1ZM Auckland: 1251ZM (1986/87)
Channel: Patrick Te Pou
Date: 2021-01-07

A classic 1ZM Auckland commercial - screened on TVNZ during the summer of 1986/87. This commercial featured an early TV appearance by Clint Brown, who went on become the face of sport on TV3 (now Three) for 17 years from 1989 until 2006.

HISTORY
1ZM began its roots in August 1930 as a privately owned station in Manurewa before being acquired by the government-owned NZBS (New Zealand Broadcasting Service). 

During World War II, the USAFRS (United States Armed Forces Radio Service) took control of 1ZM.  The station became part of the AES Mosquito Network, a military broadcasting service that provided entertainment for US troops situated in Auckland.  

In 1948, 1ZM was briefly known as 1ZD before changing its name to 1YD, and in September 1967, 1YD began leasing its air-time to Radio i on a part-time basis.  This arrangement ended in 1970 when Radio i successfully secured its own frequency (1590AM).

The advent of 'pirate' broadcasting in the late 1960s by Radio Hauraki, and the subsequent launch of several privately owned radio stations led to a sharp rise in competition for government owned stations like 1YD. In a move to sharpen up the image of 1YD (and its sister stations 2YD and 3ZM), the NZBC (New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation) rebranded all three stations as ZM Maxi Music.

1ZM could be heard in Auckland on 1250AM. In late 1978, New Zealand altered its AM band frequency spacing from 10 kHz to 9 kHz and 1ZM changed frequencies from 1250AM to 1251AM. It became what was known as 1251ZM because of the change.

In 1983, due to the impending launch of two new private commercial FM radio stations in Auckland, 1251ZM was ordered to adopt a commercial-free format. This was to allow the new private stations (i.e. Magic 91FM and 89 Stereo FM respectively) to become established as profitable contenders in Auckland's commercial radio market.

During the 1980s, 1251ZM was known on-air as "The Amazing AM", "New Music Radio", "The Home of Auckland's Finest Rock", "Hot Rock ZM", "Total Music ZM" and "Better Music 1251" respectively.

1251ZM's midnight to dawn programme (known as "The ZM All Nighter") was relayed across the country throughout much of the decade. Stations that took The ZM All Nighter included 77ZK (Hastings), ZMFM (Manawatu), 2ZM/ZMFM (Wellington), 3ZM/ZMFM (Christchurch), 4ZG (Gore) and short-term summer station 95FM (Mt Maunganui).

1251ZM came to an end in 1987 when it subsequently replaced its top 40 hit-based format with adult classic hits, and became what would be known as "Classic Hits Twelve 51". The ZM brand was dropped but returned to Auckland on 91FM as 91ZM Auckland in 1997 on a frequency previously used by local Auckland station 91FM. This station was a completely separate station to 1251ZM and is now the host of the ZM network.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to YouTube channel Sleek822 for the use of this clip.