Pretoria FM

Pretoria FM, formerly Radio Pretoria is an Afrikaans community-based radio station in Pretoria, South Africa. It broadcasts 24 hours a day in stereo on 104.2 FM in the greater Pretoria area. Various other transmitters (with their own frequencies) in South Africa broadcast the station's content further afield, while the station is also available on Sentech's digital satellite platform. The station was founded seven months before the 1994 elections. From the start, it identified itself as a radio station for the Afrikaans speaking community. For a brief period, it broadcast informally from a makeshift studio east of Pretoria.[1] Broadcasts were made possible with the help of among others, retired SABC employees.[2] Post-1994, Radio Pretoria struggled for years to secure a permanent broadcasting license from the ANC government.

Pretoria FM
  • Pretoria
Broadcast areaGauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal
Frequency104.2 FM
Programming
Language(s)Afrikaans
Links
Website

History

Pretoria FM's history and background (1993–2021)

(Established in 1994, available in 6 out of 9 provinces)

Pretoria FM is an Afrikaans community radio station in Pretoria and was established on 18 September 1993. Pretoria FM has 12 board members who are appointed annually by members of the company. Any member of the public can apply for membership and thus also have a say in what happens over the air. A turnaround strategy was launched by the board of directors in 2011 with the aim of expanding Pretoria FM to a professional Afrikaans station in all areas and the outcome of this was very successful. Pretoria FM has one of the largest and strongest non-state broadcasting networks, which is further complemented by internet and satellite technology and which makes it a radio station with great potential.

Rebranding to Pretoria FM

In May 2013 at the MTN Radio Awards, Radio Pretoria was crowned as the radio station with the most loyal listeners.[3] This achievement was repeated in and once again in 2021. On 9 May 2015, it was reported that, following 17 months of negotiations between the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and Pretoria FM, ICASA agreed to issue new community radio licences to Pretoria FM and eight other community radio stations which broadcast under the Pretoria banner in the five northern provinces of South Africa, being Radio Drakensberg, Radio Dagbreek, Radio Magaliesberg, Radio Tafelkop, Radio Naboom, Radio Kransberg, Radio Ysterberg and Radio Wolkberg.[3]

On 20 July 2015, the erstwhile Radio Pretoria announced its renaming as Pretoria FM. The aforesaid eight community radio stations would also be broadcasting under the Pretoria FM brand.[4] On 6 March 2021, Pretoria FM introduced a new transmitter on the frequency 107.9FM, servicing Rustenburg, Brits, Marikana, Mooinooi, Kroondal, Broederstroom and parts of Hartbeespoort.[5]

The station's acting chief executive officer is Hennie Koortzen.

The purpose for the station (to keep Afrikaans on the air)

Pretoria FM's vision is to be a nationwide network of Afrikaans stations that:

Is independent

Present independent news in Afrikaans

Serves the Afrikaans speaking community

Nurture and develop Afrikaans

Maintains a Christian value system in programs, conversations and music

Provides good family entertainment

Transmitters

Pretoria FM operates 8 transmitters in towns in Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal. On the farm Kleinfontein just east of Pretoria, there is a 100m mast transmitting on 104.2 MHz.

Broadcast languages

Broadcast time

Coverage areas
  • Gauteng[6]
  • Limpopo[6]
  • Free State[6]
  • Mpumalanga[6]
  • North West[6]
  • Parts of KZN[6]
  • Also countrywide via satellite[6]

Target audience
  • Educated[6]
  • Working class[6]
  • LSM 6–10[6]
  • Age Group 25 to 50+[6]
  • Female 56%, Male 44%[6]

Format

References
  1. "Regses span draad om Radio Pretoria-ateljee, uitsendings gaan voort". Beeld. 22 September 1993.
  2. "Talle Afrikaanse omroepers wil Radio Pta help". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 20 September 1993.
  3. "Radio Pretoria gets new licences". Bizcommunity. 9 May 2015.
  4. "Radio Pretoria hernoem en kry filiale". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 21 July 2015.
  5. "PretoriaFM brei uit na dié gebiede". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 21 July 2015.
  6. The Annual Guide to Radio in South Africa (AdVantage 2012). Media 24. 2012.

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