MAHKENG MAIL-MAHENG: Two local community radio stations, Mahikeng and Mmabatho re-launched their state of the art digital broadcast studios on Tuesday this week funded by the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
The two studios, officially launched by the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, saw a digital migration for the local radios stations where their now streaming digital to reach their communities beyond.
“We were launching the state of the art studios for Mmabatho FM and. The state of the art studios makes them compete with any other commercial with broadcasters. They are able to broadcast sports and news with no interruptions.
It also gives them opportunities to do other programmes like that they did not have like recording drama and the opportunity to stream without interruption with clarity of sound and voice. This is possible because we have achieved the digital migration in the country and North West is second province items of moving from analogue to digital,” said Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The unveiling of the broadcast studios forms part of the MDDA’s ongoing work to promote the growth and sustainability of community and small commercial media across the country. Mahikeng FM was founded in 2005 and first licensed in 2008. The station’s vision is to enrich, unify and create a platform where the community can fully express itself. This is supported by Mahikeng FM’s payoff line, which is “Seikokotlelo sa Loago”, which means, the pillar of the community.
The station’s programming content aims to inform, entertain and inspire members of the community through relevant and engaging content. The broadcast license conditions dictate that Mahikeng FM splits its programming into 60 percent talk and 40 percent music. The station broadcasts in 75 percent Setswana, 20 percent English and 5 percent Afrikaans.
Meanwhile Mmabatho FM’s pay off line is ‘We are the home of gospel,’ and its mission is to promote education, entertainment and to inform the communities it serves about the economic growth and opportunities within the region.
The station’s broadcast split is 60 percent talk and 40 percent music, and the languages of broadcast are 75 percent Setswana, 15 percent English, 5 percent isiXhosa and 5 percent Afrikaans. Mmabatho FM has a strong news team which has set a high bar for news coverage within the community media sector. The station has made itself a go to source of information that inspires entrepreneurs to chase the next best deal.
The grant also saw the community radio station purchase outside broadcast equipment and a 34KVA backup generator to survive the ongoing load shedding challenges that the country faces.
Speaking at the launch, the minister reaffirmed the support that the MDDA would continue to provide for the different parts of the community. It was yet another milestones for the award-winning community radio station - Mahikeng FM! The official relaunched was graced by the Minister in the Presidency; Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Deputy Minister; Nomasonto Motaung, Deputy Minister Kenny Morolong, the MDDA Board Chairperson; Prof. Hlengani Mathebula, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality Executive Mayor; Cllr. Khumalo Molefe and the Mahikeng Local Municipality Executive Mayor; Cllr. Tshepiso Mphehlo and other esteemed dignitaries.
