A matter of frequency
CITIZEN BAND, the intrepid explorer of the airwaves, has overheard a reliable source saying that the Independent Broadcasting Authority is expected to announce what frequencies will be available to commercial radio licence applicants within the next few weeks. It is expected that the authority will specify frequencies and transmitter sizes in each region and will invite applications for those frequencies. It is unlikely that a whole spate of licences will be granted as happened with the community stations. Instead, there is likely to be one FM frequency made available in each area defined by the IBA.
Storm over Bop CEO
n SOUTH AFRICAN taxpayers will be forking out R65 000 a month to pay the salaries of two new executives at the Bophuthatswana Broadcasting
Cawe Mhlati, chief executive, and Abbey Chikane, her deputy, were headhunted by the North West Government’s acting MEC for public media, Molefi Sfularo, who interviewed them for the positions without advertising the jobs
The appointments come at a time when the Independent Broadcasting Authority wants to close down Bop Broadcasting, and staff want to collect retrenchment packages and abandon the corporation altogether. Corporation staff and the Media Workers’ Assocation of South Africa have rejected the appointments.
Mhlati has been wooed away from a top position in M-Net, where part of her job had been to represent the organisation at the IBA’s public hearings — and indications are that her mission-impossible will be to give Bop Broadcasting a stay of execution.
Ebony “like all the others’
n WHILE exploring the airwaves over Alexandra last week, Citizen Band overheard a reputable business radio journalist saying that people were disappointed with the South African edition of Ebony magazine, “because now it’s just like all the other magazines”. Apparently the main reason why people had bought Ebony in the past was because it told them what was happening in America. The publishers had anticipated a possible second print run, but judging by the huge piles still on CNA shelves this week that was not necessary. The magazine was officially launched last week at the Sandton Sun. American founder and publisher John H Johnson attended, as did Johnny Cochrane, the guy who played OJ’s lawyer in the recent TV series.
It’s raining managers
n CHERYL RAINE has joined the M-Net management exodus to NetHold in Europe, an indication of how important that battleground is for the group. Raine was long recognised as “the most powerful person in M-Net”and was responsible for much of M-Net’s programme acquisition successes. It seems unlikely that there will be any replacement at this stage.
Fair weather medium
n THE launch of a new advertising concept, Skytyping, which presumably has to do with aeroplanes using vapour trails to make words in the sky — was delayed for the second time this week due to bad weather. Citizen Band was wondering whether to call it bad luck or a bad
Citizen Band was greatly disappointed with the new Scope, which came out last week. Judging by the cover copy he expected to find a whole new magazine. But there was no redesign and no repositioning. All he found was the old Scope without the girls. The effect of the change on its readership will testify to its loyal readers’ true motivations for buying it all these years.
Citizen Band thought it interesting to note that the Discovery deal with MultiChoice is not an exclusive deal, so Discovery could also appear elsewhere if it so chooses.
Citizen Band detected that a large entourage of some 70 representatives of Black Entertainment Television had amassed in London this week, en route to South Africa. Their stated mission was to attend the launch of a BET movie, Once Upon a Time … When We Were Coloured, at the Ster-Kinekor in Sandton on Sunday night. However, Citizen Band overheard speculation that they might be here to put in a bid for the SABC’s third channel. Spokeperson George Amoah would not comment on this rumour when cornered in his London hotel room. However, he did confirm that they would be making “a big announcement”at the event.