Primedia Broadcasting‘s CEO, Lindile Xoko has signed a deal with Robert Marawa for his sports show Marawa Sports Worldwide (‘#MSW’). Robert will be live on air daily at 18:00 from 947 as of February. ‘#MSW’ will also be syndicated to Vuma FM, Rise FM, Sowetanlive and listeners worldwide.
Xoko said he’s delighted that Primedia has joined forces with Marawa, who is recognized worldwide as a sports authority and is a respected broadcaster. “The massive reach that the 947 audiences deliver to our clients is now complemented by us hosting his premier sports show,” he said.
Robert Marawa is a sportscaster, a media personality and an author. His accolades include Sports Journalist of the Year and the Radio Excellence Awards.
Marawa’s love of sport can be traced back to his childhood years spent on his family farm in rural KwaZulu-Natal, where, as a schoolboy, he made mock broadcasts using his father’s camcorder to record each new show.
The new show will be broadcast Mondays to Fridays from 18:00 to 19:00 on 947.
947 station manager, Ravi Naidoo said, “We have heard our listeners appeal for sports news, and so we will be easing drive-time frustrations with a stretch of compelling, high-quality sports radio. Listeners can look forward to 60 minutes filled with the latest sports news, exclusive exposés and interviews — with real-time updates and insights.”
Marawa will aim to spark discussions on sports development and administration, and he will reflect candidly on the state of play of gender and racial transformation. Real-life stories of how sports have helped individuals and communities out of poverty will be regular flagship features of the show.
Naidoo added, “‘#MSW’ on 947 is a perfect fit for a station, which revolves around and unifies its listeners on power hits and power sport. Marawa fits the profile of super-talented, socially aware and impactful people we want as part of the Primedia family.”
Marawa revealed that his move to Primedia is both historic and exciting in creating a wider reach for all MSW fans, especially for Gauteng residents complaining about being left out.
“I’m grateful to both Arena and Primedia for seeing things in a futuristic manner by creating what will now be four unique platforms, thus creating radio history with this unparalleled simulcast offering. With this move, we are raising the game for sports enthusiasts in South Africa and beyond. For me professionally, this is the best moment in my radio career,” he concluded.