1485AM Radio Today
My Wednesday night radio show is sadly no longer. Radio Today's management felt there was too much of a conflict of interest for me doing a Sunday night show on Midrand 93.8FM. According to Radio Today, it is against Icasa rules for one person doing similar shows on different community stations. Anything is possible with Icasa, I guess. Forced to pick two hours on Wednesdays on AM or three hours on Sundays on FM, I picked Midrand.
HOw do I pick up 1485 in the afternoon?
Author: Barth Gimble, 26 September 2007
I would like to hear the music on this radio station but I work a shift in the morning that doesn't allow me to listen to the radio during the AM. How can I listen to 1485 in the PM? Do you know the number i should look for on my wireless?
Medium Wave Acces to Radio Today
Author: Jabulani Mbele, 4 December 2007
I am exited to have been introduced to your station by Jomo Beibi. I am a Klerksdorp resident and wish to commend the work you guys are doing out there!!
I sometimes wish to listen to the you radio station while driving. Currently the frequency goes up to Potchefstroom some 60 km from Klerksdorp.
It would be a great gesture if you could extend the coverage to Klersdorp. I think the listernership base is unexplored. We need your quality of service this side.
Kindest regards
Enjoying 1485
Author: Dawid Raath, 2 January 2008
I cannot recall how I discovered MW1485 but have become a passinate listener and supporter since about 2005. Especially good is that wonderfull Rock & Roll programme, Ypou Don't Know What You've Got, which currently airs on Friday evenings from 18:00 to 19:00.
From about 1953 to 1965 some of the best music this world has ever heard was produced and this programme plays it - but with emphasis on the more obscure, seldom-heard songs which so poignantly tell of that lovely era. Interesting background to the artists and those less-commercial songs is also given, which just complete a deligtfull one hour.
This reminds one of that other wonderfull Rock & Roll programme called Let The Good Times Roll, which Monica Fairall used to present with equal aplomb on Friday evenings on Radio Today - until the killjoys-that-be managed to eliminate this too.
Many thanks for that programme - if it could be expanded upon, perhaps by stretching it to 2 hours or having another similar session on say Wednesday evenings, that would be great.
Dawid Raath, Johannesburg, on dawid@oel.co.za
A much needed Radio station, that is missing in the fabric of SA.
Author: Patrick Stapleton, 14 May 2008
We in SA need this type of radio. The baby boomers feel lost without being able to play there favourate music on there radios - as we all used to. It is a real pity that the powers that be have failed to recognize this gaping need. I have just come back from Australia where this type of radio staion - playing the music from 1955 to 1978 is very common and very well supported. It also adds to the enjoyment when long forgotten British comedy half hours are added.
I live in KZN and encourage you to get a national footprint, as there are many people countrywide who would support you. (I listen on DSTV) Keep up the good work and thank you Dr May and your selfless team of volunteers.
Patrick Stapleton (patrick@edwafin.com) Durban - KZN.
Some suggestions
Author: Michael Sinnott, 14 May 2008
I agree that 1485 needs a national radio footprint - is this possible? Don't neglect Durban and Cape Town.
I also live outside of the Gauteng area and only pick up snippets on DSTV.
How about playing "the top 20 hits on this day" starting from 1960 onwards?
Also, a jazz hour would be nice, as well as a program going down memery lane featuring SA artists and bands from the past. Such as Dickie Loder and the blue jeans, the Bats, four Jacks & a Jill, House of the Rising Sun, Clout, Rabbit,McCulley workshop etc.
Many elderly people are early risers and it may be an idea to have a weekend early morning 2 hours especially for them, hosted by someone like Bob Courtney, where music from the 40's and 50's is played for the 70 plus age group.
Also, how about a country music 2 hours once a week??
pmstapes@mweb.co.za
I WANT TO LISTEN TOO!!!!!
Author: Charmaine, 9 January 2009
I have been saying for years (since the old radio 5 went to pot) that we need a real rock station not this rave - hip hop rubbish that we subjected to listening to - I hate it!
I would be an avid listener - I would even run your Cape Town office if you needed one, come one go nationwide I dare you, I think you will be shocked at how many listeners you will get....I will be one that is for sure.
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1485AM — Little station, big attitude
By Robert Laing
What's the difference between commercial and community radio? Few listeners care, but it sparked a nasty legal battle between Classic FM — a station with a commercial licence which is run like a not-for-profit broadcaster serving the classical music loving community — and Radio Today, a community station run along hard-nosed business principles by retired Nedcor marketing director Ivan May.
Ten years ago, Springbok Radio old-timers Peter Lotis and Bob Courtney won a community licence to broadcast Radio Today. Their formula of Vera Lynn and phone ins about the good old days proved extremely popular with over 70s. Unfortunately, this is a literally dying market which only attracted advertising from funeral parlors.
May volunteered to lift the station out of a grave it was digging for itself in unpaid taxes to SARS and unpaid royalties to the Southern African Music Rights Organisation.
He rebranded Radio Today as 1485 AM Gold, made a deal to rebroadcast Alec Hogg's MoneyWeb programme during afternoon drive time, and started playing rock 'n roll.
