LM Radio
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2011) |
| Type | terrestrial radio station |
|---|---|
| Branding | LM Radio |
| Country | |
| Availability | Mozambique,(terrestrial); Lesotho, (terrestrial); Southern Africa by satellite |
Launch date | 1936 and resurrected 2010 |
LM Radio is a radio station based in Maputo, Mozambique. Historically it was a shortwave station broadcasting to South Africa and Rhodesia from Lourenço Marques, the colonial era name of Maputo, hence the name "Lourenço Marques Radio" from 1936 to 1975 when it was shut down by the government of the then newly independent country.[1] In 2010, following political reforms and economic development in Mozambique a new station was launched with the brand "Lifetime Music Radio", trading on the nostalgia of the original LM Radio.
History 1933 to 1975
The first radio station in Mozambique began broadcasting on shortwave and AM on 18 March 1933, but suspended transmissions for a while in 1934 owing to a shortage of money. A South African, G. J. McHarry became involved, and in 1935 Rádio Clube de Moçambique was launched, broadcasting mostly in English. In 1947, Colonel Richard L. Meyer, who prior to World War II was General Manager of the
"And now, wherever you are, in the
Influence
Until the early 1980s, broadcasting in South Africa was state controlled - the sole broadcaster being the
Other names who became famous through LM Radio included Gerry Wilmot (Big Daddy), Clark McKay, Evelyn Martin (Duarte Lacueva), Daryl Jooste, Reg de Beer and Lorna Harris.
Relaunch in 2010
After an absence of more than 34 years, a new LM Radio, opened in Maputo. On Christmas Eve 2009, a voice that had last been heard on the airwaves three decades earlier returned with an emotion-filled announcement. "This is LM Radio, Mozambique’s English-language music station", it said. "We are back after a break of 34 years. I’m Peter de Nobrega. I made the closing announcement on LM Radio on 12 October 1975 and it gives me great pleasure to make the opening announcement on this historic day in 2009". The broadcast licence was granted on 20 September 2010. It is Mozambique's only English-language broadcaster.[3] The station's official name is "Lifetime Music Radio" and the slogan is "Happy Listening".[4] LM Radio broadcasts on 87.8 FM in Maputo and surrounding areas including
Licence to broadcast in Gauteng, South Africa
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2016) |
In early 2014 LM Radio was granted a licence to broadcast in Gauteng on 702 kHz on AM.[6] This date has changed to the first 6 months of 2015 due to the company Sentech not being able to deliver the transmitters and towers on time and due to the shareholders of LM Radio not being able to get the necessary finances to pay for the transmitters and launch the station in SA. Test transmissions on 702 kHz from the Welgedacht transmitter site commenced during the first week of April 2017.
References
- ^ LMRadio - Activities Archived 26 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kimberley Sobantu (4 February 2015). "Youth broadcaster eyes new licence". IOL. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ LM Radio - Activities Archived 26 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ LM Radio - Home Archived 15 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ LM Radio - Tuning Guide Archived 16 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nevill, Glenda (3 April 2014). "Major action on the AM airwaves as Icasa grants new licences". The Media Online. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
External links
- Official website of the current station
- Historical website covering the pre-1975 era
- Original building in Maputo as it looked in 2011