SAfm
 | |
| Broadcast area | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104–107 MHz FM[1][2] |
| Programming | |
| Format | News radio, talk radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | SABC |
| History | |
First air date | 1936 |
Former names |
|
| Links | |
| Webcast | www |
| Website | safm |
SAfm is a national, English-language public radio station in South Africa. It has been operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) since its founding in 1936.[3]
History
SAfm was the SABC's first radio station, and the country's first public radio station. From 1924 to 1936, the only radio service in South Africa was a privately owned station called JB, which broadcast to the cities of Johannesburg, Durban, and (later) Cape Town. An Act of Parliament in 1936 made official the conversion of JB into a public broadcaster.[4]
In its early days as a public radio service, the station was called the "A" Programme. When the SABC started an Afrikaans-language station in 1937, the two stations came to be called the English Service and the Afrikaans Service, respectively. In 1985 the English Service was renamed Radio South Africa; it has had its current name, SAfm, since 1995.[3] The SAfm studio is now in SABC Radio Park, in the Johannesburg suburb of Auckland Park.[5]
Programming
From 1995 to 2003, it gradually reduced the scope of its programming from a general, multi-genre format to a news and talk radio format. In 2006, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa required SAfm to re-add drama and children's radio programmes, and these are now among the station's offerings.[3] In 2012, SAfm was broadcasting 24 hours per day.[1]
Audience figures
Most SAfm listeners are in age range of 35 to 49, and LSM groups 7–10.[1][3][further explanation needed]
| Month | 7-day | Average Monday–Friday |
|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | 645,000 | 281,000 |
| February 2013 | 566,000 | 263,000 |
| December 2012 | 517,000 | 218,000 |
| October 2012 | 516,000 | 218,000 |
| August 2012 | 550,000 | 219,000 |
| June 2012 | 540,000 | 221,000 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c The Annual Guide to Radio in South Africa (AdVantage 2012). Media 24. 2012.
- ^ "SABC public broadcasting stations". Brand S.A country portal. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d "About SAfm: Station Profile". safm.co.za. SAfm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ du Plessis, D. F. (2000). "The South African Advertising Scene § Electronic Media". Introduction to Public Relations and Advertising. Juta and Company. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7021-5557-4. OCLC 45558082 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Contact Us". safm.co.za. SAfm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "SAARF RAMS (Presentations)". saarf.co.za. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013.
External links
