-
Amateur broadcasts
Began after World War 1. Programmes offered were popular and reportedly heard well. Listeners had to build their own receivers in order to hear programmes. -
Period: to
The establishment of radio in South Africa
Radio began with a few enthusiastic amateur radio hams, followed by several experimental broadcasts and only later by regular programming on a more organised basis. -
Experimental broadcasts
An American electrical engineering company, Western Electric, provided the transmitting and receiver equipment as they viewed the experimental broadcast as a business opportunity to promote their receivers. -
The first regular broadcasts
Government called for applications for licences to provide regular and sustained radio broadcasts. -
The African Broadcasting Company
Isidore William Schlesinger took over broadcasting operations of three fledging radio stations with the consent of the government and created the ABC. -
Broadcasts in Afrikaans
The majority of Afrikaners lived in rural areas and medium-wave signals did not reach these areas of the country satisfactorily. The re-enactment of the Great Trek in 1938 stimulated the development of Afrikaans broadcasting. -
Period: to
The South African Broadcasting Corporation
-
Formation of the SABC
-
The Schoch Commission
By 1946 the SABC was beginning to experience financial difficulties. They considered a move to commercialisation and sell advertising time on air. The Schoch Commission was appointed to investigate broadcasting issues. -
Period: to
Post World War 2 expansion
-
Introduction of news services
The SABC reached an agreement with the South African Press Association in 1936 to provide four news bulletins a day.
SABC created an internal news department in 1950.
The first SABC-produced news bulletin was air on 17 July 1950. -
Programming for black listeners
In 1949, a half-hour programme was transmitted daily in isiZulu, isiXhosa and seSotho.
In August 1952, a diffusion service was installed in Orlando. Loudspeakers were hired out subscribers and installed in their homes.
This service peeked in 1956 -
Introduction of FM
FM transmissions would provide for improved radio reception over a distance of about 60 km. -
Period: to
A period of transformation
-
African language service
The first service in seSotho and isiZulu was broadcast in Johannesburg on 1 January 1962.
Services were presented in North Sotho and seTswana on 1 July 1962.
isiZulu transmissions were introduced in Natal on 1 February 1963.
isiXhosa began broadcasting from Grahamstown on 1 June 1963 -
Station automation
In 1969, three regional stations we fully automated. The sequence was regulated by means of inaudible pulses on the recording tape. -
Period: to
A period of challenge
-
Introduction of television
Government announced on the 27 April 1971 that SABC was to provide a television service.
The first test broadcast began on 5 May 1975 and regular service was introduced on 5 January 1976.
Advertising began in January 1978. -
The coming of independent radio
-
The Steyn Commission
-
Period: to
The rationalisation of broadcasting
-
The introduction of a subscription service
Arrival of M-Net. -
The Viljoen commission
-
The beginnings of community radio
Festival FM -
Period: to
A period of restructuring
-
The establishment of a regulatory authority for broadcasting
-
The Triple Inquiry Report
-
The role of black empowerment in broadcasting
-
Restructuring of the SABC
-
The three tier system
-
Period: to
The ambiguities of post-apartheid broadcasting
-
The role of the SABC as the public broadcaster
-
Changes to broadcasting regulation
