From today the businesses formerly known as APN NZ, TRN and GrabOne are unifying their print, radio, digital and e-commerce brands under one new, overarching brand, NZME..
The re-launch is the next major step in NZME. fully realising the power of its content, audience and eCommerce capabilities andis designed to maximise the New Zealand Group's combined asset potential. NZME. or "N-Zed me" stands for New Zealand Media and Entertainment.
"Our combined assets have exceptional reach in the New Zealand market with 2.9 million people connecting with our brands every week," says CEO Jane Hastings. "As NZME. we will be able to leverage that advantage to more effectively connect advertisers with audiences across the country."
A total 91 per cent of large business owners and 87 per cent of SME business owners engage with NZME.'s platforms and 92 per cent of all people living in the Northern Advocate circulation area connect with an NZME. brand in a month. NZME.'s news brands reach 2.2 million Kiwis monthly while their sport and entertainment brands reach 1.1 million and 2.7 million Kiwis respectively.
"While APN NZ and The Radio Network will become NZME., our much-loved brands don't change," Hastings said. "For example, GrabOne is still GrabOne, NewstalkZB is still NewstalkZB and The New Zealand Herald is still The New Zealand Herald. Only where you had previously seen 'APN NZ' or 'TRN' will you now see NZME. This will establish us as the preferred news, sport and entertainment destination for New Zealanders."
Of the rationale behind the new name, Hastings said the 'me' in NZME. reflected that NZME.'s brands and people were always at the centre of what was going on.
She pointed to the integration of the New Zealand businesses being an important part of the new business strategy, which focused on fully realising the power of NZME.'s combined content, audience and eCommerce capabilities.
"We are committed to being multi-platform, to being the biggest creators of locally produced news, sport and entertainment in the country whilst connecting with the best international content."
