iHeartRadio launches Chinese Hits

Lorde's free concert at the Vector Arena in conjunction with iHeartRadio. Photo / New Zealand Herald

NZME's all-in-one digital radio service iHeartRadio, in partnership with TV33, has launched Chinese Hits, a new radio station targeted at the under 30 year old New Zealand Chinese community.

With the Chinese community experiencing a 40 per cent growth in Auckland from 2013 to 2014, Carolyn Luey, Group Strategy & Operations Director, NZME understands the importance of ethnic radio.

"iHeartRadio NZ recognises that the Chinese community is one of the fastest growing ethnic communities in New Zealand. Chinese Hits will deliver a unique proposition targeted to fill a gap in the market for young Chinese people that will keep them entertained and connected anywhere, anytime via the iHeartRadio App."

Chinese Hits will be hosted by the popular TV33 talent Cindy Gao, Leo Xu and Janice Tang and will include the latest Chinese chart hits from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. Currently TV33 broadcasts on Freeview offering a variety of Mandarin speaking programmes including up to the minute news and entertainment that specifically caters to the New Zealand Chinese market.

TV33's CEO, Timer Zheng is thrilled to partner with iHeartRadio NZ.

"The Chinese Hits radio station combines the experience and skills of NZME's radio programming team, iHeartRadio NZ's digital reach and TV33's knowledge of Chinese music trends and talent. As a result we have created a compelling proposition that provides an opportunity to reach this valuable and growing audience segment," he says.

Luey also believes Chinese Hits will provide strong commercial opportunities for advertisers.

"iHeartRadio NZ's focus is on continuing to grow audience and support ethnic communities by delivering unique content propositions and in turn creating and developing advertising opportunities for our clients."

iHeartRadio features 20 million songs, 800,000 artists, and 1900 radio stations all in one free app, but Luey says there is always room for new and exciting content.

"We are extremely proud of how New Zealanders have embraced iHeartRadio. We have over 300,000 registered users who have access to free music and who can create their own radio stations 24/7 via the web and our mobile apps."