Despite a weak signal, Radio Today claims to have a substantial following and is looking forward to an even better future, writes Sia Sanneh
Buried deep beneath the static of the airwaves and pushed right to the edge of one’s tuner is a radio station which is a blast from the past, catering for the “mature adult audience”.
Radio Today, approaching two weeks on the air, is a radio station which will remind many listeners of the good ol’ Springbok Radio days with Captain Carr and Pick a Box.
Already this fledgling station appears to have gained a substantial following, despite minimal funding and a disappointingly weak signal preventing many Johannesburg residents from hearing its broadcasts with clarity. More than 3 500 faxes of goodwill were received at Radio Today from fans who are anxious to be able to hear their favourite station clearly. Tucked away on a frequency of 1485 AM, Radio Today targets those past the age of 40, and broadcasts entirely in English.
Radio Today chairman Peter Lotis says the radio station does not aim at an exclusively white listenership, but hopes to appeal to a “diverse English-speaking audience”.
Radio Today was formed last winter, when Peter Lotis and vice-chairman Bob Courtney, decided to organise a regular broadcast for a segment of the country he and others felt had not been successfully covered.
The immediate response was overwhelming. Several of South Africa’s best-loved presenters rallied to the cause, among them radio veterans Nigel Kane and Paddy O’Byrne. Their continued participation with the radio station has contributed greatly to the positive response of local listeners, says Lotis.
All of Radio Today’s broadcasters have donated their time and skills to the station free of charge and will continue to do so, said Lotis, at least until Radio Today has cornered some more sponsors.
However, according to Courtney, the broadcasters are committed to continuing to be a fairly “spot-free radio. It’s by virtue of music that we’ll be able to remind people of the days of old, and help to make the link between the generations stronger.”
This “link,” is both visible and audible; the station is adorned with pictures of famous artists of the present and the past, who are often heard on the air, such as Lena Horne, rockband Queen, and, of course, legendary Frank Sinatra.
Possibly the most unusual aspect of the station is that all its proceeds are donated to the Johannesburg Association for the Aged (Jafta). The association has been providing a variety of services for citizens above the age of 65, ranging from affordable housing to entertainment.
Radio Today hopes their donations will help to fill in gaps left by cutbacks in government funding. It is this active effort to contribute to Jafta, combined with the quality and knowledge of its presenters, that has propelled the station into the limelight of the airwaves.
The music selection on Radio Today ranges from jazz to classical and even pop. The station has worked hard to include what Lotis jokingly refers to as “more seasoned experts” in several musical genres, such as radio host Sam Sklair, who focuses on the station’s well-loved jazz programmes. On a given evening, one might expect to hear some old favourites interspersed with the likes of Selena and UB40.
The station’s dramatic works have also been well received. “Very few stations run plays anymore,” said Lotis, who has also recruited some impressive acting talent for the broadcasts. Actors James White and Linda Stewart have been instrumental in bringing to life Radio Today’s works, say Lotis and Courtney. Some of the radio’s pieces resemble soap operas, while others are more lighthearted dramas.
One of the more popular shows is a 40-episode piece written by Michael McCabe, and produced by Bridget Jardine — Hazel’s Child explores the suspense- filled relationship between a man and woman who meet on an archaeological dig, and who may be related.
On the comedy front, the station broadcasts Going South, an entertaining piece that focuses on a family from England who moves to Natal.
Although everything seems to be going smoothly for the people at the radio station, some of their technical issues have proved quite frustrating as the station has had trouble reaching several places in Gauteng because of a weak signal.
Several factors are said to have contributed to the poor reception. According to Lotis, poor placement of the station’s transmitter may have been the main cause of the trouble. Lotis and Courtney are pleased to say that the reception has already cleared up substantially.
With the reception business behind them, the folks at the station are confident they will be able to continue their broadcasting for a long time. As for plans of expansion, Radio Today is content to remain a relatively small outfit, reaching the greater Johannesburg area. Their ambitions seem well within reach, so long as their listeners are willing to persevere for a a few more days and tune in, in spite of some radio fuzz.