Capital Radio 604
Encyclopedia
Capital Radio 604 was a radio station that broadcast to listeners in South Africa
from transmitters located in the Transkei
using Medium Wave (AM) on 603 kHz.
The station started transmitting on 26 December 1979 and was forcefully shut down by the first democratically elected South African government in 1996. This was viewed with extreme unhappiness by thousands of South Africans, as the Nelson Mandela administration that came in to power in 1994, achieved the unthinkable by closing down the first independent radio station in South Africa. Capital Radio 604 had often supported the anti-apartheid liberation struggle and many highlighted the irony; that it was the very same government that Capital and its staff had fought for in the past, now forcing them, to stop broadcasting.
Capital Radio 604 changed radio in South Africa
forever when it introduced listeners to great uncensored music, polished presenters, uncensored news, and great jingles.
Previously, the state run radio stations (no private stations were allowed) were not allowed to tell the real news or play certain songs or music from certain bands.
While this station is off the air now, an archive web site (Capital Radio 604) exists that contains many photos, video, jingles, and recent interviews with ex-604 personal. There is also a podcast
which allows listeners to hear re-broadcasts of old shows which originally aired in the 1980s.
Capital Radio 604 was an almost carbon copy of Capital Radio 194
(1548 kHz) in London
(which later split to become Capital Gold and Capital FM). Capital Radio 194 operated on Medium Wave at 194 meters (hence the name)and veteran broadcasting executive Michael Bukht, Capital Radio London's first programme controller, acted as consultant to 604. Capital Radio 604 actually operated on 603 kHz, Medium Wave, but promoted a frequency to which the jingles would rhyme.
Bill Mitchell returned to re-word the deep gravelly voice drop-ins and simply said 604 instead of 194.
Many presenters were chosen because they sounded like presenters that were already on Capital 194. Finally the Capital 194 logo was slightly modified by changing 194's swallow to a seagull (as a symbol of freedom) and obviously changing the number to 604.
Some of the household names who presented shows on Capital included Alan Mann, Dave Simons, Darren Scott, John Berks, Jim Ellery, Tony Newman, Martin Bailie, Oscar Renzi, Kevin Savage, Tony Murrell, Alan Khan
, Dave Guselli, Allan Pearce, Steve Crozier, Justice Ramahlola, Lee Downs, Barry Lambert, Kenny Maistry, Tony Blewitt, Brian Oxley, Treasure Tshabalala and former Magic 1548 Liverpool
presenter Richard Jardine, brother of ITV1
Formula One
pundit Tony Jardine
.
'Independent Radio News' on 603, based in Johannesburg, was the first radio news service in South Africa not controlled by government although it conformed with South African media laws. The news department boasted a team of experienced radio journalists including Will Bernard, Gary Edwards and Julian Potter and later included Paddy Clay, Mike Hanna, Michael Letellier and Shaun Johnson
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
from transmitters located in the Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
using Medium Wave (AM) on 603 kHz.
The station started transmitting on 26 December 1979 and was forcefully shut down by the first democratically elected South African government in 1996. This was viewed with extreme unhappiness by thousands of South Africans, as the Nelson Mandela administration that came in to power in 1994, achieved the unthinkable by closing down the first independent radio station in South Africa. Capital Radio 604 had often supported the anti-apartheid liberation struggle and many highlighted the irony; that it was the very same government that Capital and its staff had fought for in the past, now forcing them, to stop broadcasting.
Capital Radio 604 changed radio in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
forever when it introduced listeners to great uncensored music, polished presenters, uncensored news, and great jingles.
Previously, the state run radio stations (no private stations were allowed) were not allowed to tell the real news or play certain songs or music from certain bands.
While this station is off the air now, an archive web site (Capital Radio 604) exists that contains many photos, video, jingles, and recent interviews with ex-604 personal. There is also a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
which allows listeners to hear re-broadcasts of old shows which originally aired in the 1980s.
Capital Radio 604 was an almost carbon copy of Capital Radio 194
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
(1548 kHz) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(which later split to become Capital Gold and Capital FM). Capital Radio 194 operated on Medium Wave at 194 meters (hence the name)and veteran broadcasting executive Michael Bukht, Capital Radio London's first programme controller, acted as consultant to 604. Capital Radio 604 actually operated on 603 kHz, Medium Wave, but promoted a frequency to which the jingles would rhyme.
Bill Mitchell returned to re-word the deep gravelly voice drop-ins and simply said 604 instead of 194.
Many presenters were chosen because they sounded like presenters that were already on Capital 194. Finally the Capital 194 logo was slightly modified by changing 194's swallow to a seagull (as a symbol of freedom) and obviously changing the number to 604.
Some of the household names who presented shows on Capital included Alan Mann, Dave Simons, Darren Scott, John Berks, Jim Ellery, Tony Newman, Martin Bailie, Oscar Renzi, Kevin Savage, Tony Murrell, Alan Khan
Alan Khan
Alan Khan , is a media & radio personality in South Africa. Alan is currently the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at the Durban University of Technology in Durban, South Africa. He is a former Chief Executive Officer of Jacaranda 94.2 and Jacaranda RMFM...
, Dave Guselli, Allan Pearce, Steve Crozier, Justice Ramahlola, Lee Downs, Barry Lambert, Kenny Maistry, Tony Blewitt, Brian Oxley, Treasure Tshabalala and former Magic 1548 Liverpool
Magic 1548
Magic 1548 is a local commercial radio station in the Liverpool area of England, on the frequency of 1548 AM. Magic is a sister station to Radio City and City Talk 105.9, with which it shares studios atop Radio City Tower in Liverpool city centre.-Coverage:...
presenter Richard Jardine, brother of ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
pundit Tony Jardine
Tony Jardine
Tony Jardine is a motorsport pundit and Sky Sports presenter who has a varied background in motorsport.Jardine began career as a teacher in the United States, United Kingdom and the Middle East, where he was Head of Art at the New English School in Kuwait. It was whilst in Kuwait that he first...
.
'Independent Radio News' on 603, based in Johannesburg, was the first radio news service in South Africa not controlled by government although it conformed with South African media laws. The news department boasted a team of experienced radio journalists including Will Bernard, Gary Edwards and Julian Potter and later included Paddy Clay, Mike Hanna, Michael Letellier and Shaun Johnson
External links
- Capital Radio 604 archives
- Sunday Independent 30th anniversary article: In Defiance of Thought Control http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/general/print_article.php?fArticleId=5284960