MediaWorks New Zealand

What MediaWorks New Zealand does

MediaWorks New Zealand is one of New Zealand's largest privately held media companies, operating a multi-platform advertising and content business across radio, digital audio, outdoor, and creative production. Its core audio network comprises 14 owned-and-operated radio brands — including The Rock, More FM, The Edge, Mai FM, George FM, The Breeze, and Breeze Classic (launched November 2025) — distributed via FM frequencies and the proprietary rova digital audio and entertainment platform (mobile app and web), reaching 2.51 million weekly listeners and 4.4 million monthly digital users. The outdoor advertising business is delivered through an exclusive sales partnership with QMS Media, providing access to 5,000+ nationwide touchpoints including digital billboards, street furniture, transport advertising (4,000+ panels), and commuter hubs across Auckland Transport's Bus, Rail & Ferry networks, reaching 3.5 million Kiwis weekly.

The company's commercial offering bundles traditional radio advertising, digital advertising (social, Google, influencer, gaming, native content, and the Mirrors video product), programmatic digital inventory, and an in-house creative studio (Passionfruit) for campaign strategy and asset production. Pricing is tiered: regional radio starts from NZ$500/week with a four-week minimum, while national campaigns start from NZ$3,000/week inclusive of production. Go-to-market is sales-led, with local representatives across 23 markets serving SMEs and dedicated enterprise sales teams (including agency sales) serving national brands and media-buying agencies, complemented by event sponsorships (e.g., Fieldays 2026 official media partner) and event-driven activations.

The business is 100% owned by Quadrant Private Capital, a private equity firm, and reported a return to profitability in FY25. Leadership has been refreshed with the appointment of a former Meta/Reddit leader as Head of rova Platform, a new Commercial Director – Agency Sales from Warner Bros. Discovery, and the return of the CEO Wendy Palmer. MediaWorks is headquartered in Auckland with regional offices in Wellington and Christchurch, and competes primarily with NZME in the New Zealand media market.

Name

MediaWorks New Zealand

Legal name

MediaWorks Holdings Limited

Website

https://mediaworks.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

MediaWorks New Zealand is a privately held multi-platform media company operating 14 radio brands, the rova digital audio platform, an exclusive outdoor advertising partnership with QMS, and the in-house Passionfruit creative studio, serving NZ SMEs, national brands, and agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadcast Media and Advertising

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Sound Recording Studios (51224), Media Representatives (541840)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE), Audio/Podcast/Streaming Media Buying (MPAAABAF), Radio Media Buying (MPAAABAI)

Keywords

• Radio broadcasting
• Outdoor advertising
• Digital advertising
• Audio streaming
• Creative production

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: Traditional and digital audio advertising across 14 radio stations reaching 2.51 million weekly listeners. Includes spot advertising, sponsorship, and integrated content opportunities.
2. Digital Advertising: Digital advertising across rova platform, websites, social media (2.9 million reach), Google advertising, influencer network, gaming, native content, and video (Mirrors). Programmatic and direct sales available.
3. Outdoor Advertising: Outdoor advertising via QMS partnership including billboards, street furniture (nearly 2,000 panels in Auckland), transport advertising (4,000+ panels), and commuter hubs. Reaches 3.5 million Kiwis weekly.
4. Creative Production Services: Passionfruit in-house studio provides brand strategy, advertising production, and asset creation services for clients across all platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MediaWorks operates a multi-platform media company offering radio broadcasting across 14 owned audio brands, digital audio and entertainment through its proprietary rova platform, outdoor advertising via an exclusive partnership with QMS Media, programmatic and direct-sold digital advertising, and in-house creative production services through Passionfruit studio. The portfolio reaches over 2.51 million weekly radio listeners, 4.4 million monthly digital users, and 3.5 million weekly outdoor audiences across New Zealand.

Product overview

MediaWorks New Zealand operates a multi-platform media company offering radio, digital audio, digital advertising, outdoor advertising, and creative services. The core offering centers on 14 radio stations (The Rock, More FM, The Edge, The Breeze, Mai FM, George FM, Breeze Classic, The Sound, Channel X, Magic, Humm, Tarana, REX, and rova as the streaming platform), complemented by the rova digital audio/entertainment platform for live radio, podcasts, and on-demand content. Digital advertising products include Google, social media, influencer network, gaming, native content, and Mirrors video advertising. Outdoor advertising is delivered through an exclusive QMS partnership covering digital billboards, street furniture, billboards, bus advertising, and commuter hubs. In-house creative studio Passionfruit provides brand strategy and production across digital, print, audio, and video. The portfolio collectively reaches over 2.51 million radio listeners weekly, 4.4 million digital users monthly, and 3.5 million outdoor audiences weekly across New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• rova: Digital audio and entertainment platform offering live radio, curated music streams, podcasts, playlists, news, video, and exclusive content
• Passionfruit

