90.5 FM WHAKATANE | 1242 AM WHAKATANE | 92.9 FM OHOPE BEACH
ABOUT US
1XX is an Independent Commercial Radio Network
Independent, Live, Local and engaged with the Central and Eastern Bay of Plenty
1XX has local news, sport, marine, information, personalities, and promotions
THE HISTORY OF 1XX
Before 1XX went to air, listeners in the Eastern Bay of Plenty could only pick up the Government-owned stations in Tauranga.
In 1969, the idea for a locally owned private radio station came about, mostly because of the efforts over the previous three years of Auckland’s Radio Hauraki pirates, on board the Tiri and Tiri II.
On November 10th, 1970, a private company in Whakatane, Radio Whakatane Limited, was granted a broadcasting license.
The number 1 in the station’s call-sign signifies the location, in the upper North Island, followed by the letter X, indicating private ownership.
The third letter was chosen by the station. Nobody else was using a double letter. One Double X was born.
The Eastern Bay of Plenty now had 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," was part of 1XX's very first set of station jingles.
At 10:30am on Wednesday June 30th, 1971, 1XX went to air for the very first time, on 1240AM.
An official opening ceremony was held in the 1XX car park at 12:30pm.
It was broadcast live, with the station ‘blasted’ on to the air by Broadcasting Minister, H.J. Walker – pushing down on a quarryman's explosion device, followed on air by an explosion sound effect and a 1XX station jingle.
The Eastern Bay of Plenty now had its very own voice.