Algoa FM

Algoa FM

City	Port Elizabeth
Broadcast area	Eastern Cape
Frequency	94.0—97.0 MHz
Programming
Format	Adult Contemporary[1]
Ownership
Owner	group (AME) (Umuya Communications (Pty) Ltd t/a Algoa FM)
History
First air date	January 1, 1986 (1986-01-01)
Links
Website	algoafm.co.za

Algoa FM is the leading South African commercial radio station serving the Eastern Cape Province and Garden Route. It started broadcasting on 1 January 1986 as part of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). It was privatised in October 1996, and has grown into the Eastern Cape’s leading media house. Algoa FM is licensed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, or ICASA.

Footprint[]

Algoa FM's broadcast footprint stretches from the Wild Coast to the Garden Route and inland through the Karoo hinterland. It enjoys a listening audience of over 505 000, according to the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC). The station also boasts a growing online listenership from the rest of South Africa and around the world.

Corporate[]

Algoa FM is a subsidiary of Africa Media Entertainment (AME), which was established in 1997, and is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the “Media & Entertainment” category. In addition to Algoa FM, AME owns OFM, which broadcasts from Bloemfontein to the Free State, the North West Province, the Northern Cape and Southern Gauteng. AME also owns United Stations, a specialist radio sales house, which represents its assets in the National market; MediaHeads 360, a strategic marketing and content producer; Moneyweb.co.za, and the Central Media Group which encompasses OFM, Digital Platforms and Mahareng Publishing. Algoa FM’s on-air product connects with the lifestyle of adults who enjoy good music and indulge in quality life experiences. The station also provides global, national, regional and local news, as well as sport, local traffic, weather reports and the latest in entertainment news. The target is adults aged 25+, who enjoy popular contemporary music and have the resources to regularly treat themselves to quality life experiences. Through a transition from being the leading regional radio station to the leading regional media house, Algoa FM incorporates the power of its website, social media management and on-site activations in its media mix. In addition to an iconic building and fresh on-air sound, the station has a responsive and mobile friendly website: www.algoafm.co.za. Added into the mix of music and interaction with listeners is global, national and local news, as well as gossip, sport, local traffic and weather reports. In 2018, Algoa FM became the first radio station outside of Gauteng to win the coveted Commercial Station of the Year award. Algoa FM was one of the first radio stations in South Africa to cater specifically to the needs of small business. The media house has its own in-house copywriting, graphic design, production and recording facilities, in order to provide a multi-channel package in-house. Algoa FM has partnered with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to provide hands-on support for small and emerging businesses in the metro. The media house is headed by Alfie Jay, who was appointed managing director in 2019 and has been a part of Algoa FM since 1990. Jay, who was inducted into Radio’s Hall of Fame in 2021, was one of the team responsible for commercialising the station after it was bought out of the SABC in 1996.

Footprint[]

Algoa FM reaches through the Eastern Cape and Garden Route, from Mossel Bay to Barkly East and as far north as Colesberg. Algoa FM’s on-air audience stretches from the Garden Route through to the Wild Coast, and inland through the Karoo Hinterland.

Broadcast languages[]

• Predominantly English^[1]

Broadcast time[]

• 24/7^[1]

Target audience[]

• Age group 25+, upper income earners with disposable income.

Total Audience: Average 505 000 past seven days listeners (BRCSA)

References[]

The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) African Media Entertainment (AME) The Annual Guide to Radio in South Africa (AdVantage 2012). Media 24. 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-05-23.