These moves outraged the over 70s who loved Radio Today as it was. Under the leadership of WWII NCO Victor Dwyer, they banded into the Radio Today Action Group and crowded Icasa's hearing rooms.
But a bigger threat to May was Hilton Applebaum who administers Classic FM's largest shareholder Liberty Life Foundation. Applebaum kicked Hogg off Classic FM for allowing Radio Today to rebroadcast his show, despite Hogg's company MoneyWeb owning 20% of his station.
A year ago, the quaint little AM station broadcasting from a nursery on Jan Smuts Avenue rented from the Salvation Army looked unlikely to emerge as anything but collateral damage in the fight between Applebaum and Hogg.
Hogg now has national coverage for his show on the SABC's Radio 2000 and MoneyWeb is in the process of selling its Classic FM shares to Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza's Huntrex for R5 million. Update: Last I heard, Alec hadn't been paid and was taking his shares back.
Of the five charges brought against Radio Today by Classic FM and Dwyer's army of old age pensioners, however, it was cleared of all but one — it was not permitted to change its name to 1485 AM Gold.
"We now play heavy metal at night," May said. Listernership has grown from 7 000 to 22 000, and advertising is following. During the interview, MediClinic called to book ads on a new medical programme he has launched.
May is working hard to create a balance of housewife shows in the morning, and developing niches like shows aimed at disabled people.
"After all the dust has settled, I hold no resentment against Dwyer. He demonstrated the passion listeners have for community radio," May said.
HOw do I pick up 1485 in the afternoon?
Author: Barth Gimble, 26 September 2007
I would like to hear the music on this radio station but I work a shift in the morning that doesn't allow me to listen to the radio during the AM. How can I listen to 1485 in the PM? Do you know the number i should look for on my wireless?
Medium Wave Acces to Radio Today
Author: Jabulani Mbele, 4 December 2007
I am exited to have been introduced to your station by Jomo Beibi. I am a Klerksdorp resident and wish to commend the work you guys are doing out there!!
I sometimes wish to listen to the you radio station while driving. Currently the frequency goes up to Potchefstroom some 60 km from Klerksdorp.
It would be a great gesture if you could extend the coverage to Klersdorp. I think the listernership base is unexplored. We need your quality of service this side.
Kindest regards
Enjoying 1485
Author: Dawid Raath, 2 January 2008
I cannot recall how I discovered MW1485 but have become a passinate listener and supporter since about 2005. Especially good is that wonderfull Rock & Roll programme, Ypou Don't Know What You've Got, which currently airs on Friday evenings from 18:00 to 19:00.
From about 1953 to 1965 some of the best music this world has ever heard was produced and this programme plays it - but with emphasis on the more obscure, seldom-heard songs which so poignantly tell of that lovely era. Interesting background to the artists and those less-commercial songs is also given, which just complete a deligtfull one hour.
This reminds one of that other wonderfull Rock & Roll programme called Let The Good Times Roll, which Monica Fairall used to present with equal aplomb on Friday evenings on Radio Today - until the killjoys-that-be managed to eliminate this too.
Many thanks for that programme - if it could be expanded upon, perhaps by stretching it to 2 hours or having another similar session on say Wednesday evenings, that would be great.
Dawid Raath, Johannesburg, on dawid@oel.co.za
A much needed Radio station, that is missing in the fabric of SA.
Author: Patrick Stapleton, 14 May 2008
We in SA need this type of radio. The baby boomers feel lost without being able to play there favourate music on there radios - as we all used to. It is a real pity that the powers that be have failed to recognize this gaping need. I have just come back from Australia where this type of radio staion - playing the music from 1955 to 1978 is very common and very well supported. It also adds to the enjoyment when long forgotten British comedy half hours are added.
I live in KZN and encourage you to get a national footprint, as there are many people countrywide who would support you. (I listen on DSTV) Keep up the good work and thank you Dr May and your selfless team of volunteers.
Patrick Stapleton (patrick@edwafin.com) Durban - KZN.
Some suggestions
Author: Michael Sinnott, 14 May 2008
I agree that 1485 needs a national radio footprint - is this possible? Don't neglect Durban and Cape Town.
I also live outside of the Gauteng area and only pick up snippets on DSTV.
How about playing "the top 20 hits on this day" starting from 1960 onwards?
Also, a jazz hour would be nice, as well as a program going down memery lane featuring SA artists and bands from the past. Such as Dickie Loder and the blue jeans, the Bats, four Jacks & a Jill, House of the Rising Sun, Clout, Rabbit,McCulley workshop etc.
Many elderly people are early risers and it may be an idea to have a weekend early morning 2 hours especially for them, hosted by someone like Bob Courtney, where music from the 40's and 50's is played for the 70 plus age group.
Also, how about a country music 2 hours once a week??
pmstapes@mweb.co.za
I WANT TO LISTEN TOO!!!!!
Author: Charmaine, 9 January 2009
I have been saying for years (since the old radio 5 went to pot) that we need a real rock station not this rave - hip hop rubbish that we subjected to listening to - I hate it!
I would be an avid listener - I would even run your Cape Town office if you needed one, come one go nationwide I dare you, I think you will be shocked at how many listeners you will get....I will be one that is for sure.
Add a review or comment on 1485AM: