April saw quite a number of changes in our radio fratenity as it is a case,or should we say a norm, well the reason why i am writing this article is not about who got which slot, and why did this one not get this show! no that is not the focus here. The attention is purely based on the radio program managers and the management for that matter, you may ask why though, i would explain along the way.
Well i have observed a certain trend with the planning of radio shows on most of our radio stations not being focused on long term objectivity and that buggles me up. I will give you examples of what i am reffering to, firstly do you remember when the class of 97 that started with the popular youth radio station known to many as Y fm left to pursue other avenues, particularly Thato Sikwane aka dj Fresh when he left Y fm for the public broadcaster to join 5 fm, an interesting thing took place there, Gregg Maloka had just left the station due to unforeseen circumstances and they put Bondo Ntuli in charge and he did an amazing thing by bringing Pabi Moloi on board to take over from Fresh and serve breaksfast at Y, you know to this day i still cannot comprehend the rationale why in the first place was Bondo giving her the slot, like i said i am not interested in her abilities she is a good radio presenter in her own right, my attention is to the program directors for giving a morning show to someone who was so obivous that she does not resonate with the core values of the Y fm brand identity and brand image.
After a year or so she was taken off from the breaksfast as it was expected and for me that shows a lack of good programming, another example that comes to mind is at Kaya fm when they re-hired Justice he was doing a sunday show and was rumoured to take over the breaksfast slot after the sacking of Patrick Guma known as Pat Cash, do you remember what happend they roped in Phat Joe to come and serve breasfast and Ice man left for radio 2000 which was undergoing a rebranding process, he now host the super fantastic breaksfast show a beffiting slot for him if you ask me.The former Kaya fm managing director Charlene Deacon once boosted about the fact that they have acquired the services of a married couple, and said it was a first for South African radio, they gave them the slot that comes after breaksfast weekdays which used to be hosted by Buyile Mdladla and them Mio and Quinnie did not even last more than 2 years, another lack of consistency on part of our radio program managers, if you are interested in the two you can catch them on M power fm the first commercial radio station based in Mpumalanga that used to be managed by Bondo Ntuli, but he also has since left the station.
At Metro fm some time ago they gave Paul Mtirara the mid morning show, well he was suppose to co host the show with Pabi before she was scooped by Y fm and everyone that i know was saying Paul is going to fail and do you know who did not share those sentiments, the then Metro fm program manager mr Leo Manne, and the reshuffling process came again the next year indeed Paul was out, does' nt that show that there is no proper long term planning and overall good long lasting strategies that are being implemented year in year out.
To all those good program managers this does not mean we dont acknowledge the excellent job that some of you guys do,this article was mainly fouced on the ones that do some amazing decisions, lastly to the bloggers and the people who normally contribute to this kind of forums it is very stimulating and very engaging to always read the comments that one normally comes through on such platforms, this shows a huge passion for our radio industry and overall the media fratenity at large.
