702 gets FM license for Jo'burg and Pretoria

In a letter to Primedia Broadcasting, ICASA says it has granted the application for the amendment of 702's commercial license to allow the station to migrate to frequencies 92.7 MHz in Johannesburg and 106.0 MHz in Pretoria. These are the frequencies that 702 applied for in its original application.

ICASA has also granted 702 a 12 month period of "double illumination". This means the station is allowed to continue broadcasting on both the AM and FM frequencies for a period of one year.

In addition, ICASA has exempted 702 from the provisions that are in current legislation. In its application to ICASA last year, 702 argued that the prejudice suffered by its listeners because of the poor signal, warranted a departure from these provisions.

Station Manager, Pheladi Gwangwa, said she was delighted at ICASA's decision as this is the first ever exemption to be granted by ICASA to commercial sound broadcasters.

Signal

In its 33-page document outlining the reasons why it granted 702's application, ICASA Chairperson Paris Mashile says: "The authority considers that the only realistic and financially feasible option at this point in time, to ensure that Radio 702 remains on-air in the medium to long term and does so with a transmission signal of reasonable quality, is migration to the FM band".

When station management broke the news to staff today there were scenes of jubilation. "It is a historic announcement and the best news we've had in 702's 25 year history," an ecstatic Gwangwa said.

Primedia Broadcasting Executive Chairman Dan Moyane commented: "This is a landmark decision by ICASA. It has been a long road for us, but the hard work has paid off."

Moyane added: "We are delighted that ICASA acted as an enabler in the public interest. The public that consumes 702 was deprived of a quality signal over the years."

Migration

CEO Terry Volkwyn said an announcement will be made in the next few weeks as to exactly when 702 will migrate to FM. "It could take between four and six months. Our FM equipment will be ordered this afternoon!"

Volkwyn added that the station will be embarking on a massive marketing campaign. "We are absolutely thrilled and have no doubt that this decision will take 702 to greater heights".

Gladwin Marumo, Chief Operation Officer for the signal distributor, Sentech, says this is a positive development for the market. "It means that Sentech can now look forward to maintaining a stable network for 702. This is an improvement because 702 will be moving away from antiquated technology and to a more stable and robust platform."