "The American Top 40 Countdown" hosted by legendary radio host Casey Kasem, who was also the voice of "Shaggy" in the "Scooby-Doo" cartoons on TV.  1XX was first mentioned as a member of the AT40 Family of Stations in September 1972.

1978
1XX 1242 and a Company Name Change

1978 saw a swap of frequencies eventuate for 1XX.  1XX’s previous frequency 1240AM changed to 1242AM when all AM frequencies on the radio dial went from gaps of 10kHz to 9kHz.
There was also a change to the company name from Radio Whakatane Limited to Radio Bay of Plenty Limited, reflecting 1XX's broadcast coverage area of the BAY OF PLENTY. 

1982
Stereo Radio - FM 90.7

                                                        The 1st FM Stereo radio station in New Zealand
 
January 1982 saw 1XX make New Zealand history through the establishment of the very first licensed on-air FM Stereo radio station in New Zealand - FM 90.7. It would be the first of many short-term summer stations run by 1XX.

FM 90.7 went to air at 4pm on the 5th of January 1982 and went through to the 31st of January 1982.  The station broadcast on air each day in two shifts: 4pm - 8pm and 8pm - Midnight.
 
1XX Announcer Craig Bain was the first broadcaster in New Zealand to be heard in crystal clear FM Stereo.  The very first song that was played on FM 90.7 was "Turn Me Loose" by Lover Boy which had only been released a few months earlier in late 1981.
 
It was the intent of FM 90.7 to convey the many aspects of music in an informative and entertaining programme.  Each night FM 90.7 featured different types of music to attract various spheres of the population and to encourage individual musical tastes:

Monday: Country Music
Tuesday: Album Rock
Wednesday: Classical Music
Thursday: Jazz
Friday: Rock & Soul Music
Saturday: Top 40 Music
Sunday: Big Band & Beautiful Music

Ultimately the main inspiration of FM 90.7 was to broaden the outlook and attitudes of the listening audience and to place radio at the forefront of public communication.

FM 90.7's main on air studio was Studio B - the Production studio in the 1XX building, but on other occasions the 1XX caravan (Sound Cruiser) was utilised.

In the summer of 1982/1983, FM 90.7 was brought back again for a short time.
 
The normal 1XX programme continued as usual on 1242AM as 1XX was not allowed to broadcast its own programme on FM.
 
The station was convinced by feedback from their listeners the FM Stereo radio was the way of the future but if would be a few years until 1XX achieved that goal of permanent FM broadcasting.

1987 – March 2
The Edgecumbe Earthquake 

                                     The 6.3 magnitude earthquake was so strong it tipped train engines over

1XX became THE information station for the region.
 
"A series of what the D.S.I.R. describes as major earthquakes have hit the Eastern Bay of Plenty this afternoon...." - 
Chris Bullen, 1XX Local News.
 
In 1987 a major civil defence emergency threw 1XX into the spotlight and resulted in 1XX becoming THE information station for the Eastern Bay.

A 6.3* magnitude earthquake shook the Eastern Bay of Plenty at 1:42pm NZ Time on Monday, 2nd March, 1987.  It was situated 8km deep north of Edgecumbe.
* Since then the official magnitude of the Edgecumbe Earthquake has now been put at 6.1
 
The station was off air for around 30 - 40 minutes.  This was due to the land line connection from the transmitter mast near Whakatane Airport back to the studio in town failing.  Technician Kel Rimmer worked hard to rig up a radio link from the transmitter back to the station to get 1XX back on the air to inform the entire region on what was happening.

When 1XX eventually got back on the air, announcer Cliff Stockwell and News Editor Chris Bullen headed the broadcasts to keep the region informed and up to date from back in the main studios.  During this time, 1XX stationed crew at the Civil Defence HQ in Whakatane and at the Civil Defence post at the Kawerau Fire Station.