Products and services

• rova Digital Platform MediaWorks' digital audio and entertainment platform that brings together live radio, curated music streams, podcasts, playlists, news, video, and exclusive content into one personalized listening experience, available via mobile app and web.
• MediaWorks Radio Network Network of 14 owned radio brands including The Rock, More FM, The Edge, Mai FM, George FM, The Breeze, Breeze Classic, The Sound, Channel X, Magic, Humm, Tarana, and REX, reaching 2.51 million weekly listeners across 23 markets in New Zealand with 36 local shows.
• Breeze Classic Radio Station New radio station launched November 2025 focusing on classic hits from the late 60s to early 80s, available on FM frequencies and rova.
• rova Studios In-house podcast production studio creating original podcast content including Not For Radio, Editor In Chief, Kiwi Yarns, Let Her Finish, and DSPN.
• Digital Advertising Digital advertising products across the rova platform, websites, social media (2.9 million unduplicated reach), Google advertising, influencer network, gaming, native content, and Mirrors hyper-targeted video, available through programmatic and direct sales channels.
• Outdoor Advertising Outdoor advertising via QMS partnership covering digital billboards, street furniture (nearly 2,000 panels in Auckland), bus advertising (4,000+ panels), and commuter hubs at Auckland Transport and Wellington Airport, reaching 3.5 million Kiwis weekly.
• Passionfruit Creative Studio In-house creative studio offering brand strategy, integrated creative strategy, branding, identity development, and asset production across digital, print, audio, and video platforms.
• Audio Advertising Radio and digital audio advertising products across MediaWorks' 10 audio brands, reaching over 2.51 million listeners weekly with targeted audience segments and local engagement, with regional campaigns starting from $500/week and national campaigns from $3,000/week.
• Programmatic Advertising Programmatic trading system for digital advertising space, using supply side and demand side platforms for automated ad buying and selling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Campaigns featuring audio delivered results approximately 22% stronger than those without it across key effectiveness measures (per Mark Ritson research)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• FieldaysmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 March 2026MediaWorks named official media partner for Fieldays 2026 (June 10-13) at Mystery Creek Events Centre. Partnership spans radio, digital, streaming, and outdoor platforms across The Rock, George FM, More FM, and The Edge brands. Fieldays is NZ's largest agricultural event with 1,100+ exhibitor sites.
• QMS MediacoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive partnership making MediaWorks the exclusive sales representative for QMS outdoor advertising network in New Zealand. Covers billboards, street furniture (nearly 2,000 panels in Auckland), transport advertising (4,000+ panels), and commuter hubs. Reaches 3.5 million Kiwis weekly with over 5,000 nationwide touchpoints.
• SiriusXM Podcast NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationMediaWorks became the official sales representative for SiriusXM Podcast Network in New Zealand, expanding podcast advertising inventory and distribution for international podcast content in the NZ market.
• Wellington AirportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandmark digital billboard partnership at Wellington Airport, expanding premium outdoor advertising inventory at a key commuter location.
• BNZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to empower young New Zealanders on the art of getting started, likely involving content creation and financial literacy initiatives.
• Addington RacewayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew partnership announced for horse racing event coverage and brand activations at Addington Raceway.
• Auckland TransportmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor contract win making MediaWorks NZ's #1 Out of Home company. Covers exclusive rights to Auckland Transport hubs across Bus, Rail & Ferry networks.
• Waikato Regional CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBus media contract expansion boosting outdoor advertising reach across the Waikato region.
• Crusaders RugbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMore FM Canterbury celebrates 30 years of loyalty with Crusaders through 'Teammates Since 1996' campaign.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NZME: NZME is New Zealand's other large-scale multi-platform media company operating radio (NewstalkZB, Coast, Hauraki, Flava), digital (iHeart Radio partnership, nzherald.co.nz), and publishing. Direct competitor to MediaWorks for both audience share and advertising budgets across radio and digital in NZ.
• Australian Radio Network (ARN): ARN operates a comparable radio network model (Kiis, Pure Gold, iHeartRadio Australia) targeting similar audience segments and advertiser use cases. Closest direct analog outside NZ, sharing multi-station portfolio strategy and digital audio platform approach.

Regional players

• Nova Entertainment: Australian commercial radio network (Nova, Smooth, FIVEaa) operating a multi-station portfolio targeting younger demographics, similar to MediaWorks' Edge and Mai FM strategy. Comparable operating model across radio, digital, and podcasts in the trans-Tasman market.
• Southern Cross Media Group: Australian free-to-air TV, radio (Triple M, Hit Network), and digital audio operator with similar multi-platform revenue mix. Comparable audience reach strategy across Australia, MediaWorks' closest geographic neighbor in the regional media landscape.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio operator with hundreds of stations plus the iHeartRadio digital platform. Comparable multi-station broadcasting model with digital audio platform, podcast network, and live events, though operating at vastly greater scale.
• SiriusXM: Satellite and streaming audio entertainment company with large podcast network (MediaWorks is the official NZ sales representative for SiriusXM Podcast Network). Comparable in audio subscription and ad-supported podcast distribution model.
• Cumulus Media: US radio operator (WSJ Radio, NASH) with multi-station portfolio and digital audio platform. Comparable commercial radio + digital audio + podcasting model, though smaller scale and US-focused.
• Nine Entertainment: Major Australian media company operating free-to-air TV, streaming (Stan), radio (2GB/3AW), publishing, and digital ad inventory. Comparable multi-platform media model competing for trans-Tasman advertiser budgets.
• Bauer Media Group: Global multi-platform media company with radio, publishing, and digital operations. Comparable integrated media + advertising revenue model, with comparable multi-station and content production approach.

Others

• QMS Media: MediaWorks' exclusive outdoor advertising partner in NZ; while not a direct competitor, QMS is critical infrastructure for MediaWorks' outdoor advertising revenue and a key business relationship. Comparable in providing ad inventory that MediaWorks resells.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mediaworksnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mediaworks-nz
• Facebookfacebook.com/MediaWorksNZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/mediaworksnz
• TikToktiktok.com/@mediaworksnz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MediaWorks New Zealand