Moneyweb's power hours extends to East Rand

East Rand Stereo is a nine year old community radio station. It broadcasts on an FM signal and serves Benoni, Springs, Brakpan, Boksburg, Nigel and Kempton Park; with the overflow reaching neighbouring areas including Germiston, Alberton, Edenvale and Bedfordview.

Moneyweb's chairman Alec Hogg says: "East Rand Stereo completes the jigsaw puzzle for us. It was the one gap in programme's Gauteng coverage after we moved away from the regional radio station Classic FM in July.

"Greater Johannesburg is served by 1485am Gold Radio Today on a good Medium Wave signal. Pretoria partner, Radio Rippel, provides a crystal clear option on 90.5FM for listeners who live or work in Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand, Fourways and Honeydew, and overlaps with 1485 in much of Sandton and most of the West Rand.

"A recent survey of the Moneyweb community highlighted a problem in the East Rand. They complained at not being able to switch across to the programme's new platforms because of poor broadcast quality in their area, a function of the topography.

"Some 85% of those who could not pick us up anymore said they would move back to the Moneyweb Power Hour immediately if it was broadcast on an FM signal. So we are obviously delighted to secure East Rand Stereo as our newest partner. It's also exciting for us to introduce our unique brand of fresh, live and undictated business programming to the station's existing audience of more than 35 000 people."

Johann Krüger, Chairperson of East Rand Stereo 93.9FM, said the Moneyweb Power Hour will enhance the professional content of East Rand Stereo's programmes: "With this programme we will be able to provide an excellent service to our listeners. We are also very excited about the fact that the programme will be coming to our listeners live so they get the latest financial and investment news."

The Moneyweb Power Hour's long standing broadcast partnerships in Cape Town (Fine Music Radio 101.3FM) and greater Durban (Highway Radio 101.5FM) were unaffected by the move from the Gauteng regional station. Together with its new partner, the programme is now delivered on radio stations which boast more than 250 000 listeners, 50% higher than the reach on its previous channel.

Hogg says July's switch of carriers also provided an opportunity to spruce up the show: "We had been running an unchanged format for four years. Moving gave us the chance to improve. For instance, we have introduced practical advice for entrepreneurs and investors; and urge our experts into specific recommendations on shares - especially the smaller stocks which appeal to private investors. In recent weeks, for instance, we've had strong buy recommendations on shares like Datacentrix; ERP.com; Adcorp; and Mercantile Lisbon Bank. You'd never have heard that in the past."

He adds: "But we retain our core strength of providing insight and understanding to the many South Africans who are battling to grasp the relevance of developments that affect their money and hence their lives. The programme's strength has always been to open a window to knowledge - and in that respect, we have been sharpening the saw."