presented by Kabelo keogatile & Nthabiseng Mphuthi What does the future of radio look like in South Africa?

Expertise  According to Attila Bernariusz, in his research article on the future of radio, the time spent listening to radio ( the instrument) was declining. He says people still love their favourite radio stations, but are now mostly using audio streaming.  According to data from the Pew Research Centre, 92% of Americans aged twelve and older listened to broadcast radio at least once a week, a mere 2% down from  Professor Franz Kruger, director of the Wits Radio Academy says community radio has also grown a lot in South Africa

Radio…the informer and caregiver  In many small communities where there is limited excess to the newspaper and where there are no televisions, radio has always been the instrument for information.  Radio people have done outreach programmes where they pay a visit to old age homes, orphanages, isolated villages etc.  Radio will continue to be a vehicle to problem-solving between communities and government.  Radio is there for people to ask questions and receive answers from experts.  Children and long-lost relatives are lost and found through radio.

How radio has changed over the years  Research shows that from their beginnings in the early 1800's until the new developments in recent years, radios have helped to provide communication as well as entertainment throughout the society of many cultures.  We also discover that the radio was used during the second World War to communicate to the front lines and top military officials, but remains extremely popular all over the world today.  Consumers can now choose from a variety of different radio stations.  We are also now able to find radio on our phones, laptops and in our cars among other places.

What is happening in radio today?  Most radio stations are starting to stream live through their websites.  Radio in South Africa is slowly introducing a podcasting format: a good example would be 702 Talk Radio.  Social media is another way in which radio has shown that it can be used to grow traditional media.  Through digital migration, many South African radios stations are moving to digital broadcasting.  Wits Radio Academy Director Franz Kruger spoke about what is happening currently.

Vision for tomorrow: Future  Social networking represents a large traditional radio to gain relevance and currency online.  Internet streaming: Gareth Cliff expresses the power of internet radio.  I-phone or smart apps: Will be common as radio stations are starting to develop custom applications.  Video: There is a huge opportunity for radio to get into video business.

And now…  With all the information above, we are convinced that radio has been through many stages ever since it was born.  That simply tells us that over the years the future of radio in South Africa looks bright…radio is not about to die any time soon. If all this hasn’t answered the question, nothing ever will.

References    a204c85dc19e30d6 a204c85dc19e30d6  of-radio/ of-radio/