MediaWorks New Zealand
MediaWorks New Zealand is a New Zealand mass-media company focused on radio broadcasting, outdoor advertising and interactive media.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
MediaWorks New Zealand is a New Zealand media company whose activities have included commercial radio, free-to-air television, digital media and outdoor advertising. The company was formed on 24 June 2004 through the combination of TVWorks and RadioWorks, bringing together the television channels TV3 and C4 with a substantial radio portfolio. Its television business was later separated from the rest of the company, while radio became the core of the continuing MediaWorks operation. The radio side has roots in several New Zealand broadcasting groups. Energy Enterprises began in Taranaki during the 1980s with Energy FM and expanded through the creation and acquisition of stations in North Island markets. In the late 1990s it combined with Radio Pacific to form Pacific/RadioWorks Group. RadioWorks then merged with Radio Otago in 1999, extending its presence into the South Island. The resulting portfolio included local stations and brands that were subsequently consolidated, rebranded or networked under names such as More FM, The Breeze, The Rock, Mai FM and George FM. CanWest acquired RadioWorks between 2000 and 2001 and combined it with TVWorks in 2004. MediaWorks was partly floated on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in July 2004, but CanWest sold its interest to Ironbridge Capital in 2007. The company later experienced severe financial pressure. Oaktree Capital Management purchased loans to MediaWorks in 2012, converted those loans into equity in 2013, and became the company’s sole owner in 2015 after a receivership period in 2013. MediaWorks’ television division included Three, C4, ThreeNow, Newshub and other television services. In September 2020 the company announced the sale of the entire television arm to Discovery, Inc.; completion took place on 1 December 2020. The subsidiary MediaWorks TV Limited was subsequently renamed Discovery NZ Limited. MediaWorks therefore emerged primarily as a radio, digital and outdoor-media business rather than a television broadcaster. The company has continued to adjust its radio portfolio in response to audience, frequency and commercial considerations. It acquired George FM and Mai FM, expanded the More FM and The Breeze networks, operated The Rock and Radio Dunedin, and introduced or discontinued other formats. Today FM launched in March 2022 as a replacement for Magic Talk but was abruptly closed in March 2023. Some of its frequencies were later assigned to other brands, including Channel X, a continuously programmed alternative-music service launched in May 2023. MediaWorks has also maintained and rebuilt its news capabilities. Its stations historically carried news supplied through Radio Live and later Newshub. In 2021 the company announced that it would end its content-supply agreement with Newshub and establish an independent radio newsroom employing more than 20 journalists, editors and correspondents. In March 2024 it disclosed a cybersecurity incident involving the theft of personal data connected with approximately 403,000 online-competition participants. Ownership changed again in 2025 when QMS Media acquired Oaktree’s 45 percent interest, giving QMS full control. The supplied reference material also reports a subsequent QMS acquisition by Nine Entertainment in January 2026 and a later MediaWorks acquisition by Sports Entertainment Group in August 2026. Those later events are retained as reported reference claims and should be independently checked against authoritative corporate or regulatory records.
History
MediaWorks was established in 2004 when CanWest combined TVWorks and RadioWorks. Its radio heritage reaches back to Energy Enterprises, founded around Taranaki broadcasting in the 1980s, and to Radio Otago, which built a South Island station group from the 1970s onward. Energy Enterprises expanded through new stations and acquisitions, later joined Radio Pacific, and formed Pacific/RadioWorks Group. The merger with Radio Otago in 1999 created a larger national platform. CanWest acquired RadioWorks between 2000 and 2001, incorporating existing More FM assets and preparing the company for its later combination with TVWorks. The new MediaWorks company owned TV3 and C4 through MediaWorks TV and held a broad radio portfolio. Thirty percent of the company was sold on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in July 2004. CanWest disposed of its remaining interest in 2007, selling to Ironbridge Capital, which also acquired the publicly held shares. Financial strain intensified over the following years. In 2011 the New Zealand Government guaranteed a $43 million loan connected with the renewal of MediaWorks’ broadcasting licences through 2030, a decision criticised as potential corporate welfare and scrutinised because Communications Minister Steven Joyce had previously led RadioWorks. In 2012 Oaktree bought $125 million of MediaWorks loans; those loans were converted into equity in 2013. With reported debt above NZ$700 million, the company entered receivership in June 2013 and exited in November. Oaktree ultimately took 100 percent ownership in 2015. Management and programming changed substantially during the 2010s. Mark Weldon became chief executive in 2014, replacing Susan Turner, and left in 2016 amid the departure of numerous long-serving and prominent employees. David Chalmers, previously chief financial officer, served as acting chief executive. MediaWorks progressively converted many local services into networked More FM and The Breeze operations, while developing or acquiring additional brands including Radio Live, Kiwi FM, LiveSport, Mai FM and George FM. George FM, which originated as a volunteer low-power station in Auckland, became a MediaWorks property in 2009 and was expanded nationally in 2015. Many heritage stations were rebranded, while Radio Dunedin remained a locally operated service. The television business was sold after MediaWorks confirmed the transaction with Discovery in September 2020. Completion on 1 December transferred Three, Bravo, The Edge TV, Breeze TV, ThreeNow and Newshub to Discovery. The television subsidiary became Discovery NZ Limited. Discovery later ended its agreement with MediaWorks to carry The Edge TV and Breeze TV. In radio, MediaWorks announced in 2021 that it would stop receiving content from Newshub and rebuild an internal newsroom. It also announced the acquisition of Humm FM and its frequency. Magic Talk was replaced by Today FM in March 2022, but Today FM closed suddenly in March 2023. Channel X subsequently launched on frequencies that had not been assigned to other services. In March 2024 the company reported a major theft of online-competition data. In April 2025 QMS Media acquired Oaktree’s remaining stake and took complete control. The supplied reference further reports QMS’s acquisition by Nine Entertainment in January 2026 and a later sale of MediaWorks to Sports Entertainment Group in August 2026; these future-dated ownership claims require verification.
