Angola's Tv And Radio Scene: Counting The Channels

Angola has a plethora of radio and television stations, catering to diverse interests and languages. Television in Angola was introduced in 1973 and regular broadcasts began in 1975. The country uses the PAL format for analog and ISDB-T for digital broadcasts. There are over 3000 radio stations in Angola, including Canal A - Radio National, Luanda Antena Comercial, and Radio Cinco 94.5 FM. These stations offer a range of music, news, sports, and talk shows. Angola's radio landscape is vibrant and diverse, reflecting the country's rich cultural tapestry.

Angola's radio stations

Angola has a vibrant online radio scene, with more than 58 online radio stations offering a variety of programmes. Many radio stations in Angola are broadcast from Luanda, the country's capital city.

Radio Stations in Angola

• Radio Ecclesia Angola – a popular radio station in Angola.
• LAC Luanda Antena Comercial – also known as LAC 95.5 FM, this station is based in Luanda and plays a variety of music, including African, Afrobeat, Brazilian and R'n'B.
• RNA – Radio Nacional de Angola – a station based in Luanda that plays African music.
• Nostalgia Viva Afro Music
• RNA – Rádio Cinco 94.5
• RNA – Radio Cazenga
• All About That Music
• RNA – Rádio Ngola Yetu – also known as RNA – Rádio N'Gola Yetu, this station is available in Luanda, Huambo, Benguela, Kuito, Lubango, and other cities.
• Rádio Sem Anestesia – this station is available in Luanda, Huambo, Benguela, and other cities.
• Rádio Planeta Rap LuSo
• Voz da América – Emissão Vespertina
• DW em Português para África
• Rádio Adventus 93.9 FM – this station is available in Luanda, Huambo, Benguela, Kuito, Lubango, and other cities.
• Rádio Mais Benguela
• RNA – Rádio Estéreo
• Radio Luanda FM Line
• Rádio Gospel FM Piloto
• Rádio Som News Angola – a station based in Luanda that plays African music and house music.
• VALERTV Rádio Online – a station based in Luanda that plays Christian music.
• BBC World Service
• Paranoia Station Beat – a station based in Luanda that plays pop, rock, and classic rock.
• Rádio Romântica – a station based in Luanda that plays African music.

TV and Radio in Angola

Angola has a rich history of radio and television broadcasting. Television was introduced in 1973 at an experimental level, with regular broadcasts commencing in 1975. Angola uses the PAL format for analogue broadcasting and ISDB-T for digital broadcasting.

Angola's TV channels

Television in Angola was introduced in 1973 as an experimental service, with regular broadcasts commencing in 1975. The country adopted the PAL format for analogue and ISDB-T for digital broadcasts, becoming the second African country to do so, after Botswana. Angola has a range of television channels, including:

• Rádio Nacional de Angola - Radio Luanda
• Rádio Nacional de Angola - Rádio 5
• Rádio Nacional de Angola - Canal A
• Rádio Despertar 91.0 FM
• Luanda Antena Comercial (LAC)
• Radio Correio da Kianda
• Radio Nacional de Angola - Radio N'Gola Yetu
• Rádio Som News Angola
• TPA Notícias
• Disney Channel (in Portuguese)

Angola's TV history

Television in Angola was first introduced in 1973 as an experimental project, with regular broadcasts commencing in 1975, the same year Angola gained independence from Portugal. The first terrestrial television signal was launched in the capital city of Luanda on 18 October 1975, just a few weeks before Angola's independence. However, television was viewed as a taboo topic by the Portuguese colonial powers, who actively boycotted the idea of educating and informing the Angolan people through this medium.

The first experimental broadcasts in the colonial era of Angola were made in 1962 by Rádio Clube do Huambo, with the second experiment following in 1964 by Rádio Clube de Benguela. In 1969, the Portuguese government was forced to recognise the need for television services in favour of the regime. In 1970, Luanda tested television for the first time, attempting to televise the radio show Café da Noite.