Outside broadcast equipment was taken to the Civil Defence base of operations at the worst hit area of the region, Edgecumbe.  1XX broadcasted from Edgecumbe 24 hours a day over the course of the Civil Defence Emergency, providing residents with as much updated information as possible. There was other 1XX crew around the rest of the region reporting that day. 1XX became the focal point for news & information.
 
1987 became the year of natural disasters in the Eastern Bay.  As locals began to pick up the pieces following the Edgecumbe earthquake they were then dealt with a further blow as a mini tornado wrecked havoc in an area of Whakatane.  1XX was there to inform, update and help the region through it all.
 
See our special Edgecumbe Earthquake webpage for photos and audio of 1XX's coverage during the emergency which was set up for the 20th Anniversary in 2007.

Summer 1987/1988
93 Splash FM

93 Splash FM Ohope logo

Summer time FM radio from Ohope Beach.

Following the success of FM 90.7 in the summer of 1982, 1XX embarked on another part-time summer station.  Set up in a Lockwood home at the bottom of the Ohope Hill, 93 Splash FM broadcast on air from December 1987 and was to end in March of 1988.  However, this was but extended to allow Splash Fm to broadcast until May 1988.  From 7pm until 6am the next morning, 1XX simulcast the 93 Splash FM programme. This was known as the 1XX/Splash FM Connection. 
93 Splash FM was best known for its ‘Rock 'N' Roll 500’.  A list of songs which listeners could request from throughout the day.

1988 – December 12
1XX Switches to FM Stereo!

1XX begins broadcasting full time in FM Stereo

5...4...3...2...1...
YAHOO - 1XX FM!!!

12:12:12pm on 12th December 1988, 1XX began permanent broadcasts on 90.5FM and simulcasting that programme on 1242AM. The 93.0FM frequency which had been used in the summer of 1987/1988 as 93 Splash FM, was brought back on air relaying the 90.5 1XX FM programme on Waitangi Day (New Zealand's National Holiday), February 6th, 1989 for listeners at Ohope Beach.
 
It had been a long time coming since the very first time 1XX trialed FM stereo radio back in 1982.  Since that very first broadcast, it had remained a goal of the company to have 1XX broadcasting in crystal clear FM Stereo. The 90.5 1XX FM signal became the most powerful FM signal in the Bay of Plenty from its transmitter mast on top of Mt. Edgecumbe.
 
When 1XX flicked the switch from AM to FM the announcer in the studio at the time was Terry Casserly.  Everything ran according to plan until it came time to cross to the then Chairman of the Board Of Directors of Radio Bay of Plenty Limited - Mr Ross Neiderer.  Things didn't go quite to plan - there was no sound - nothing!  Terry had to do some quick ad-libbing while the connection to outside the front of the station was re-established. 1XX's technicians ran around finding the loose connection and finally the link to outside the station building was made during the formal speeches to launch the new FM sound of 1XX.
 
To help launch 1XX on to 90.5FM listeners were told that the station would go on FM on the 12th of December between 12pm and 1pm. All they had to do was tell 1XX the EXACT time - in minutes AND seconds that the 1XX FM broadcast would begin.  It was of course 12:12:12pm (12 minutes & 12 seconds past 12 Midday) on the 12/12/88 - The winner won a brand new stereo system.

Summer 1991/1992
99.3 Cadbury Moro FM

More summertime FM radio from Ohope Beach

Following on from FM 90.7 and 93 Splash FM, yet another part-time summer station for 1XX was established. This station was run from the 1XX caravan parked next to the Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club at Ohope Beach and broadcasted to the Bay of Plenty in the summer of 1991/1992. 

The 1XX programme was simulcast on 99.3 Cadbury Moro FM from 11pm - 6am each night.

Summer 1993/1994
Bayrock 97-7FM

The Bay of Plenty gets a full on rock station

Bayrock was another summer initiative by 1XX.  Like its predecessors, the station ran throughout the summer.  It commenced on Boxing Day, (December 26th) 1993, and last aired on Waitangi Day (February 6th) 1994.

