{"id":58500,"date":"2023-12-19T08:56:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T12:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=58500"},"modified":"2023-12-19T08:56:00","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T12:56:00","slug":"100-years-of-radio-in-south-africa-and-still-going-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/100-years-of-radio-in-south-africa-and-still-going-strong\/","title":{"rendered":"“100 years of radio in South Africa \u2013 and still going strong”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, John Green (ZS1JHG), who shares the following article from Tech Central<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

100 years of radio in South Africa \u2013 and still going strong<\/a><\/h1>\n

Radio in South Africa turns 100 years old today. But advances in technology mean the medium is not standing still.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today \u2013 Monday, 18 December 2023 \u2013 marks 100 years since radio was introduced in South Africa, with the first experimental broadcast going out from Railway Headquarters in Johannesburg on 18 December 1923.<\/p>\n

Radio broadcasting began under the auspices of South African Railways, followed by the licensing of three more services: the Association of Scientific and Technical Societies in Johannesburg, the Cape Peninsular Publicity Association in Cape Town and the Durban Corporation, which began broadcasting in 1924.<\/p>\n

These merged into the African Broadcasting Company in 1927, owned by a wealthy businessman, IW Schlesinger, but on 1 August 1936, they were sold to the SABC, established that year through an act of parliament.<\/p>\n

The SABC took over the African Broadcasting Company\u2019s staff and assets and maintained a state monopoly on radio until the launch in December 1979 of Capital Radio 604, and then Radio 702 in 1980.<\/p>\n

In most of the world, reliance on the radio for communication came to an end in the 1950s and early 1960s with the advent of television \u2013 but in South Africa, where television broadcasting was not adopted until 1976 because the Nationalist government of the time considered it a threat to Afrikaner culture, reliance on radio lasted nearly two decades longer. This meant that South African programming could take advantage of the newest technological and production advances.<\/p>\n

SABC stations included the English and Afrikaans language channels \u2013 eventually becoming SAfm and Radio Sonder Grense (RSG), respectively. Programming included news, plays and British content, and in 1950, the SABC launched Springbok Radio as a commercial, for-profit but still state-owned service. [Continue reading…<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Green (ZS1JHG), who shares the following article from Tech Central: 100 years of radio in South Africa \u2013 and still going strong Radio in South Africa turns 100 years old today. But advances in technology mean the medium is not standing still. Today \u2013 Monday, 18 December 2023 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,288],"tags":[4091,3036],"class_list":["post-58500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-radio-history","tag-radio-history","tag-south-africa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fdy","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9995,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/buying-a-bmw-in-south-africa-shortwave-radio-is-an-option\/","url_meta":{"origin":58500,"position":0},"title":"Buying a BMW in South Africa? Shortwave radio is an option!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Bob, has a relative\u00a0who works for BMW in the United States. Recently, Bob learned that some models of BMWs shipped to South Africa have a shortwave radio option. \u00a0He followed up with this photo of the radio\u00a0display [see above]. Wow, what a fab idea! Not only would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mobile Shortwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mobile Shortwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mobile-shortwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"bwm-sw","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35187,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/from-the-shortwave-archive-radio-south-africa-rsa-new-years-call-in-program-1977\/","url_meta":{"origin":58500,"position":1},"title":"From the Shortwave Archive: Radio South Africa (RSA) New Year’s call-in program 1977","author":"Thomas","date":"December 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording of Radio South Africa which was originally recorded on December 31, 1977 from his home in\u00a0Plymouth, MN using a Hammarlund HQ-180. Tom notes: During the late 1970s, Radio South Africa (RSA) would broadcast a New Years call-in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hammarlund-HQ180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hammarlund-HQ180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hammarlund-HQ180.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hammarlund-HQ180.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40057,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/trans-world-radio-to-retire-shortwave-services-to-south-africa-by-december-31-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":58500,"position":2},"title":"Trans World Radio to retire shortwave services to South Africa by December 31, 2019","author":"Thomas","date":"October 6, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Trans World Radio via Marcus Keulertz) Due to changes to the media landscape and subsequent decline in demand for shortwave radio broadcasts in South Africa, TWR will be reducing our English morning broadcasts in the 49, 60 and 90 metre bands on October 27th\u00a0-\u00a0followed by a retirement of these\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/unnamed.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/unnamed.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/unnamed.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36325,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/channel-africa-and-other-broadcasters-affected-by-closure-of-meyerton-shortwave-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":58500,"position":3},"title":"Channel Africa and other broadcasters affected by closure of Meyerton Shortwave Station","author":"Thomas","date":"February 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ga\u00e9tan Teyssonneau, who notes that Channel Africa will end their shortwave service on March 31, 2019. The Meyerton Shortwave Station is closing which will effectively end Channel Africa's shortwave service but also end Africa relays for a number of other major international broadcasters. Alokesh\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/53013911_10156146460602525_4550965651992215552_n.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28701,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/from-the-shortwave-archives-radio-rsa-reviews-the-sony-icf-2001\/","url_meta":{"origin":58500,"position":4},"title":"From the Shortwave Archives: Radio RSA reviews the Sony ICF-2001","author":"Thomas","date":"October 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I've mentioned many times before what a joy it is to curate the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive (SRAA). Sometimes I'm sent recordings that evoke a flood of memories. SRAA contributor, Tom Laskowski, just submitted another such recording. Tom included the following notes with his Radio RSA - Voice of South\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Sony-ICF-2001-003.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Sony-ICF-2001-003.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Sony-ICF-2001-003.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43359,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/pentti-stenmans-impressive-collection-of-swl-recordings-qsls-and-pennants\/","url_meta":{"origin":58500,"position":5},"title":"Pentti Stenman’s impressive collection of SWL recordings, QSLs, and pennants","author":"Thomas","date":"May 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: Just ran across this guy's site Pentti Stenman, who is in Finland. Check out his audio and QLS, pennants as well... http:\/\/www.penan.net\/dx-kuuntelu Pentti's collection is impressive indeed! Since he's in Finland, some of his site is in Finnish, but it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Costa-Rica-Pennant.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Costa-Rica-Pennant.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Costa-Rica-Pennant.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Costa-Rica-Pennant.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58500"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58501,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58500\/revisions\/58501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}