The national broadcaster of Angola, Televisão Pública de Angola E.P. (TPA), was founded in 1973 under the official designation of Radiotelevisão Portuguesa de Angola by the Portuguese colonial government. Less than a year after its official launch, the company was nationalised and renamed Televisão Popular de Angola by the new MPLA government. TPA operates two generalist channels (TPA1 and TPA2) and a news channel (TPA Notícias).

TPA began to study expansion in 1979, starting in Benguela and with relays in the cities of Benguela and Lobito. In 1981, a regional production centre was established in Huambo. TPA started producing programming in native languages in 1982, with a special focus on news. Colour television arrived in Angola in 1983. By 1988, the country had approximately 40,500 television sets.

In 1992, TPA expanded to cover the entire country via satellite connections. In 1997, TPA became a public company, and its official name was changed to Televisão Pública de Angola. TPA2 began regular broadcasting in 2000, initially limited to Luanda before extending to a national scale. In 2003, TPA channels started broadcasting through the KU band, launching on the international African platform, DStv. TPA began broadcasting 24 hours a day in 2007 and launched an international service in 2008, making it available on the main cable and IPTV platforms in Portugal and other countries. In 2022, TPA changed its broadcasting system from SD to HD and inaugurated renovations at the Camama Program Production Center.

Angola's radio genres

Angola has a variety of radio stations catering to different genres and languages. While Portuguese-language stations dominate, there are also English-language stations and a few in other languages. Luanda 87.7 FM, Luanda 97.5 FM, Luanda 95.5 FM, Luanda 93.5 FM, Luanda 101.4 FM, Luanda 99.1 FM, Luanda 91.0 FM, Luanda 88.5 FM, Luanda 97.9 FM, Luanda 94.5 FM, Luanda 92.3 FM, Luanda 96.5 FM, and Luanda 98.4 FM are some of the popular stations broadcasting in Portuguese, offering a mix of news, sports, music, and talk shows. Luanda 95.5 FM specifically focuses on Portuguese and world music.

There are also multilingual stations such as Luanda 99.9 FM and Luanda, which offer a variety of programming, including news, sports, and African music. Luanda, in particular, covers a range of genres like house, African music, and Afrobeat.

For English speakers, Luanda 95.5 FM provides a mix of adult hits, folk, and talk shows, while Luau English offers a variety of programming. Additionally, international radio networks like the BBC World Service and Voice of America are accessible in Angola.

Angola's radio landscape includes a diverse range of musical genres. From African music, Afrobeat, and Kizomba to Hip Hop, Pop, Rock, and Gospel, listeners can enjoy a variety of local and international sounds. Stations like Luanda and Luanda Antena Comercial showcase the latest music trends in the country, while also playing Brazilian Music, R&B, and Top 40 Hits. For those seeking a nostalgic experience, there are stations dedicated to Oldies and Easy Listening tunes.

Angola's TV format

Television in Angola was introduced in 1973 at an experimental level, with regular broadcasts commencing in 1975. The country uses the PAL format for analogue and ISDB-T for digital broadcasts.

The Televisão Pública de Angola E.P. (Public Television of Angola) or TPA is the national broadcaster. It operates two generalist television channels, TPA1 and TPA2, and a news channel, TPA Notícias. TPA is headquartered in the capital city, Luanda, and broadcasts in the Portuguese language.

TPA1 is the primary generalist channel, which, until 2017, was the only state-owned terrestrial television channel in Angola. TPA2 is an entertainment and culture channel aimed at children, teenagers, and adults. Its coverage was initially limited to Luanda, but it has since expanded to a national scale.

TPA Notícias is Angola's first news channel, which was inaugurated in July 2022. It replaced the former TPA Internacional and showcases news blocks, opinion debates, public utility information, documentaries, and reports.

TPA Internacional was the international service, founded in 2008, which provided programmes for the Angolan community in the diaspora. It offered a mix of content from TPA1 and TPA2.

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