Established in 1998, each radio station in the network retained its local name and broadcast a live breakfast show from the centre in which it was based and then during the day and overnight would pick up the network feed broadcast from Taupō.
[1] (Programme would be fed from Huka Falls Road Taupō to The Radio Network's Cook Street, Auckland premises for upload to the Optus Satellite where it was then received in the various markets).
The network on-air line up originally included: In late 1998, the lineup would change to: Other voices heard on the network included Geoff Bargas, Rebecca Ali, Nadine Christiansen, Sarah McMullan, Chris Auer, Marke Dickson and Paul Frost.
On 1 December 2000, CRN stations joined the Classic Hits programme fed from Cook Street Auckland, also operated by TRN.
CRN as a division of TRN remained, providing creative services, writing and producing commercials for each of the stations.