AIRWAVE AMBITION
Francistown online radio station hopes for break
Francistown Online Radio station is expected to provide local artists from the northern part of Botswana a rare opportunity that conventional radio stations don’t.
Founder, Tebogo Nkadile hopes that the station will grow and attract more followers in different parts of the country.
Nkadile (38) started the online radio station in January 2020 to close the gap and promote local talent especially those who could not penetrate the music market due to lack of resources.
According to Nkadile, the radio station that currently plays mostly locally produced music is running at zero budget.
Some of the upcoming artists whose music is already playing include gospel artist, Kabo Thaelo. Nkadile said the station is registered with Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA).
Nkadile wishes to see the online radio station competing with the biggest radio stations in the country.
Acting Marketing Manager at the radio station Thapelo Maleka, popularly known as Mc Maswe, said the station has eight shows which are aired from Monday to Sunday.
The station is always advertised in all social media platforms so that
people can familiarise themselves with it.
“As acting Marketing and Brand Manager I have been engaging with different companies as well as airing interesting content that attracts listeners to the station,” Maleka said.
Maleka is also a presenter at the online radio station and has four shows namely, Tourism Corner which airs on Tuesdays, Tsoga O
Kgothale aired on Thursdays, Diatlhanasela aired on Saturdays and Morethetho wa Lerato on Sundays.
From time to time the station discusses new topics which involve the larger community.
Meanwhile, BOCRA Director Broadcasting and Corporate Communications, Aaron Nyelesi said BOCRA issues authorisations for Online Broadcasting for both television and radio.
The requirements for online broadcasting service application are less onerous compared to other broadcast licenses.
They include providing the company and ownership profile, the shareholding structure, and a demonstration of the target market to inform those assessing the applications.
“The Regulator monitors those operating either on traditional or online platforms and occasionally discovers business entities operating without authorisations.
“Such transgressors are usually advised to normalise their operations which they do without challenges. The Authority provides most of its services online, so applicants can access the BOCRA website and apply for authorisations or licences or call to get assistance where they need clarity in order to normalise their operations,” Nyelesi said.
BOCRA currently has relaxed requirements for application, as well as operational compliance for Online Broadcasters as a deliberate effort to attract and promote market entry by new players.
Online Broadcasters are currently exempted from paying any fees in order to encourage potential clients to apply and operate successfully in the industry.
By comparison, other licenses have stringent conditions relating to the content that should be broadcast and the significant application and regulatory service fees paid by the licensees.
BOCRA has authorised 13 radio applications to operate online such as Letlhabile FM, ICE-100, Southern Kings, Sports Network, P.I.N.C Street Services, Nash Capital, UB Radio, Three Cards Group, Rera Online, The Cross TS, Legacy Radio, Khuduga, and Catholic Diocese of Gaborone.
Some of these are supposed to operate on a commercial basis others are academic stations while others are religious stations.
Traditional radio stations also offer online services from time to time by either streaming live content on social media pages or depositing Podcasts on their websites.
Nyelesi said with the deployment of fibre and provision of better internet, service access is bound to improve making service provision on these platforms attractive.