- 2025
QMS obtains full control
[1]QMS Media buys Oaktree’s remaining 45 percent interest.
- 2024
Competition database breach disclosed
[1]MediaWorks reports theft of data associated with approximately 403,000 online-competition participants.
- 2023
Today FM closes and Channel X launches
[1]Today FM is withdrawn, and some of its frequencies are later used for Channel X.
- 2022
Today FM launches
[1]The new nationwide talk-radio network replaces Magic Talk.
- 2020
Television division is sold
[1]Discovery completes its acquisition of MediaWorks TV on 1 December.
- 2015
Oaktree assumes full ownership
[1]Oaktree Capital Management becomes the sole owner of MediaWorks.
- 2013
Debt is converted into equity
[1]Oaktree’s MediaWorks loans are converted into equity during the company’s restructuring.
- 2004
MediaWorks is created
[1]CanWest combines TVWorks and RadioWorks on 24 June.
- 1999
RadioWorks is formed
[1]Pacific/RadioWorks Group merges with Radio Otago, creating a larger national radio operation.
- 1971
Radio Otago begins
[1]Radio Otago is established around Dunedin station 4XO, beginning a South Island broadcasting lineage later absorbed into RadioWorks.
Products and positioning
A New Zealand commercial-media operator built around a broad radio network, complementary digital properties and outdoor advertising, with a history of portfolio consolidation and format-based audience targeting.
Radio network
More FM
A major MediaWorks commercial radio network that grew partly through the rebranding and networking of local stations. Its portfolio has included stations across New Zealand, with local services increasingly carrying national branding and programming.
Radio network · 2004
The Breeze
An adult-oriented radio network developed from earlier easy-listening and local services. MediaWorks expanded the brand by moving heritage stations into a common national network structure.
Radio network
The Rock
A rock-music radio brand with origins in Hamilton. It became one of MediaWorks’ nationwide commercial radio offerings and has been moved between frequencies as the company reconfigured its network portfolio.
Radio station · 1998
George FM
A dance and electronic music station originating as a volunteer low-power service in Auckland. It broadcasts house, breaks, drum and bass, electro, soul, jazz, funk and related styles, and targets a broadly 25–44 audience. MediaWorks acquired it in 2009 and expanded it nationally in 2015.
Māori radio network
Mai FM
An Auckland-based Māori radio network focused largely on hip-hop and R&B. The brand targets younger listeners and forms part of MediaWorks’ commercial radio portfolio.
Local radio station
Radio Dunedin
A locally operated Dunedin radio service retained within MediaWorks’ radio portfolio after the consolidation of many other local services into national brands.
Talk radio network · 2022
Today FM
A nationwide talk-radio network introduced to replace Magic Talk. It launched in March 2022 with a prominent presenter lineup but was abruptly removed from the air and closed on 30 March 2023.
Music radio network · 2023
Channel X
A music service launched in May 2023 using frequencies left available after the closure of Today FM. It focuses on classic alternative music and operates as a largely uninterrupted, host-free stream without news breaks or advertising.
Television division · 2004
MediaWorks TV
The former television division containing services including Three, C4, ThreeNow and Newshub. Discovery acquired the division in 2020, after which the subsidiary was renamed Discovery NZ Limited.
Controversies
2011
Government loan guarantee controversy
A NZ$43 million government loan guarantee supporting MediaWorks’ licence renewal was criticised as corporate welfare and alleged media-sector interference. The involvement of Communications Minister Steven Joyce attracted scrutiny because he had previously been managing director of RadioWorks.
Brand decisions
2025
QMS acquires Oaktree’s remaining stakeM&ABackground
Oaktree Capital Management held a 45 percent interest in MediaWorks.
Action taken
QMS Media acquired the interest in April 2025, taking full control.
Aftermath
MediaWorks became wholly controlled by QMS Media.
2023
Launch Channel XProduct launchBackground
Several frequencies became available after Today FM was discontinued.
Action taken
MediaWorks introduced Channel X on 8 May 2023 as a continuous classic-alternative music service.
Aftermath
The new format replaced some of the unused Today FM capacity.
2022
Launch Today FMProduct launchBackground
MediaWorks decided to replace Magic Talk with a new talk-radio network.
Action taken
Today FM launched nationwide on 21 March 2022.
Aftermath
The network was closed abruptly on 30 March 2023 and its frequencies were reassigned.
2021
Rebuild an independent radio newsroomStrategyBackground
MediaWorks announced that it would end its content-supply agreement with Newshub.
Action taken
The company planned to employ more than 20 journalists, editors and correspondents for an internal radio news operation.
Aftermath
The move restored a standalone news capability within the radio business.
2020
Sell the television division to DiscoveryM&ABackground
MediaWorks was restructuring its portfolio amid financial pressure and confirmed that it would dispose of its entire television arm.
Action taken
The company sold MediaWorks TV, including Three, C4, ThreeNow and Newshub, to Discovery, with completion on 1 December 2020.
Aftermath
The subsidiary became Discovery NZ Limited, leaving MediaWorks focused primarily on radio, digital media and outdoor advertising.
Sources1 sources
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