After many petitions, letters and phone calls to Radio Bay of Plenty Limited, Bayrock was brought back on a permanent basis nearly six months to the day that it went off air.

At 12pm on July 8th, 1994, Bayrock was re-launched alongside 1XX as an additional full time service for Radio Bay of Plenty Limited. A few months latter a relay transmitter was brought online for Ohope Beach and Bayrock also began broadcasting on 99.3FM.
For a short time over Christmas and New Year of 1994/1995 Bayrock broadcast directly into Mt. Maunganui on 91FM.

On 8th July, 2004, Bayrock celebrated 10 Years Rockin' the Bay of Plenty! Check out Bayrock's Website.

1996 March
100FM Country

A short spell of country only music radio

March 1996 saw the sound of great country hit the airwaves of the Eastern Bay of Plenty through 100FM Country. The programme ran for six weeks and was relayed by satellite from FM Country in Auckland through to the 1XX building and onto 100.0FM to the country music fans throughout the Eastern Bay.

The Auckland and Hamilton frequencies for FM Country went off the air in March/April 1997. Their frequencies are now used for other formats by other radio companies.

2001 September
92.9 Kiwi FM

Te Puke’s 92.9 Kiwi FM

In September 2001,1XX set upon increasing the 1XX brand.  92.9 Kiwi FM was established in Te Puke (45 minutes north of Whakatane).  The station was established for the Kiwifruit Festival and was broadcasted out of a studio in Te Puke’s Capital Theatre.  92.9 Kiwi FM broadcast a local breakfast programme followed by the main 1XX programme for the remainder of the day.

2004 July 17
The Eastern Bay of Plenty Floods

Photo taken by the 1XX Regional News team

A civil disaster once again saw 1XX thrive as the information station. Saturday July 17th, 2004 saw the worst flooding the hit the Eastern Bay in years.  1XX once again became the civil defence information station and kept the region informed and up to date around the clock.  This continued for the entire weekend of the floods and followed on for the next couple of weeks as the region remained in a state of emergency.

2004 November
92.9 Kiwi FM goes permanent

Te Puke has its own local radio station

At 6am on Monday 15th November 2004, 92.9 Kiwi FM began a more permanent broadcast to the people of Te Puke from its local studio.  Kiwi FM broadcast a live breakfast show Monday to Saturday from 6am until 10am, a live afternoon Drive show Monday to Friday from 2pm until 6pm.  Since then, Kiwi FM has changed and now broadcasts from 6am right through to 3pm Monday to Friday as well as 6am until 10am Saturday.  Outside these times the 1XX programme is broadcast on the 92.9 Kiwi FM frequency.
 
Click Here to visit 92.9 Kiwi FM's webpage.

One Double eX Staff

A look at some now famous names that have worked at 1XX and others that have moved on to other radio or television stations/networks or other big jobs.

Fred Botica 
In 1971 Fred became one of 1XX's first Announcers, later assuming the role of Breakfast Host until 1973.  Fred is known as being the first voice to be broadcast by 1XX.  In the early days when the initial tests were conducted to ensure the transmissions were in working order, Fred was based in the studio – on the other end of the wire so to speak - and so he became known as the first voiced heard over 1XX, even though it was only a test transmission.  He is now one of Australasia's top announcers.  Based in Perth, Western Australia, Fred is now part of the breakfast team known as Botica's Bunch on Mix 94.5FM.
 
Brent Harman
Brent is one of the original 1XX News Announcers.  He later became the Chief Executive of TVNZ and is now with Prime Television in Sydney, Australia.
 
Trevor Egerton
Trevor joined 1XX in the early days and joined Brent as one of the original 1XX News Announcers.  He later became Managing Director of 1XX in the late 1970's. In 1989 Trevor helped establish New Zealand's third television network (the first private network) - TV3. He also led the group of TVNZ's regional stations; Horizon Pacific Television (1996) and helped start Prime Television in New Zealand in mid-1998.
 
