George FM
{{short description|New Zealand dance music radio station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = George FM
| logo = George-FM.png
| area = New Zealand
| airdate = {{start date|1998}}
| founded = Thane Kirby
| webcast = [https://www.rova.nz/radio/george-fm Live stream]
| format = Dance radio
| owner = MediaWorks New Zealand
| website = [https://www.rova.nz/radio/george-fm Official website]
| city =
| coordinates =
}}
George FM is a New Zealand dance music radio station, owned and operated by MediaWorks from its Hargreaves Street headquarters and relayed on Freeview{{Cite web |url=http://www.throng.co.nz/freeview/more-than-100-000-freeview-boxes-sold |title=More than 100,000 Freeview boxes sold |access-date=15 April 2008 |archive-date=23 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523214321/http://www.throng.co.nz/freeview/more-than-100-000-freeview-boxes-sold |url-status=dead }} and radio frequencies around New Zealand. Its seventy-five regular presenters and additional guest presenters host the station's twenty-four-hour mix of house, breaks, drum and bass, dubstep, electro, soul, downbeat, jazz, funk, indie rock, hip-hop and other dance and electronic music.
The network was set up as a volunteer-run low power station based in a Grey Lynn spare bedroom in 1998 by Thane Kirby. It became a commercial station with paid staff by 2003, began to be relayed to other centres in subsequent years, became a Freeview station on 1 May 2008 and was bought out by MediaWorks on 16 February 2009. It continues to retain a laid-back style: news is limited to informal news, weather, traffic and surf reports hourly during breakfast and drive shows and the choice of music and presenting style is entirely that of programme hosts.
Stations
File:Map of George FM frequencies.png
George FM broadcasts a network programme on full-power FM and low-power FM frequencies.{{cite web|title=George FM frequency list| url=https://www.georgefm.co.nz/home/frequencies.html| access-date=18 June 2020}} It also broadcasts via the Freeview and Rova platforms.
It was previously available on low-power frequencies in Whangārei, Rotorua, Taupō, Napier, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Te Anau and Invercargill.{{cite web|title=The New Zealand Radio Guide Full Power FM Stations|url=http://www.radioheritage.net/NZRG.asp?band=FM&lorder=F|website=radioheritage.net|publisher=Radio Heritage Foundation|access-date=28 December 2015}}{{cite web|title=About - Home - George FM|url=http://www.georgefm.co.nz/Home/About.aspx|website=georgefm.co.nz|publisher=MediaWorks New Zealand|access-date=28 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017043853/http://www.georgefm.co.nz/Home/About.aspx|archive-date=17 October 2010}}{{cite web|title=About - Home - George FM|url=http://www.georgefm.co.nz/Home/about.aspx|website=georgefm.co.nz|publisher=MediaWorks New Zealand|access-date=28 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912022632/http://www.georgefm.co.nz/Home/about.aspx|archive-date=12 September 2015}} The network has retained low-power broadcasts in Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, and Wellington, and has full-power broadcasts in Auckland, Nelson, Dunedin, Queenstown and Christchurch.
=Frequencies=
{{div col}}
- Auckland 96.6 FM
- Hamilton 107.3 FM (low-power)
- Tauranga 107.4 FM (low-power)
- Palmerston North 107.1 FM (low-power)
- Wellington 106.7 FM (low-power)
- Nelson 95.2 FM
- Christchurch 95.3 FM
- Dunedin 96.6 FM
- Queenstown 96.8 FM
- Freeview channel 70
{{div col end}}
Controversy
= Broadcasting standards breaches =
In December 2014, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) upheld a complaint against George FM Breakfast for unfair treatment of a named individual, Te Rama Durie, during a May 2014 broadcast that mocked his use of the dating app Tinder and aired a phone conversation with him without consent. Although the broadcaster initially upheld the fairness complaint and aired an apology, the BSA found the apology was insufficient—lacking formality and specificity—and ordered a new on-air statement including an apology.{{Cite web |date=2014-12-03 |title=Durie and MediaWorks Radio Ltd - 2014-052 |url=https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/durie-and-mediaworks-radio-ltd-2014-052/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Broadcasting Standards Authority |language=en-NZ}}
In March 2016, the BSA upheld a complaint regarding the George FM Breakfast show broadcast on 10 September 2015. The hosts asked listeners to submit the names and profiles of female Instagram users described as “do-nothing bitches.” Two women (A and B) were named. The hosts made inappropriate and disparaging comments about A’s profile, and also contacted and interviewed her on air. The BSA found that the action taken by MediaWorks in response to earlier complaints was insufficient, and that the broadcast breached the privacy of both women, as well as the fairness and good taste and decency standards. George FM was ordered to pay $4,000 in compensation to A, $2,000 to B, and $2,000 in costs to the Crown.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-10 |title=Ihaia & IM and MediaWorks Radio Ltd - 2015-074 (10 March 2016) |url=https://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/all-decisions/ihaia-and-im-and-mediaworks-radio-ltd-2015-074-10-march-2016/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Broadcasting Standards Authority |language=en-NZ}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{MediaWorks (New Zealand)}}
{{Freeview New Zealand}}
{{New Zealand radio networks}}
External links
- [http://www.georgefm.co.nz George FM official website]
{{Radio in New Zealand}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1998