Primedia Broadcasting dominates 2011 MTN Radio Awards

Both stations walk away with a Brian Steinhobel-designed, palladium-coated, station-of-the-year trophy valued at over R25 000.

"702 was a worthy winner, demonstrating a fine understanding of the needs of both its audience and advertisers, and constantly delivering an on-air product of the highest broadcast standards," said judging co-chairman David Mashabela.

Primedia Broadcasting - Talk Radio 702, 567 CapeTalk, 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 94.5 Kfm - took home top honours in numerous categories: apart from 702 taking MTN Radio Station of the Year, Alex Jay from 94.7 was inducted into the MTN Hall of Fame for his career in radio, which spans nearly 30 years. 702 founder Issie Kirsh was honoured for his long-term contribution to the industry with the Lifetime Achievement award. John Robbie (702) won for Best Breakfast Show Presenter and Bruce Whitfield (702) won both Best Business and Finance Presenter. Chris Gibbons from 567 CapeTalk and Talk Radio 702 was named best News and Actuality Presenter.

The music stations also accumulated awards, with Homebrew, which airs across both Highveld and Kfm, taking home the award for Best Music Show. In addition, 94.7's 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign won for Best On Air Packaging.

The Eyewitness News brand, which covers all four stations, took best News Bulletin reader (Stephen Grootes), Best Traffic Presenter (Aki Anastasiou) and Best Sports Presenter (Cindy Poluta).

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The Primedia stable was collectively rewarded for the United We Shall Stand for Bafana Bafana parade, which brought over 200 000 people to the middle of Sandton and thousands more to other centres around South Africa, to show support for Bafana Bafana ahead of the world cup.

"2010 was a phenomenal year to be in South Africa, and radio was at the forefront of all the action - bringing it to the country as it happened," said Primedia Broadcasting CEO Terry Volkwyn. "To be recognised as the best in the industry, at a time when everyone had upped their game, is significant and I am very proud of all our winners tonight.

"Congratulations to the remarkable people whose hard work and talent have gone into making the station great and to those who have been recognised individually tonight."

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Community or non-commercial PBS space

The Non-commercial OR Community Radio Station of the Year award comprises stations broadcasting either in the community or the non-commercial PBS space. These are stations that are serving a particular mandate either in terms of a specific interest group, a tightly defined geographic area or in the case of non-commercial PBS stations, a special language group.

Radio Islam showed an in-depth understanding of its niche audience and provided programming that was both relevant, thought-provoking and entertaining, according to judging co-chairman Lance Rothschild.

All the winners

Entries were judged by a diverse panel of industry experts, co-chaired by Lance Rothschild and David Mashabela. The aim of this year's programme and objective of the judging panel was to engage with the industry across all languages, in the commercial, community and public sector. Both the number of participants and entries doubled across all languages.

Said MTN CMO Serame Taukobong: "We look forward to doubling the entries again for the 2012 event."

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