- Capital Radio 604
Infobox Radio station
name = Capital Radio 604
airdate =26 December 1979
frequency = 603 & 558 kHz & various short wave
area =South Africa Capital Radio 604 was a radio station that broadcast to listeners in
South Africa from transmitters located in theTranskei using Medium Wave (AM) on 604 kHz.The station started transmitting on
26 December 1979 and was forcefully shut down by the South African government in1996 .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 ( [http://www.Capital604.com 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 operated on Medium Wave at 604 kHz (they used the frequency number instead of the meter length). While the station reportedly operated on 604 kHz, it was actually 603 kHz (but then the jingles wouldn't 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 the bird to a seagull 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 Murrel l,Alan Khan , Dave Guselli, Allan Pearce, Steve Crozier, Justice Ramahlola, Lee Downs, Barry Lambert, Tony Blewitt, Brian Oxley, Treasure Tshabalala and former Magic 1548 Liverpool presenterRichard Jardine , brother ofITV1 Formula One pundit Tony Jardine .'Independent Radio News' on 604, 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
* [http://www.capital604.com Capital Radio 604 archives]
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