Type Radio network Availability FM: Botswana Launch date 1999 | Country Botswana Slogan Live The Music Official website Yarona FM | |
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Yarona FM is a Botswana FM radio based in Gaborone with a core broadcast audience of youth (age 14), with a spill out to ages 35. The network plays a relatively freeform mix of indie music, including rock, pop, alternative hip hop, motswako and electronic music.
Contents
History
The radio station started its 24-hour broadcast on August 22, 1999, 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. In June 2007 the station was offered a national broadcast license by the Botswana Telecommunications 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.
Brand
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.
Frequencies(From South to North)
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.
Popular past presenters
Japs, Luzboy, Stups dawg, Big Duke (Current Programmes Manager), Chawa Bale, Dollar Mac, Tshepo Ntshole, Dig Nash, Otis Fraser, Kepi, O'neal, Junior Psy, Jazelle,Owen Rampha ( previous Station manager), McD, Kingdom, Dum-luv, and Big Fish were all popular names identified with the Yarona FM brand in the past. Many 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 Jly 2000 with Kgosi "Dollar Mac" Kgosidintsi.
Podcasting
Yarona FM shows are also available via podcast on the stations Sound Cloud account.
Schedule
The network's base schedule is noted here, and applies only to Yarona FM's outlets.