Radio & Audio News South Africa

A 90-minute wait can be fun

ComutaNet has launched Star Radio, a fully-fledged, live digital satellite radio station broadcasting from 05h00 to 19h00 daily to an estimated 1.5 million commuters waiting for transport at taxi ranks. Programming in English will initially be focused on the most densely travelled transit hubs, with all the other official languages represented.

The station has its own outside broadcast (OB) unit, capable of interacting live from any venue with the national network and offers specific communications to selected ranks in particular dialects on request.

"Star Radio offers advertisers multiple benefits: we have a national footprint with virtually no competition and with great popularity amongst our listeners. Clients can focus on pre-selected ranks utilising ads within the local vernacular. Most commuters spend, on average, an hour and thirty minutes a day in the taxi ranks waiting for taxis. As no other radio stations are publicly broadcast in taxi ranks, the value of Star Radio is immense - advertisers can, metaphorically, 'own' the commuter market on-air. The technology used enables advertisers to make real-time instant changes to advertising content, accommodating last-minute creative material and up-to-date commuter communication," said Terence Marsh, Business Development Director at ComutaNet

Programming includes competitions, traffic updates, news, weather and sport reports; popular music played by trendy DJ's carry personal on-air dedications to listeners queuing in the ranks; a daily discussion programme, 'Y-Talk' aimed at the youth, coves career guidance, advice on sex, HIV/AIDS and other relevant topics.

According to Marsh, "Not only does Star Radio compete with the ALS stations (regionally focused stations) with regards to footprint, but it is also able to broadcast its message on a regional basis, accommodating ads in different vernaculars in different regions."

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