Retro Hit Radio is a radio station based in Auckland, New Zealand. Retro Hit Radio has a diverse music playlist predominantly from the 1980s and 1990s. The station broadcast on FM for the first six years, and is now an internet radio station.
History
Retro Hit Radio was developed as an idea in 1996, when the building of the music library began. It began trial broadcasts in 2001, then started broadcasting on Waitangi Day, February 2004 on the frequency 106.9 FM in Otahuhu, and continued until a frequency change to 88.1 FM after securing a broadcast site at Goodwood Heights in November of that year, and began broadcasting to Manukau City.
On 1 October 2007, the 88.1 transmission in Manukau was switched off, and relocated to Kohimarama on the same frequency, where it was broadcasting until 10 February 2008.
The station then became a dedicated internet radio station based in Grey Lynn and streamed until 25 April 2010.
2013 Relaunch
After a few years, the social media accounts of Retro Hit Radio became active a few months prior to the relaunch, which was announced on 1 December 2013 to occur at 10am on 11 December 2013. The date was chosen given it would align at a sequential time at 10am on the 11th day of the 12th month of the 13th year. The first song played for the re-launch was Escapade by Janet Jackson.
Format and Branding
Retro Hit Radio enjoys a diverse music playlist centered around the 1980s and 1990s. The music heard is mostly upbeat, and plays a genre-crossing mix of CHR music of the time, including pop, rock, soul, dance and early electronic, old school hip hop, power ballads, post-punk, alt-pop, new wave, grunge, college rock, brit-pop, indie, disco, post-disco and breakdance. Whilst this marks a similarity toward being a Jack format, the span of decades is less broad and measurably more hits-based in comparison.
The music library and music playlists reflect what was played on New Zealand, Australian, United Kingdom, and American radio stations of the era, and are key to the library of 'hits'. Promotional radio edits were sourced and used for broadcast, to present an accurate re-creation of the era. The energy and presentation of the station was loosely modeled on that of the then top rating Auckland radio stations Radio Hauraki, 89FM and Magic 91FM circa 1985 - 1992.
The radio station is identified in stream by a mix of short produced audio elements. There are also jingles, sung by Auckland-based singer Charene Clarke. Retro Hit Radio also brands itself by employing a corporate voice. Phil Braithwaite (Counties-Manukau Radio/Times FM) was the original corporate voice from 2004 to mid-2006, and Dan Bernstone (ZM Network/More FM) from 2006 onward.
Broadcast license and coverage
Retro Hit Radio originally broadcast in stereo on 88.1 FM, which is one of 16 New Zealand Government licensed LPFM frequencies (GURL) available only in New Zealand. At the time, broadcast power was restricted to 300 mW EIRP. The Goodwood Heights broadcast site for Retro Hit Radio was elevated at 140m above sea level at Goodwood Heights (near Manukau), and provided a radius of approx 8–12 km of coverage in any direction. Later, the broadcast power increased to 500 mW EIRP marginally strengthening the FM signal rather than increasing its range. This is due to the flat local geography and well-serviced transmission equipment - including a PLL PRO III 4W NRG transmitter and J-pole antenna. The Kohimarama transmission was from Rawhitiroa Road which overlooks Kohimarama and St Heliers.
Internet Streaming
The original stream used the aacPlus format, in stereo at 32kbit/s. Since the re-launch, Retro Hit Radio has been streaming at 128kbit/s mp3 stereo. This was later changed and is currently 128kbit/s AAC stereo.
Retro Hit Radio was an early adopter of mobile streaming. FStream which was an iOS app that made it possible to listen to the aacPlus stream with an iPhone. You could also listen online with a regular mobile phone through the Moodio directory. Tuner 2, now known as TuneIn is one of the many directories where Retro Hit Radio can be streamed.
Lineup
The original weekday lineup consisted of Mark Smith (6-10am), and Richard Phelps (10-5pm). Previous announcers included David Gray, Greg Prebble, and Aidan Tavendale. Currently the station is announcer-free except for occasional programming features, or general recorded notices.
Programming features
Regular Features
Daily, or regular features included the popular podcast Stuck In The 80's, hosted by Steve Spears, The Hot 9 at 9, The 80s Lunch, e-Quest Afternoons, Chips Dips & Dorks, and the 90s at Night.