Media

• A Makhado community newspaper has initiated a partnership with a community radio station

Limpopo has a strong print and radio media sector. Over and above daily newspaper titles like Beeld emanating from the neighbouring province of Gauteng, Limpopo has a varied and competitive community newspaper industry and several radio stations, which collectively cover the entire province.

A new media formation came into being in 2009 with the creation of Limpopo Independent Newspapers (LiN). The group claims half-a-million readers a week through six titles operating in Polokwane (Polokwane Observer), Makhado (Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror), Tzaneen (Bulletin), Bela Bela (The Pos) and Lephalale (Bosveld Bulletin). LiN hopes to attract more regional and national advertisers via its larger footprint and improve the news capabilities of every title via sharing of news.

At the 2009 Sanlam Community Press Awards, the Polokwane Observer won the Hultzer Trophy for newspapers with circulations up to 15 000. The newspaper’s typography, leader page and motoring section came in for particular praise.

Northern Media Group (a division of Caxton) puts out six titles in the province: Capricorn Voice (the only newspaper with a provincewide footprint), Northern Review, Bosvelder (Mokopane), and three newspapers in the eastern regions. Even though the Limpopo Mirror is only sold in the east and northern regions, it was credited with the highest average single copy sales of 9 504 for the third quarter of 2009 by the Audit Bureau of Circulation. The Northern Review’s weekend edition ranked second with 8 540.

Radio
The SABC runs three major radio stations in Limpopo. Munghana Lonene FM broadcasts in Xitsonga to nearly a million daily listeners while Phalaphala FM targets young Tshivenda speakers. Thobela FM is a full-spectrum Sepedi radio station with just over two-million listeners per day.

Capricorn FM, launched in 2007 by MSG Afrika Media, has been successful in attracting listeners in the LSM 6-10 bracket. According
to the Radio Advertising Bureau SA, daily listenership is over one million. Co-founder and CEO of Capricorn, Simphiwe Mdlalose won BBQ’s
entrepreneur of the year award in 2009.

The other commercial station with significant reach in Limpopo is 94.2 Jacaranda, which is owned by Kagiso Media. Although the station recently lost some Limpopo listeners in the age group 16 to 24 years, cumulative seven-day listenership was still above two million.

Community radio stations in Limpopo include Radio Bushbuckridge, Univen Community Radio, Mohodi FM, Radio Turf, Radio Botlokwa, Mokopane Community Radio and Radio Moletsi.

An interesting collaboration between print and radio mediums was launched in 2009 with the purchase of four hours of programming on Makhado FM by the Zoutnet group, publishers of the Limpopo Mirror and Zoutpansberger. The Makoya 7-11 show broadcasts mostly in English.

ONLINE RESOURCES
Association for Communication and Advertising: www.acasa.co.za
Munghana Lonene FM: www.mlfm.co.za
National Association of Broadcasters: www.nab.org.za
Print Media South Africa: www.printmedia.org.za
Polokwane Observer: www.observer.co.za
South African Broadcasting Corporation: www.sabc.co.za
Zoutnet group: www.zoutnet.co.za

















(C) 2007 Limpopo Business | TradeInvestSA

Limpopo Business is published by Global Africa Network (Pty) Ltd
Company registration: 2004/004982/07
Directors: C During; SS Mabotja; CJ Whales; RSJ Pembroke

Copyright
The copyright and all other intellectual property rights in this publication are and remain vested in, or are licensed to, Global Africa Network (Pty) Ltd

Disclaimer
Global Africa Network (Pty) Ltd (GAN), its employees, directors and agents are not responsible for any losses or damages (including any consequential, indirect or special damages) which you might suffer arising out of or in connection with the use of, or inability to use, GAN's publications or websites. While GAN uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information in this publication, GAN makes no representations as to the accuracy, quality, timeliness, availability or completeness of the information, software, products or other materials available in this publication. Use of this publication is at your own risk. GAN will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use of or any reliance placed on such information.