Alan Wheatley (AKA: "The Man In The Red Vest")
Alan was a part of the original 1XX team in 1971.  He assumed an on-air role for a few months, doing Nights and Weekend announcing.  Following this, Alan became the Afternoon Drive Announcer before becoming the 1XX Breakfast Host in 1974 until 1975.  Alan also worked in sales and was a copy writer.  Until recently he ran the New Zealand Radio Training School in Tawa, near Wellington.  He has taught students who have gone on to work at 1XX including past announcers Scott Walker, "Big" Ed Patterson & Jo Finlay, former News Editor Alisha Kennedy and News Reporter Delmelza Hastings. Alan is now a teaching History, English, Computers & Media Studies at Manawatu College in Foxton.
 
Tony Amos
Tony joined the 1XX team in December of 1972 as an Announcer until July 1974.  Tony has since worked as an afternoon announcer in Auckland on the Solid Gold FM network, and also had a weekend talkback show on the Radio Live network.
 
Graham Moody
From September 1972 until July 1973 Graham Moody joined the 1XX team as Newsreader and Sports News Journalist. Graham has since worked doing rugby radio commentaries (eg: All Black Test Matches) in Wellington, and also worked nationwide for Newstalk ZB & Radio Sport networks.
 
Doug Harvey
Doug joined 1XX in 1973, working as Breakfast Announcer for a year.  In 1987 Doug commenced work as the original presenter of TVNZ's “Lotto" draw.  He is now employed on the Gold Coast in Australia.
 
Chris Astridge
1973 saw Chris Astridge join the 1XX team as Night Announcer & Sports Reporter until 1975.  Chris now resides on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

Terry Casserly

Terry Casserly
Terry joined 1XX in October 1974 and took on the role of Announcer until April 1977.  He then returned to the role in January of 1982.  A few years later in 1986 he began work in Promotions while also continuing with announcing work until May 1989. In the mid-1990s he founded Central FM in Waipukurau/Central Hawke's Bay and until recently was the Station Manager of Access Triple9 (999AM) in Palmerston North.
 
Ronny Phillips
Ronny was an Announcer at 1XX from September of 1976 until July 1978.  He went on to have Involvement with Waikato Rugby as a ground match announcer at Waikato Stadium (Rugby Park).  After leaving 1XX Ronny worked at numerous Hamilton based stations, including 89.8 Kiwi FM/The Breeze 89.8FM, Y99.3FM, Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM and 92 More FM Waikato.  Ronny is now the afternoon announcer on Waikato's Easy Listening station The Breeze 99.3FM.
 
Lyn MacNamara (Macca)
Lyn began announcing at 1XX in June 1977 and continued until April 1978.  Lyn is now based in Auckland and heard nationwide on the Solid Gold FM network.
 
John Budge
John joined 1XX in July 1977 as an Announcer and continued with this role until August 1978.  John is now based in Auckland as a Programmer for the Classic Hits & Viva FM networks. 

Stephen Stuart

Stephen Stuart
Stephen Stuart joined the 1XX team in June of 1979 as a Newsreader/Sports News Journalist and stayed until May 1980.  Stephen has gone on to have a successful career as a Rugby/Sports Reporter for TVNZ's ONE News.  Until recently he also presented the sports news bulletins during TV ONE's Breakfast programme.  Stephen is now based in Auckland working as a rugby reporter on Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport.
 
Gary Watling
Gary took on the role of Breakfast Announcer at 1XX in December 1979, staying until June 1981.  He returned in November 1983 slotting back in as 1XX Breakfast Announcer while also working as Programme Director until April 1992.  Gary is now the Manager of Classic Hits Waitaki FM & Newstalk ZB in Oamaru.
 
