Smile FM has announced Ryan O’Connor as its new breakfast show host. The station announced the host after teasing listeners with a light-hearted campaign that saw Capetonians flock to social media to eagerly share their guesses of who might feature in Smile FM’s brand-new breakfast show.
According to the station, the accomplished radio personality and media favourite O’Connor will spearhead the The Ryan O’Connor Breakfast Show, which takes to the air on Monday, May 8.
O’Connor is joined in the studio by the award-winning presenter Success Lekabe, along with former professional rugby player, presenter and sports commentator Ricky Schroeder.
“Cape Town will wake up to The Ryan O’Connor Breakfast Show on weekdays between 06:00 to 09:00 — a slot that typically sees a high number of listeners. Many of whom are commuting to work and want to hear from charismatic personalities who will entertain them through the metropole’s infamous traffic,” said Smile FM’s program manager Naveen Singh.
With over 25 years in the industry and two Breakfast Show Host of the Year accolades under his belt, O’Connor is one of the country’s most captivating radio presenters, skilled at keeping audiences both informed and entertained, according to the station.
“The Ryan O’Connor Breakfast Show is set to become a must-listen-to among the Mother City’s audiences, and we’re thrilled to have O’Connor, Lekabe and Schroeder join the Smile FM family,” Singh added.
He said the show will keep its finger firmly on the pulse of audiences.
“Listeners can look forward to relevant and topical discussions, news, and all the music you know and love. And, of course, we’ll continue to play more 80s than anyone else in Cape Town.”
The radio station celebrates its tenth birthday this year, and Smile FM managing director Lois O’Brien says that after a decade on the airwaves, the timing was opportune to reinvigorate the station’s line-up.
“This was a strategic move to keep things fresh for our listeners, bringing new vitality, creativity and innovation to the station,” O’Brien said.
“Much care has gone into our programming; through continuous research and keeping our ear to the ground, we strive to understand what our listeners want and the content that will resonate with them. There’s fantastic chemistry between O’Connor, Lekabe and Schroeder, which will capture the hearts and minds of audiences across the Mother City.”
O’Brien concluded, “We’re excited about the energy, commitment and passion that The Ryan O’Connor Breakfast Show will bring to Smile FM, helping reinforce Smile’s position as the go-to radio station in Cape Town.”