Talk 702 sweeps the boards at MTN Radio Awards

Talk Radio 702 has been crowned South Africa's radio station of the year at the inaugural MTN Radio Awards, while 5FM's Gareth Cliff's Morning Show has won the best breakfast show of the year. The event was held at a packed function in Johannesburg on 15 May.

702 has also swept the boards in a number of other categories, including best day time show, best night time show, as well as best business and news shows.

Individual presenters at the station have also won in their respective categories, including David O' Sullivan as best day time talk presenter; Kieno Kammies as best night time presenter; Bruce Whitfield as best business presenter and Ray White as best news reader. The station has also won the category: best promotional event for its Discovery Walk The Talk initiative. O' Sullivan's producer Mzoxolo Jojwana has also won the best talk producer category.

In its first year, the MTN Radio awards sought to recognise on-air excellence in the burgeoning South African radio sector. Across 20 categories there were more than 200 entries from most major commercial stations. Online entries were judged by an expert panel of judges, who also gave Silver and Highly Commended awards.

After 702's clean sweep, judges said the Johannesburg-based talk station had, across all key radio disciplines, demonstrated clear broadcasting excellence. They also said the station was an integral part of thousands of listeners' lives and provided an ongoing platform for both relevant dialogue and crucial information. Apart from that, said the judges, the station also had a big heart and worked tirelessly for the benefit of its audience.

The surprise win of the awards programme was the MTN Listeners' Choice Radio Station of the year which was voted by audience SMS. The winner was KwaZulu-Natal-based community station Zululand FM 97.0, which garnered the most votes. A clear indication, said the judges, of a station interacting with its audience for a common purpose. Unless listeners valued the special contribution that the station was making to their lives, they would not have punched the digits on their cellphones, said the judges.

Other notable winners in the competition included: best music show going to Highveld Stereo and Kfm's Homebrew; best breakfast show presenter - Jacaranda FM's Darren Scott; best sports presenter - Metro FM's Robert Marawa; and best day time music presenter 5FM's DJ Fresh.

In addition, the MTN Radio Awards also inducted a number of veteran broadcasters and radio giants into its Hall of Fame. The names came from station nominations and the judges themselves. The inductees ranged from cricket commentator Charles Fortune, to the late Yfm DJ Khabzela, to talk show pioneer John Berks and current affairs presenter John Perlman.

In conjunction with the Wits Radio Academy, student Mpholosane Modiba was also presented with a study bursary funded from ticket sales to the event and a percentage of advertising revenue from the awards brochure.

Profiles on all the award-winners are published in a special MTN Radio Awards Supplement “On Air” and will feature on the awards Web site http://www.mtnradioawards.co.za in coming days.