Craig Bain
During his time at 1XX, Craig worked as an Announcer, Copy Writer, Promotions Manager and News Anchor from January 1979 until January 1989.  After 1XX, Craig began work as Sales Manager for local Opotiki newspaper The Opotiki News.  Craig then worked for Coastline FM in Tauranga before moving to Gisborne to work on two stations – privately-owned Gisborne's 89FM for 18 months, and then Radio New Zealand's 2ZG for just under a year.  Craig left the radio industry in 1996 when he joined the New Zealand Fire Service where he is now the Senior Station Manager for Fire Safety in the Northland Fire region.

Leanne Malcolm

Leanne Malcolm
Leanne began her broadcasting career at 1XX working for two years between January 1980 January 1982 as a Newsreader and Journalist.  She is now based in Queenstown and reports for TV3's 3 NEWS bulletins.
 
Ric Salizzo
Best known for his hosting role in Sports Café, Ric joined 1XX in July 1982 as Newsreader and Sports News Journalist before leaving in March 1983.  His past jobs include Media Liaison Officer for the All Blacks, host of the weekly live sports programme Sports Cafe (first screening on SKY Sport and then on TV2), and in 2006 Ric hosted a show called The Sugar Shack on TV3.  Ric is now the Producer of Prime Television's nightly sports news show The Crowd Goes Wild.
 
Dean Brain (Dino)
Dean joined 1XX in February of 1984 taking on the role of Announcer and also Production Manager until April 1987.  He was employed as The Breeze & More FM in Wellington in the Production area (recording/editing commercials etc) and is now working for BCL - Broadcast Communications Limited.  This group has distributed the Free-To-Air Digital television system for the combined television networks called Free View.
 
Dave Grove
Dave was an Announcer at 1XX from November 1984 until September 1985.  He is now the host of syndicated New Zealand music radio show called Keeping It Kiwi which has previously broadcast on 1XX.  He is also the Breakfast Host and Programme Director at local Hamilton radio station The Breeze 99.3FM & Programme Director for 92 More FM Waikato.

Anna Thomas

Anna Thomas
Anna joined the 1XX team in January of 1986 as a Newsreader and Journalist until April 1986.  From 1993 until 2001, Anna was a presenter and reporter for TVNZ's long running consumer affairs programme, Fair Go, which has been on air on TV ONE since 1977.  In 2003 Anna was also an associate producer for TV2's Flipside youth news programme.
 
Maria Veronese
In 1988 Maria worked as a Newsreader and Journalist at 1XX before spending time looked after Promotions until April 1989.  She has since set up a media training company in Norfolk in the UK called Mediapro and is doing freelance television news reporting for BBC News.

Photo above is Darryl (on the right) with 5-time Academy Award winner Richard Taylor from WETA Workshops in Wellington during filming of DJ's TV show.  Richard is the creative genius behind the special effects for Peter Jackson's "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy, "King Kong”, and Andrew Adamson's "The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe".

Darryl James
Darryl began announcing at 1XX in February 1986 and continued this until February 1988.  He returned in February 1998 and stayed until December the same year.  Darryl is now based in Sydney, Australia and has a TV show called Pop Collectables which first aired in July 2006 on the Aurora Channel which is a cable station on all of Australia's subscription TV services: Foxtel, Optus and Austar Australian.

Chris Roberts
Chris worked at 1XX from January 1991 until April 1994 as a Newsreader and Journalist.  He is now the Communications Manager for Transpower.

 

Demelza Hastings

Demelza Hastings
Demelza was a Newsreader and Journalist at 1XX from 2000 until September 2001.  Following this she moved to Napier to work as a Newsreader and Journalist for Newstalk ZB Hawke's Bay.  She then worked for Radio New Zealand in Wellington and in 2005 became a reporter for TV3's 3 NEWS bulletins.  She is now based at TV3’s Wellington newsroom.

Jonesy

Pete Jones (Jonesy) 1957-1997
Pete announced at 1XX from 1983 until 1986 and then worked as both an Announcer and Chief Engineer from 1989-1997.