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Pretoria FM, formerly ''Radio Pretoria'' is an Afrikaans community-based radio station in
Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foot ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. 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 Sentech is the signal distributor for the South African broadcasting sector. Background Sentech began operations in 1992 as the signal distributor of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Sentech's mandate also included providi ...
's digital
satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioi ...
platform. The station was founded seven months before the
1994 elections The following elections occurred in the year 1994. Africa * 1994 Botswana general election * 1994 Guinea-Bissau general election * 1994 Malawian general election * 1994 Mozambican general election * 1994 Namibian general election * 1994 South Af ...
. 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. Broadcasts were made possible with the help of among others, retired
SABC The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations ( AM/ FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa's stat ...
employees. Post-1994, Radio Pretoria struggled for years to secure a permanent broadcasting license from the
ANC The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...
government.


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. 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. 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. 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. 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

*Afrikaans


Broadcast time

*24/7


Coverage areas

*Gauteng *Limpopo *Free State *Mpumalanga *North West *Parts of KZN *Also countrywide via satellite


Target audience

*Educated *Working class *LSM 6–10 *Age Group 25 to 50+ *Female 56%, Male 44%


Format

*Music 70% *Talk 30%


References


External links


PretoriaFM Website
* /www.saarf.co.za SAARF Website* /www.sentech.co.za Sentech Website {{coord missing, South Africa Afrikaner culture in Pretoria Community radio stations in South Africa Mass media in Pretoria Afrikaans-language radio stations Radio stations established in 1993