Monday, August 13, 2012

South Africa: LM Radio on Mobile TV's DMB platform

Archive photo of Radio Palace, home of LM radio
As per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between LM Radio owner T&W Management Pty Ltd and Mobile TV Pty Ltd, the radio station’s programmes are trialing on the Korean developed Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) platform operated by Mobile TV from Johannesburg’s Sentech tower.

In terms of the MOU, which was signed last month by T&W MD Chris Turner and Mobile TV chairman Mothobi Mutloatse, LM Radio will be one of the anchor radio stations on the new mobile digital platform.

This music-led radio station provides programming that particularly targets the mature listener aged 40 years and over. LM Radio, which broadcasts in the style and spirit of the much loved former LM (Lourenco Marques) Radio, has been broadcasting on FM in Mozambique and on free-to-air satellite and Internet streaming since December 2009. The station has a local Mozambique peak daily listenership in excess of 75,000 and an estimated 15,000 listeners on satellite and Internet throughout Southern Africa.

Earlier this year South African based LM Radio fans organised a petition requesting that LM Radio obtain a licence to broadcast in South Africa.

Says Mothobi Mutloatse: “The MoU ensures that this new DMB service has compelling content of a high quality music mix which is sorely missing in current programming in South Africa. LM Radio now caters for South Africa’s mature age group.”

Eric Nhlapo a director of LM Radio and general manager of South African operations adds: “The presence of LM Radio on the MobileTV DMB digital broadcasting platform means that LM Radio’s listeners all over South Africa will be able to listen to their favourite ‘Happy Music’ station while on the go.”

Chris Turner, CEO and founder of the new LM Radio, notes that in launching LM Radio three years ago his dream was to serve the mature generation of people all over Southern Africa with music and entertainment appropriate to their needs and tastes.

He continues: “LM Radio has attracted a significant audience on free-to-air satellite and Internet streaming throughout the region, as well as an audience in excess of 6% of the total radio listenership on FM in Mozambique’s capital city, Maputo. The collaboration with MobileTV means that the LM Radio fans throughout South Africa will be able to enjoy the station’s programming 24 hours a day, wherever they are, be it at home, at work or in their cars.”

Mobile TV is currently operating in Gauteng on a test licence. Once a permanent licence has been awarded by South African regulator ICASA, MobileTV will provide television, visual radio and interactive services through digital mobile devices countrywide.

(Source: Screen Africa via WorldDMB)

No comments:

Post a Comment