‘Trailblazer’ Good Hope FM marks 50 years on air
Many industry heavyweights started their careers at station
IT WAS a bumper birthday for Cape Town’s first commercial radio station – Good Hope FM – which celebrated 50 years on the air yesterday. The “trailblazer” SABC radio station, which began broadcasting back in 1965, “has had listeners hooked with fast-paced, music and lifestyle-centric programming, and has paved the way for many in what is now a thriving radio industry in South Africa”, a spokesman said.
Some of South Africa’s famous faces have come through the ranks of the station, from DJ Mark Gillman to SA-Idols judge Randall Abrahams. A lesser-known fact is that Riaan Cruywagen, the now retired SABC newsreader, launched his career at the station.
TV presenter Jeannie D worked on the graveyard shift as a presenter and newsreader before getting her own show at the station. In 2006 she left to pursue a television career which led her to take part in Strictly
Come Dancing and appear in a Steven Seagal movie.
The race to gain listeners has become a never-ending pursuit for Good Hope FM, which began with the deregulation of broadcasting in the late 1990s. Commercial licences were granted to eight new stations, creating stiff opposition for the long-standing station.
However, it managed to stay afloat. This was largely thanks to crew behind the scenes reinventing their shows and responding to changing listener demands.
“We are on a constant mission to reinvent ourselves,” said Good Hope FM station manager Brendan Ficks.
But he said the station was also proud of its past, knowing that many industry heavyweights had launched their careers in the studios. “As a brand we are an integral part of Cape Town culture and heritage and we intend to keep it that way,” he added.
“AS A BRAND, GOOD HOPE FM HAS BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF CAPE TOWN CULTURE AND HERITAGE, AND WE INTEND TO KEEP IT THAT WAY