Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the Radio Midrand 93.8FM internet blog site.
Created on Saturday November 3rd 2007, it is my sincere hope that this site will help keep you abreast of developments with Radio Midrand as its NPO affiliate, Midrand Community Communications, proposed staff and the community of Midrand await the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) issuing of the licence granted back in April 2007.
I would encourage you to please leave messages and comments on this site. As patronizing as it may sound, South African community broadcast services belong to the communities they serve and it's therefore vital that we have your constant input in order to properly provide Midrand with programming that it really wants.
In order to provide a brief history of the station, the concept for Radio Midrand was born in July 2005. After lengthy consultation with ICASA and in accordance with its rules and regulations, through the print media, public attention was drawn to the concept of Midrand having its own radio station. From this, interested parties were invited to a series of public meetings.
On ICASA's advice in November 2006, plans were put in place for the fledgling station to conduct a Special Event 30 day broadcast.
Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of putting a team together was the establishment of a body that would oversee the running of the station. This body was formed as a Non-Profit Organization in compliance with ICASA's stipulations of being representative of the community in age, colour, gender and creed. In association with the South African National Blood Service, Radio Midrand first took to the air on May 3rd 2006 with a 30 day Special Event licence on 92.7FM. This would be the last time this frequency would be utilized for special event purposes before being permanently used by Talk Radio 702.
The month of May 2006 came and went in a flash, and no sooner had Radio Midrand aired, when the licence conditions were honoured and the station ceased broadcasting at midnight on May 31st.
Mission accomplished! Radio Midrand had impacted listeners and the support for its permanent being was overwhelming.
On June 8th 2006, ICASA called Radio Midrand and invited the entity to submit permanent application. From the surveys prior to, during and after the Radio Midrand/SANBS broadcast, over 99% of people in the region supported the idea of Midrand's own permanent radio broadcast service. On October 19th 2006, the permanent application, 25 pages short of 10 000, was submitted to ICASA.
In April 2007, ICASA gave written notification to Radio Midrand that its licence had been granted.
One may well ask then why the station isn't yet on air? Whilst complex in answer, the simple reply has to do with conflicting rules and regulations pertaining to old and new broadcasting acts. ICASA has gone to great lengths to try and resolve these issues and whilst the delays are seemingly frustrating to many, the wait is nearly over.
It's over to you now. Leave a message or comment on this blog (click above on 'New Post'). What programming content and music would you like to hear? How would you like to contribute? Tell us what you think, and more importantly, tell us what you want.
Scott Smith - Project Manager
(All messages to this blog are compiled in the interest of public information and transparency. Comments, messages, suggestions and opinions expressed from readers are not necessarily shared by Radio Midrand 93.8FM or Midrand Community Communications)
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14 comments:
Very nice to see this.
I trust the licensing process is all on track, and that we'll be tuning in to 102.3 very soon.
Best wishes for continued success.
Thanks Scorpius. Appreciate your taking the time to leave comment. Indeed, let's hope the days of delays are numbered and there's actually something being offered worth listening to.
Regards - Scott
I have been keeping my fingers crossed to see station back on air after the massive support during the special broadcast month.
I think it's about time that Radio Midrand is back on air, so that we can have somethine worth-while to listen to again;-)
Good luck with the whole process!
What do i want? Hmm, how much space to I have?;-)
Music 70's, 80's & 90's.
More music than talk.
Some story times for kids on Saturdays and maybe some on-air games for the kids.
Community issues and follow ups.
I'll let you know if I think of any more.
To Trev and Trudie (sounds like the name of a sitcom) - Many thanks for adding comment. Sadly, the delays have resulted in lost opportunities but then the good thing about opportunities is that they always come around again. And so, in my best Arnold Schwarznegger accent, let me say that it won't be long now before... "We'll be back!"
Trev and Trudie. Almost sounds like Will and Grace;-) Just kidding. Brilliant accent used!;-)
Looking forward to it!
Wish you the best in this regard Jacaranda and 5FM Have hit such an all time low in recent times.
So much so that i'd rather risk getting caught by the RIAA for music downloads then tuning into any of south africa's local radio stations.
Wish you the best in this regard.
My only hope is that you bring some sort of edge over your current competition and atleast give us something further to digg which shouldn't be to hard.
Malloc - Firstly, as with all who take the time to post comment, sincere thanks. Radio Midrand has devised a format in both its talk and music that we believe to be quite unique.
In our documention submitted to ICASA in October 2006, one comment from a supporter stands out clearly in my mind; 'Different is good.' That's our aim... To be different. Add to being different, when you listen to RM102.3FM on day one, a further aim is to ensure that you are still listening a year later and a year after that...
Well done to Radio Midrand for creating an internet blog site. It's going to allow many of us to share our views and hopefully make meaningful contributions to RM102.3FM.
Personally, I would like to hear more talk than music because there are so much issues to be debated, the community needs to be well informed about current affairs and I believe they should take part in such discussions. Further more, I think the crime rate in Midrand is appalling and I feel a programme on crime prevention should be aired at least once a week. Such a programme should allow for people to share their experiences on crime, find solutions and ways in which crime can be prevented or minimised by the community of Midrand, et cetera
Phumi - The issue of crime is indeed a pertinent one in Midrand. Midrand has been defined as the region of South Africa with the highest crime rate. Sad, but true.
In the next day or two I shall be drafting a message to the front page of this blog as to just how Radio Midrand intends addressing the crime issues and its relationship with the local SAPS. It goes way beyond simply talking about it, which, as we all know, achieves nothing.
Thanks for taking the time to write constructive comment.
I personally feel that the quota of the music preference should be given to South African Music. I attended a music conference few week ago to start a revolution for SABC radio to play more of South African Music. As a community radio station, up and coming artists should be given a platform. Nothing would suit me to if 102.3FM discover new talents.
Remember Ga bo motho go thebe phatswa (charity begins at home)-
It's high time that ICASA got their act together...And not the "printed Act"...The issuing of licences!
We are tired of the same old boring radio...I am sure that I speak for thousands of people!
Rock on Radio Midrand!
ICASA! WAKE UP! Issue the license ALREADY!
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