Shake-up for local radio stations

By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Radio listeners in Rotorua and Taupo will notice a few changes up and down the dial this week.

Rotorua's Lakes 96FM and Taupo's Kis FM are both being relaunched as More FM.

The Taupo station will change this Friday, while the Rotorua station will change on January 14.

Staff at both stations are not affected by the rebranding, which is part of Radioworks' move to lift its profile.

More FM is one of Radioworks' key national brands, broadcasting in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Radioworks managers in Rotorua and Taupo say the rebranding exercise will have major spinoffs for listeners and advertisers.

While the stations will remain local, they will also benefit from More FM's national sponsorship of Super 12 rugby, beach volleyball, and concert promotions.

Yesterday's announcement comes days after Radioworks, a CanWest MediaWorks company, unveiled plans for a new, nationwide radio news and information station.

The new station, Radio Live, will feature Martin Devlin, Michael Laws, Kerry Smith, Paul Henry, Louise Wallace and Marcus Lush.

The station will be broadcast on different frequencies in Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo.

It will not replace the Radio Pacific brand which will continue as a racing-oriented station.

Earlier this year, the Radio Network started broadcasting Easy Listening i in Rotorua.

When Radio Live goes to air next April, Rotorua residents will have a choice of at least 13 commercial radio stations, as well as Concert FM and National Radio.