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From: 2010-09-23
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MUSICAL NOTES
August has seen the inauguration of the FMR broadcast on the 94.7 frequency in the Hout Bay area. I daresay most of you are aware of this since we have been bragging about it on air for the past few weeks and no Bill mooting media restrictions will stop us doing some trumpet blowing. The road leading to permission from The Authority to use this frequency was long, patience-testing and littered with apparently insurmountable obstacles. Happily, perseverance triumphed and we toyi-toyied our exuberant FMR victory dance, accompanied by yodels and hoots of celebration when FMR's musical sounds were heard loud and clear in Hout Bay. We are delighted to welcome new (previously disadvantaged) FMR listeners on this frequency. We have a reasonable idea of the extent of the signal's coverage but we are receiving anecdotal evidence of random and unexpected pockets of reception.
Now, of course, for the cold-water cataract of reality – we must find the means of paying the monthly costs of this extra transmission service. We hope that listeners and advertisers in these new coverage areas will provide the additional financial support required to meet our increased overheads.
We have begun a listener awareness campaign in the Hout Bay area and in this we have been well supported by the print media. The FMR marketing mavens have planned initiatives to introduce FMR to new listeners and to garner their membership support of the FMR Association. Please would you use your personal social networking systems to spread the news of the FMR 94.7 frequency to those who might enjoy the FMR programming.
Although I referred rather lightly to the Protection of Information Bill above, the proposed Bill is cause for justifiably careful scrutiny and concern on the part of the media and indeed, all South Africans. Traditionally, community radio (in previous-regime years sometimes called "struggle radio") has been staunchly independent and committed to be the voice of "the people" – particularly minority groups. Admittedly with its arts and culture remit, FMR is hardly at the cutting edge of political and social commentary and reform, and unlikely to discover or reveal secrets and classified information that would be a threat to the national interest. Nevertheless, we cater for a niche minority – a community of interest – who have an appreciation of "fine music", and even in this arena, state control over our programming reflecting an eclectic and diverse range of opinion would, I believe, be undesirably and unjustifiably intrusive. Many highly qualified and clever thinkers have presented cogent and eloquent arguments in the media recently – both protagonists and antagonists of the Bill have had their say in a debate that has often become heated, abusive, emotive and (as always in South Africa) politically charged. However, it is my hope that discourse on this issue continues until less restrictive and more enlightened legislation can be drafted.
Victoria Cawood
FMR Station Manager
