Brandwave

Newstalk ZB vs The Edge:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Newstalk ZB had more branded searches than The Edge among radio stations in New Zealand. Newstalk ZB had about 62,100 branded searches, while The Edge had 11,500. Newstalk ZB made up 26.9% of all radio station searches we track, and The Edge accounted for 5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about radio stations, Newstalk ZB appeared in four of the five answers and The Edge in three. Newstalk ZB was mentioned before The Edge in three out of four answers that named either.

Among radio stations in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Newstalk ZB, about 5 searches for every 1 for The Edge

Newstalk ZB 62.1K searchesThe Edge 11.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Newstalk ZB, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, The Edge in 3

Newstalk ZB in 4 of 5The Edge in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Newstalk ZB, named ahead of The Edge in 3 of 4 answers

Newstalk ZB first in 3The Edge first in 1

Follow Newstalk ZB vs The Edge and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top radio stations in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Newstalk ZB was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. The Edge was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Newstalk ZB was listed before The Edge in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. RNZ National1st
  2. Newstalk ZB2nd
  3. ZM3rd
  4. The Edge4th
  5. More FM5th
  6. The Rock6th
  7. The Hits7th
  8. The Breeze8th
  9. George FM9th
  10. The Sound10th
  11. +5 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • RNZ National5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Newstalk ZB4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Rock4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ZM4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Breeze3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • The Edge3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • More FM3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Radio Hauraki3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • George FM3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • The Hits3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about radio stations

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Newstalk ZB or The Edge more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Newstalk ZB and The Edge by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 radio stations we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Newstalk ZB and The Edge among radio stations in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Newstalk ZB, The Edge. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNewstalk ZBThe RockRNZ NationalThe BreezeThe EdgeMore FMRadio HaurakiCoastGeorge FMThe HitsZMMai FMThe SoundMagicFlava
Oct 202526.9%10.5%22.5%6.1%2.8%6%5.3%5%4.3%3.7%2.2%2.3%0.56%1.8%0.25%
Nov 202528.4%8.7%22.4%7.4%2.7%5%5.6%5.2%3.7%3.4%2%2.5%0.46%2.3%0.27%
Dec 202527.1%9.3%22.3%7.2%2.6%5%6.5%6.3%3.5%3.5%2.1%2.4%0.53%1.4%0.26%
Jan 202628.1%7.7%24.5%6%2.6%5.1%6.7%5.7%3.6%3.5%2.7%2%0.48%1.2%0.26%
Feb 202627.6%8.5%22.8%6.1%2.6%6.2%6.6%5.1%2.9%4.1%2.7%2.9%0.48%0.95%0.39%
Mar 202628.8%8.7%24.2%6.4%2.7%6.2%5.6%5.1%2.5%3.5%2.3%2.5%0.41%0.83%0.33%
Apr 202630.8%7.7%25.5%7.3%2.4%4.7%4.9%4.5%3.3%3%2.5%2.2%0.43%0.74%0.24%
May 202631.2%8.7%22%6.7%2.9%5.6%5%5.4%2.7%3.7%2.5%2.2%0.5%0.59%0.3%
Jun 202631.7%8.2%22%6.3%2.5%5.7%5.1%5.5%2.7%3.9%2.4%2.7%0.51%0.57%0.3%
Jul 202628.1%9.5%23.6%6.6%2.6%5.2%5.5%4.9%3%4.8%2.4%2.4%0.48%0.59%0.32%
Aug 202629.4%11%20.6%6.4%2.4%5.4%7%4.4%3.1%3.8%3%2.1%0.41%0.66%0.34%
Sep 202626.9%20.5%16.7%5.6%5%4.9%4.3%4%3.5%3.3%2%1.9%0.56%0.49%0.26%

How has the Newstalk ZB and The Edge comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Newstalk ZB was ahead of The Edge in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Newstalk ZB’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand held steady at 26.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 62.4K to 62.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Edge’s share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand moved from 2.8% to 5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.4K to 11.5K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand radio stations in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, The Edge overtook Radio Hauraki and 5 others to rank 5th among radio stations in New Zealand, with 5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Newstalk ZB lost share of searches among radio stations in New Zealand, from 29.4% to 26.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

11 search terms

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

Newstalk ZB

3 branded search terms

  • 1ZB
  • Newstalk ZB
  • newstalkzb

The Edge

8 branded search terms

  • 94.2 the edge
  • The Edge
  • the edge fm
  • the edge fm live
  • the edge fm radio
  • the edge live
  • the edge radio
  • the edge radio station

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among radio stations

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free