ZULULAND FM 97.0

Zululand FM 97.0 surprise win of MTN Radio Awards programme.

The inaugural MTN Radio Awards held on May 15 saw Talk Radio 702 crowned South Africa’s radio station of the year while 5FM’s Gareth Cliff’s Morning Show won the best breakfast show of the year.

The surprise win of the awards programme was the MTN Listeners’ Choice Radio Station of the year which was voted by audience SMS. The winner was KwaZulu-Natal based community station Zululand FM 97.0 which garnered the most votes. “A clear indication,” said the judges, “of a station interacting with its audience for a common purpose. Unless listeners valued the special contribution that the station was making to their lives, they would not have punched the digits on their cellphones.”

In its first year, the MTN Radio awards sought to recognise on-air excellence in the burgeoning South African radio sector. Across 20 categories there were more than 200 entries from most major commercial stations. Online entries were judged by an expert panel of judges, who also gave Silver and Highly Commended awards.

In addition, the MTN Radio Awards also inducted a number of veteran broadcasters and radio giants into its Hall of Fame. The names came from station nominations and the judges themselves and inductees ranged from cricket commentator Charles Fortune, to the late Yfm DJ Khabzela, to talk show pioneer John Berks and current affairs presenter John Perlman.