MediaWorks has revealed the look of its new Magic Talk station, and announced that  Peter Williams is return to radio on the newly formatted station.
 
The station will carry talk and lifestyle content aimed at an over 45 audience.
 
Peter Williams says he is returning to air for really great opportunity:
 
“As someone approaching the age of Winston’s Gold Card, I have plenty of thoughts and opinions on various issues, formed from having quite a few years on this planet! I’m delighted this offer has come pretty much out of the blue from Magic Talk. It’s a new station and I’m really enthusiastic about sharing my views with those who call, email or text in.
 
“I also look forward to regularly talking with the newsmakers of the day and being able to stimulate discussion from that.
 
“Yes, I have been mainly a TV person for nearly 40 years, but my introduction to the broadcasting industry was through radio, with a station in Dunedin which has subsequently become More FM. So in many respects this role is a return to where I came from and the circle is complete.”
 
Magic Talk will also feature some of New Zealand’s best known personalities on talk radio with The AM Show’s Duncan Garner, Mark Richardson and Amanda Gillies joined by Ryan Bridge on The Ryan Bridge Drive Show.
Popular weekend shows Rural Exchange and Home and Garden will also feature alongside the live simulcast of Newshub Live at 6pm.
 
Magic Talk, aimed at the 45+ demographic, will launch on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 with almost 90% talk radio across the week. Further lineup announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
 
The Magic brand encompasses both Magic Talk and Magic Music, allowing the choice of both options for listeners, operating on different frequencies. At various times, there will also be shared programming broadcast across both
stations.
 
Magic Music will continue to feature the ever popular Mark Leishman and Geoff Bryan, Mark Smith, Murray Lindsay and Bob Gentil and offer a 24/7 music option for Magic listeners.
 
MediaWorks Group Content Director Radio Leon Wratt says: “The merger between the two brands combines the best of both worlds for its audience and with over 51 frequencies will result in one of the biggest stations in the country.
 
“It is unique in that it carries both a talk channel and a music channel, all wrapped into one music, talk and lifestyle brand.”
 
In the final GfK radio survey results of the year, Magic gained 0.5 percentage points nationally to 4.8%. The station’s growth continues in the regions increasing its lead in the Hawkes Bay, growth in Wellington, Christchurch and a strong result in Tauranga.
 
See all the NZ Radio Survey 4 results here.