Radio 786
Radio 786 is a Cape Town-based community radio station delivering news, cultural, and religious programming to Western Cape listeners, with global streaming, digital channels, advertising sales, and a youth media training program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Radio 786 does
Radio 786 is a Cape Town-based community radio station operating as a private for-profit broadcaster since its official launch in the late 1990s. It delivers news, current affairs, sports coverage, Islamic religious programming, and international affairs coverage (with emphasis on Middle East issues) to listeners in Cape Town and the broader Western Cape region, supplemented by global reach through online streaming at radio786.co.za. The station produces multimedia content spanning audio, video, and written news articles and maintains active channels on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The business generates revenue through two primary streams: (1) advertising sales offering web, video, radio, and traditional advertising packages to local businesses, and (2) community donations accepted via banking channels. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by outreach initiatives branded "786 in Motion," which include youth career days, film screenings, and participation in events such as Africa Tech Week. The station also runs a youth media training and mentorship program targeting disadvantaged communities, and offers video production and web services as adjacent commercial modules.
Operationally, Radio 786 maintains a small team of 11-50 employees from its headquarters at 2nd Floor Rycom Centre, Klipfontein Road, Rylands Estate in Cape Town. The station has accumulated multiple high-credibility recognitions, including consecutive PMR.africa Diamond/Diamond Arrow awards and the BBC Africa Young Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2020. No external institutional investment, parent company, or public listing is evidenced in the available material, and the company operates without disclosed funding rounds or ownership changes.
Radio 786 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Radio 786
- Legal name
- Radio 786
- Website
- https://radio786.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Radio 786 is a Cape Town-based community radio station delivering news, cultural, and religious programming to Western Cape listeners, with global streaming, digital channels, advertising sales, and a youth media training program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Radio 786 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD)
Keywords
Where Radio 786 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Radio 786 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising: Radio 786 generates revenue through advertising services offered to local businesses, featuring web, video, radio, and traditional advertising options. The station provides advertising packages targeting their community audience with strong purchasing power and entrepreneurial demographics.
- Donations: Radio 786 accepts donations from the community and supporters through their banking details page, indicating a donation-based revenue stream for community support.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Radio 786 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Radio 786 is a community radio station that broadcasts live local news, current affairs, sports, cultural, and international programming to listeners in Cape Town and the Western Cape, complemented by global online streaming. Beyond core broadcasting, the station sells advertising packages to businesses, produces video content, and runs a youth media training and mentorship programme for disadvantaged communities.
Product overview
Radio 786 operates as a community radio broadcaster offering a core radio broadcasting service supplemented by digital, advertising, and video production modules. The station has an established web presence, provides advertising solutions to businesses, offers video production services, and runs a media training and mentorship programme for youth from disadvantaged communities. The platform also includes multimedia content through web, audio, and video channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Radio Broadcasting Service Live radio broadcasting service delivering news, current affairs, sports, cultural, religious, and international programming to listeners across Cape Town, the Western Cape, and global online audiences. Targeted at individual community listeners seeking locally relevant content.
- Advertising Services Web, video, radio, and traditional advertising packages sold to local and regional businesses seeking to reach the station's entrepreneurial Cape Town community audience with strong purchasing power. Targeted at SMB and enterprise advertisers across retail, pharmaceutical, food, beverage, and other community-facing sectors.
- Video Production Services Video content production services for multimedia marketing, promotional campaigns, and station programming distributed via YouTube and social platforms. Targeted at businesses needing video content and at the station's own audience.
- Media Training Programme Youth mentorship and media training programme targeting disadvantaged communities to cultivate and develop future broadcasting and media talent. Targeted at youth from disadvantaged Cape Town communities seeking media career pathways.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple consecutive PMR.africa Diamond Awards for top media performer
Companies that use Radio 786
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Radio 786 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Radio 786 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PMR.africaminorPMR.africa conducts awards and recognition programs where Radio 786 has been recognized as a top media performer, winning multiple consecutive Diamond awards.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Radio 786 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Channel Islam International: Channel Islam International is a South African satellite and online TV broadcaster targeting Muslim audiences with news, talk, and cultural programming. It is an emerging peer in the same Muslim-community media space but uses video rather than radio as its primary medium.
Direct peers
- Cape Talk: Cape Talk is a Cape Town-based talk radio station operated by Primedia, focused on news, current affairs, and lifestyle content. It competes directly for Cape Town listeners and local advertisers in the same news/talk format as Radio 786.
- Voice of the Cape: Voice of the Cape is a Cape Town-based community radio station serving the Cape Muslim community with news, talk, and current affairs programming. It is the closest direct competitor to Radio 786, sharing the same geography, audience demographic, and community-driven editorial focus.
- Good Hope FM: Good Hope FM is a Cape Town-based commercial radio station owned by Kagiso Media, targeting the Cape Town and Western Cape market. It competes for the same regional advertising market and listenership as Radio 786.
- Heart FM: Heart FM is a Cape Town commercial radio station broadcasting music and lifestyle content. It competes for the same regional advertising pool and Cape Town listenership, offering a comparison point for ad pricing and audience demographics.
- Radio Islam: Radio Islam is a Johannesburg-based community radio station serving South African Muslim communities with Islamic programming, news, and talk. It is a direct peer in the niche community-radio-for-Muslim-audience category, with similar funding and content models.
Broad incumbents
- SAFM: SAFM is the South African Broadcasting Corporation's national talk and news radio station, operating across the country. It is a broader incumbent in the same news/talk format, competing for national and regional advertising and audience share.
- Power FM: Power FM is a Johannesburg-based talk radio station with national coverage focused on news, current affairs, and talk. It is a broader incumbent in the same news/talk category, with comparable monetisation through advertising.
- BBC Africa (Focus on Africa): BBC Africa produces news and talk content for African audiences across radio, digital, and TV. It is a broader incumbent in the same news/talk category with diaspora reach, and is directly relevant as Radio 786's BBC Africa Young Broadcaster award signals alignment with its audience.
Regional players
- Lotus FM: Lotus FM is the SABC's national radio station serving the South African Indian community with news, talk, and cultural programming. It is a regional/ethnic community radio peer comparable to Radio 786's niche community-station model but serves a different demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Radio 786 social profiles
Digital presenceRadio 786 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Radio 786 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Radio 786 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Radio 786 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Radio 786
What does Radio 786 do?
Radio 786 is a community radio station that broadcasts live local news, current affairs, sports, cultural, and international programming to listeners in Cape Town and the Western Cape, complemented by global online streaming. Beyond core broadcasting, the station sells advertising packages to businesses, produces video content, and runs a youth media training and mentorship programme for disadvantaged communities.
Is Radio 786 a public or private company?
Radio 786 is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Radio 786 founded?
Radio 786 was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Radio 786 based?
Radio 786 is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Radio 786 make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are Radio 786's main competitors?
Channel Islam International is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Cape Talk, Voice of the Cape, Good Hope FM, Heart FM and Radio Islam. Broad incumbents are SAFM, Power FM and BBC Africa (Focus on Africa). Lotus FM is listed as a regional player.
Does Radio 786 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Radio 786.
What industry is Radio 786 in?
Radio 786's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAA, Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM), with a secondary code of MPABABAD, News/Talk Radio Networks. Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.