Yarona FM
Yarona FM is an urban broadcaster targeting young adults. The radio station is a private commercial entity that has existed since 1999. It is regulated by BOCRA and attracts a unique weekly audience of 250,000.
History
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/YARONA_FM_LOGO.gif/220px-YARONA_FM_LOGO.gif)
The radio station started its 24-hour broadcast on August 22, 1999, the first independent radio station in the country,[1] and at first was primarily a local broadcaster within Gaborone (the capital city of Botswana) covering a radius of 50 km from its central transmitter. Until 2004 it was one of the only two licensed private radio stations in the country.[2] In June 2007 the station was offered a national broadcast license by Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority and began a national rollout covering Botswana's major centres: Lobatse, Mahalapye, Serowe, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, Francistown and Maun. For much of its history, its programming focus was on arts and culture, primarily consisting of programs devoted to RnB, Hip Hop, Motswako and Pop music.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2c/Yarona_fm_new_logo.jpg/220px-Yarona_fm_new_logo.jpg)
Brand
[edit]From its conception, Yarona FM has identified itself with the "freshest" and newest songs, targeted towards Botswana's urban youth audience. Its initial tag lines were "Re tswhere vibe": setswana for "we've got the vibe" and "blazing GC's most rocking tunes". When the station went national in 2008, the tag line changed to "Live the music". Yarona FM is a positive, upwardly mobile forward thinking brand that encapsulates the aspirations, style, language, lives and future of the Youth of Botswana.[citation needed]
Frequencies(From South to North)
[edit]Until April 2008, the radio station was broadcasting through the frequency 106.6 FM, which was part of its logo and brand until 7 more frequencies were added.
- Lobatse: 102.1 FM
- Gaborone: 106.6 FM
- Mahalapye: 99.9 FM
- Serowe: 102.9 FM
- Palapye: 105.1 FM
- Selibe Phikwe & Maun: 97.5 FM
- Francistown: 100.1 FM
- Sojwe: 100.8 FM
- Salajwe : 98.2 FM
- Takatokwane, Jwaneng & Senyamadi: 104.9 FM
- Malwelwe : 94.9 FM
Past presenters
[edit]Japs, Luzboy, Stups dawg, Big Duke Bonni (Current Programmes Manager), Tumie Ramsden, DJ Izzy, Chawa Bale, Dollar Mac, King Bee, Tshepo Ntshole, Dig Nash, Otis Fraser, Kepi, O'neal, Junior Psy, Jazelle, Owen Rampha (Current general manager), McD, Kedi Lezozo, Scar, Kingdom, Dum-luv, MduThaParty, and Big Fish are all popular names identified with the Yarona FM brand in the past. Some of these have now moved on to other local radio stations or to other ventures. Of late, and due to the high standards at Yarona FM, the station has become the number one breeding ground for talent amongst other broadcast entities in Botswana.
The youngest presenter in the history of the station are Kabelo "Japs" Tlhomelang (at age 15), airing in July 2000 with Kgosi "Dollar Mac" Kgosidintsi.
Yarona FM schedule
[edit]Podcasting
[edit]Yarona FM shows are also available via the stations SoundCloud account.
Schedule
[edit]The network's base schedule is noted here, and applies only to Yarona FM's outlets.
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time | |||||||
5am | The Take Off
Hosted by: Mr T |
||||||
6am |
The Big Breakfast Show Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy |
The Big Breakfast Show
Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy |
The Big Breakfast Show
Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy |
The Big Breakfast Show
Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy |
The Big Breakfast Show
Hosted by: Bad Boy Brando & Boineelo Hardy |
Beats From Heaven
Hosted by: Mr T | |
6am | |||||||
8am | |||||||
9am | House of ZU
Hosted by: Zuziwe Mavuma |
House of Zu
Hosted by: Zuziwe Mavuma | |||||
11am | Power to the People
Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party |
Power to the People
Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party |
Power to the People
Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party |
Power to the People
Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party |
Power To the People
Hosted by: Mdu Tha Party |
Yarona FM Hot 40
Hosted by: Ninah Lr | |
12noon | |||||||
1pm | Sugar Rush
Hosted by: Ninah LR | ||||||
2pm | |||||||
The Galaxy Sports Show
Hosted by : Fox |
|||||||
3pm | Shuddup and Drive
Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo |
Shuddup and Drive
Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo |
Shuddup and Drive
Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo |
Shuddup and Drive
Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo |
Shuddup and Drive
Hosted by: Kedi & King Bee Loungo |
Kaofela
Hosted by: Mzitho |
Kaofela
Hosted by: Mzitho |
4pm | |||||||
5pm | |||||||
6pm | The Log Drum
Hosted by: Lala Slay |
||||||
7pm | Good Vibes Only
Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha |
Good Vibes Only
Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha |
Good Vibes Only
Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha |
Good Vibes Only
Hosted by: Thabo Mhapha |
The Soccer Show
Hosted by: Fox | ||
8pm | 267 Hip Hop
Hosted by: Dj Sway | ||||||
9pm | |||||||
10pm | Yarona FM #YFest
Hosted by: Dj Mix |
Yarona FM #YFest
Hosted by: DJ Mix |
The Revolution
Hosted by: Dj Kellz | ||||
11pm | |||||||
12am | |||||||
1am |
References
[edit]- ^ "Botswana TV delayed until 2000", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 22, September-October 1999
- ^ "Botswana Television (BTV) Negotiating Control and Cultural Production in a Globalising Context: A Political Economy of Media State Ownership in Africa" (PDF). University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2023.