Entries for the 2016 SA Radio Awards (formerly known as the MTN Radio Awards) will open on Monday the 18th of January 2016. Stations are encouraged to start collating their audio files well ahead of the closing date for entries which is 12th February (manual submissions) and 19th February (online submissions).
There have been no changes to the rules for entry from the 2015 awards, but there has been a reduction in the number of categories based on feedback received from the industry.
The entry categories are outlined in the table below:
| Commercial | PBS | Community | Campus | |
| Afternoon Drive Presenter | X | X | X | X |
| Afternoon Drive Show | X | X | X | X |
| Breakfast Show | X | X | X | X |
| Breakfast Show Presenter | X | X | X | X |
| Business and Finance Show | Combined | |||
| Community Project | X | X | X | X |
| Content Producer | X | X | Combined | |
| Daytime Show | X | X | X | X |
| Drama Programme | Combined | |||
| Field News Reporter | Combined | |||
| Multi-Channel Promotion | X | X | Combined | |
| Music Show | X | X | X | X |
| News and Actuality Show | X | X | Combined | |
| News Bulletin Reader | X | X | X | X |
| Night-time Show | X | X | X | X |
| Programme Innovation Award | Combined | |||
| Promotions Stunt/Event | X | X | X | X |
| Radio Documentary | Combined | |||
| Sports Commentator | Combined | |||
| Sports Reporter | Combined | |||
| Sports Show | X | X | Combined | |
| Station Imaging | X | X | Combined | |
| Traffic Presenter | Combined | |||
| Weekend Radio Show | X | X | X | X |
| Bursary Award | ||||
| Bright Star/Young Achiever | Nominations only | |||
| Hall of Fame | Nominations only | |||
| Lifetime Achievement | Nominations only | |||
| Station of the Year | X | X | X | X |
Previous Radio Awards adjudicator, Tim Zunckel will steer the adjudication panel and process, working with auditing firm, Mazars. With the continuation in the growth of the number of entries it is necessary to continually evaluate the adjudication panel and to ensure that there is an exceptionally broad range of skills and knowledge amongst the panel. Please contact Tim on tim@saradioawards.co.za for adjudication nominations.
The third instalment of the On Air Radio conference will take place on Thursday, the 5th of May, with the seventh annual SA Radio Awards dinner on Friday, the 6th of May at the Sandton Convention Centre.