Brandwave

How popular isRNZ?

In September 2026, people searched for RNZ by name about 573,000 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 52.3% of all New Zealand podcast and radio app searches, placing RNZ first out of seven apps. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about podcast and radio apps, RNZ appeared in four of the five answers and was the most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

RNZ is the most searched of 7 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. RNZShare of searches 52.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. SpotifyShare of searches 44%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. iHeartRadioShare of searches 2.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. rovaShare of searches 1.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  5. Apple PodcastsShare of searches 0.13%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

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Top podcast and radio apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, RNZ was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. RNZ is the most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. RNZ1st
  2. Spotify2nd
  3. rova3rd
  4. Pocket Casts4th
  5. iHeartRadio5th
  6. Apple Podcasts6th
  7. Overcast7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • RNZ4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Spotify4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • iHeartRadio3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • rova3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Apple Podcasts3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pocket Casts3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Overcast1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about podcast and radio apps

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which podcast and radio apps compete with RNZ?

RNZ against podcast and radio apps in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for RNZ, Spotify, iHeartRadio. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRNZSpotifyiHeartRadiorovaApple PodcastsOvercastPocket Casts
Oct 202552.1%43.8%2.8%1%0.13%0.06%0.03%
Nov 202547.1%48.4%3%1.3%0.16%0.05%0.03%
Dec 202551.6%43.9%3.3%1%0.15%0.05%0.04%
Jan 202660.8%34.9%3.3%0.8%0.15%0.05%0.04%
Feb 202647.2%48.7%3.1%0.76%0.17%0.05%0.03%
Mar 202647.5%48.9%2.7%0.72%0.14%0.04%0.03%
Apr 202656.5%39.3%3.1%0.94%0.14%0.04%0.03%
May 202647.3%49.2%2.6%0.72%0.13%0.03%0.03%
Jun 202642.3%54%2.7%0.78%0.14%0.04%0.03%
Jul 202656.1%39.9%3%0.69%0.15%0.04%0.03%
Aug 202652%44.2%2.8%0.78%0.13%0.04%0.03%
Sep 202652.3%44%2.3%1.1%0.13%0.04%0.03%

  1. 1.RNZ

    52.3%

    Held 1st. 368K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  2. 2.Spotify

    44%

    Held 2nd. 310K estimated branded searches, -1.1% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  3. 3.iHeartRadio

    2.3%

    Held 3rd. 16.4K estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  4. 4.rova

    1.1%

    Held 4th. 8.1K estimated branded searches, +45.6% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  5. 5.Apple Podcasts

    0.13%

    Held 5th. 880 estimated branded searches, -2.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  6. 6.Overcast

    0.04%

    Held 6th. 270 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.Pocket Casts

    0.03%

    Held 7th. 180 estimated branded searches, -14.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between RNZ and its closest rivals

Every comparison with RNZ

16 comparisons

How has branded search demand for RNZ changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for RNZ in New Zealand held steady, from 575K to 573K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, RNZ’s share of searches among podcast and radio apps in New Zealand peaked at 60.8% in January 2026 and was lowest at 42.3% in June 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand podcast and radio apps in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Overcast in New Zealand fell 32.5% over 12 measured months, from 400 to 270 in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for iHeartRadio in New Zealand fell 16.1% over 12 measured months, from 19.6K to 16.4K in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Pocket Casts in New Zealand fell 14.3% over 12 measured months, from 210 to 180 in September 2026.

How are RNZ’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using RNZ’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • news rnz
  • RNZ
  • rnz latest news
  • rnz news
  • rnz news today
  • rnz podcast

Do you work for RNZ? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does RNZ compete?

RNZ is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
news publishers2nd of 1118.2%Show ranking
Podcast and radio apps1st of 752.3%Shown above
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is RNZ your brand?

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