APN's name changes as NZME. brand launches

Jane Hastings

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, over-arching brand: NZME.

The relaunch is a major step towards fully realising the power of the company's content, audience and e-commerce capabilities, 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 chief executive Jane Hastings. "As NZME., we will be able to leverage that advantage to more effectively connect advertisers with audiences across the country."

A total of 91 per cent of large business owners and 87 per cent of small and medium business owners engage with NZME.'s platforms and, last month, its media brands reached out to nine out of 10 - 90.2 per cent - people in the Wanganui region.

The news brands reach 2.2 million Kiwis monthly while the 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," Ms Hastings said yesterday.

"The Wanganui Chronicle is still the Wanganui Chronicle, 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."

She said the "me" in NZME. reflected that the company's brands and people were at the centre of what was going on.

"NZME. also recognises that New Zealanders want a New Zealand perspective. They want to be connected to the content they want, the way they want it and when they want it. That's what we give them.

"NZME. is uniquely positioned to deliver relevant and vertically integrated content. We can provide the innovation and solutions our advertisers need to connect with our audiences so they can better market their brands, products and services."

Subscribers to the NZ Herald and regional newspapers such as the Chronicle will continue to have their papers delivered and there will be no change to their billing at this time.

The company's new corporate website can be accessed from today at www.nzme.co.nz