An announcement has gone out on Today FM, saying the station has closed.

In a voiced message, the quick announcement mentioned Today FM shall be changed by a brand new station on the identical frequency in April.

The remainder of the message mentioned Black Caps radio would proceed to be performed on the frequency because the station has rights to a number of matches left in the summertime.

The talkback station is now solely taking part in music, with Bon Jovi’s ‘Alive’ instantly taking part in after the termination announcement.

The message had no point out of workers who labored on the station during the last yr, or its listeners.

Just earlier than the closure message went out, the station’s Facebook and Twitter accounts went rogue with a publish signed by the pinnacle of digital.

“We were robbed. You were robbed,” the publish learn.

“I wanted to let you all know that every single person here, whose eyes are red and sore, only wanted to do the best they could,” the particular person mentioned.

The digital head posted saying they wished to thank everybody for the previous yr and the producer of Duncan Garner’s present was now crying of their arms “as the harsh reality of cold corporate decisions set in.”

“Love us or hate us, we fought for you and your stories.”

The posts have since been deleted from social media and Today FM’s Twitter account has been locked.

The announcement follows Today FM workers leaving the MediaWorks constructing after the radio station was abruptly pulled off-air this morning.

Staff had been ingesting within the constructing’s outdoors pavilion following the assembly, earlier than leaving the Gudgeon Street constructing about 12.15pm.

Screaming and yelling may very well be heard because the group exited the property, which included star host Tova O’Brien and Wilhelmina Shrimpton.

No one wished to talk to a ready reporter besides one particular person, who yelled “we will survive”.

The group walked as much as the close by pub, The Cav, from the place cheers may very well be heard inside.

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The board has proposed to shut the station one yr after opening it, with workers given till the tip of the day to make submissions.

Staff had been seen leaving the assembly at MediaWorks constructing in central Auckland’s College Hill about 10.45am on Thursday morning, because the station performed music.

Stuff has been leaked audio from a workers assembly held on Thursday morning with interim chief government Wendy Palmer.

“The board were clear we needed to find significant savings,” Palmer advised workers gathered.

Palmer mentioned Today FM was the “baby” of former chief government Cam Wallace and former station boss Dallas Gurney, each of whom left MediaWorks inside the previous fortnight.

“Cam and Dallas not being here probably hasn’t been helpful as I’m interim,” she mentioned.

O’Brien requested Palmer whether or not MediaWorks was set to be offered off.

“They’re bankers aren’t they … I guess that’ll be their plan, they’re not here forever, right, they’ve come in to buy an asset and then sell it,” Palmer replied.

Palmer launched a press release on Thursday morning, saying Today FM had been taken off-air “at the MediaWorks board’s request”.

MediaWorks was consulting with the staff “about the future of the station”, she mentioned.

“This is a difficult time for the team and our priority is supporting them as we work through this process.”

Tom Day, a producer for Tova O’Brien’s present, fronted media outdoors the MediaWorks constructing as he left on Thursday.

He mentioned he was “gutted” and “disappointed”.

“It was a big shock, but it wasn’t a surprise,” he mentioned.

“In the meeting, Wendy Palmer… said that the MediaWorks board had decided to make the proposal to shut down Today FM.”

Day mentioned the board wished to maintain a digital a part of Today FM and in addition preserve components of the information operation.

“We passionately believe we have done incredible work and we are just frustrated the board doesn’t believe that and I think they’ve got it blatantly wrong,” he mentioned.

Another Today FM worker mentioned folks had been ingesting and crying inside.

“Lots of laughter I think, mostly out of shock. Everyone is so heartbroken mostly that we won’t be a team anymore, we all love each other so much.”

Garner and O’Brien broke the information they had been being pulled off-air in a shock announcement earlier on Thursday.

“I don’t know how much longer we’re going to be on air,” O’Brien mentioned.

“It sounds like it’s over. We haven’t been given a chance.”

She mentioned the staff had beforehand been advised they’d the assist of “everyone” at MediaWorks, together with the chief government and the board.

“They’ve f…ed us … We’re all going to lose our jobs and the station is coming off-air.”

“This is betrayal,” Garner mentioned.

O’Brien mentioned they’d been “instructed to play music” forward of the assembly with Palmer.

“This is going to be over pretty quick,” Garner mentioned.

The last moments of the published, about 9.25am, had been downcast because the radio hosts had been coming to phrases with what they anticipated to be introduced within the assembly.

“We’ve been pulled off-air right now,” Garner mentioned.

“Without even being given a chance,” O’Brien mentioned.

Garner mentioned the entire Today FM information staff was within the studio, crying and “shell-shocked”.

A Today FM announcer learn the information at 10am for 2 minutes earlier than music began taking part in once more.

The shutdown got here throughout a stand-up in Auckland, the place Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was unveiling options for a new harbour crossing to take a seat alongside the Harbour Bridge.

The Today FM reporter in attendance acquired up through the stand-up, packed up her microphone and left.

Today FM has solely been on air for a yr. It was launched in March 2022.