In order to address our listeners’ concerns, Nick Efstathiou, CEO of the Central Media Group, holding company of OFM, has issued the following statement:

“South Africa is under tremendous strain in the energy sector. For fifteen years, the country has had to deal with the lack of stable electricity supply. And, additionally, we find ourselves paying higher prices for fuel.

“These pressures have placed strain on all economic activity, across many sectors, across South Africa. Broadcasting is not left unscathed. OFM relies on the state-owned enterprise, Sentech, for the signal distribution across 20 transmitters in central South Africa. And, OFM is not the only broadcaster that relies on Sentech.

“Load-shedding, unstable power supply and failing infrastructure has left OFM disappointed in the service delivery from this state-owned enterprise.

“OFM has engaged with Sentech on numerous occasions over the last few years with frustratingly no movement nor remedy. Meetings held with Sentech included top management, the likes of the Chief Operations Officer and the Operations Executive.

“We feel the frustration of our listeners not being able to listen to their favourite radio station. We will continue to engage Sentech to ensure that the Sound of Your Life continues to broadcast with a high quality content offering and through high quality technology.

“As we continue to engage Sentech, alternative solutions to listening to OFM include the OFM App, available in your operating systems’ app store, online at https://www.ofm.co.za/listenlive, and on OpenView HD channel 604.

“We apologise for the inconvenience. Listeners are welcome to email me – nick@centralmediagroup.co.za or signal@ofm.co.za whenever OFM suffers signal breaks.”

OFM-seinonderbrekings

Oor die afgelope aantal weke, het OFM, die Klank van Jou Lewe, toenemend ontwrigtings met sy radio-uitsending ervaar.

Om ons luisteraars se bekommernisse aan te spreek, het Nick Efstathiou, HUB van die Central Media Group, beheermaatskappy van OFM, die volgende verklaring uitgereik:

“Suid-Afrika is onder geweldige druk in die energiesektor. Vir vyftien jaar reeds is die land onderworpe aan die gebrek aan stabiele elektrisiteitsvoorsiening. En boonop moet ons hoër pryse vir brandstof betaal.

“Hierdie situasie het druk geplaas op alle ekonomiese aktiwiteite, in baie sektore oor Suid-Afrika heen. Die uitsaaiwese word nie ongedeerd gelaat nie. OFM maak staat op die staatsbeheerde onderneming, Sentech, vir die seinverspreiding oor 20 senders in Sentraal Suid-Afrika. En, OFM is nie die enigste uitsaaier wat op Sentech staatmaak nie.

“Beurtkrag, onstabiele kragtoevoer en gebrekkige infrastruktuur het OFM teleurgesteld gelaat in die dienslewering van hierdie instelling.

“OFM het die afgelope paar jaar talle kere met Sentech geskakel, met geen uitkoms nie. Vergaderings wat met Sentech gehou is, het topbestuur soos die bedryfshoof en die uitvoerende raad ingesluit.

“Ons voel die frustrasie van ons luisteraars wat nie na hul gunsteling radiostasie kan luister nie. Ons sal voortgaan om Sentech te pols om te verseker dat die Klank van Jou Lewe aanhou uitsaai met 'n hoë gehalte inhoud-aanbieding en deur hoë gehalte tegnologie.

“Terwyl ons voortgaan om met Sentech te onderhandel, is alternatiewe oplossings om na OFM te luister die OFM-slimfoontoepassing, beskikbaar in jou bedryfstelsels se app-winkel, aanlyn by https://www.ofm.co.za/listenlive, en die OpenView HD-kanaal 604.

"Ons vra om verskoning vir die ongerief. Luisteraars is welkom om vir my 'n e-pos te stuur - nick@centralmediagroup.co.za of signal@ofm.co.za wanneer OFM seinonderbrekings ondervind.”

Why OFM

OFM, the Sound of Your Life, is Central South Africa’s premier commercial radio station, offering a mix of music, news, and entertainment. The station celebrated 35 years in the broadcasting industry in 2021. OFM is part of the Central Media Group, with its head office in Bloemfontein, and a satellite studio in Welkom.

The station serves the affluent SEM 7-10 economically active marketplace with a broadcast footprint across the Free State, Northern Cape, southern Gauteng and North West. OFM is synonymous with the people of Central South Africa, and includes a full spectrum of listeners, from urban working moms and dads to corporate professionals, as well as rural communities and agricultural producers.

The station has an incredibly loyal and supportive audience. OFM enjoys one of the highest occurrences of time spent listening to the radio in South Africa. This is achieved by the station’s great music offerings – such as playing listeners their favourite songs on the Request Network and counting down Central South Africa’s 30 biggest hits on the Central SA Top 30.

OFM offers several niche features – including a dedicated agricultural programme with three additional agricultural news updates a day, as well as a dedicated business programme with two additional economic news updates throughout the day.

Sport is close to OFM listeners’ hearts and is what brings much of Central South Africa together. The station is a proud partner, sponsor, and supporter of the Cheetahs, Griquas and Leopards rugby teams. OFM is committed to living the real good life, while at the same time helping Central South Africans to live their best lives.

Waarom OFM

OFM, die klank van jou lewe, is Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se voorste kommersiële radiostasie, wat ’n verskeidenheid musiek, nuus en vermaak bied. Die stasie het in 2021, 35 jaar in die uitsaaiwese gevier. OFM is deel van die Central Media Group, met sy hoofkantoor in Bloemfontein, en 'n satellietateljee in Welkom.

Die stasie bedien die welvarende SEM 7-10 ekonomies aktiewe mark met 'n uitsaaigebied wat die Vrystaat, Noord-Kaap, Suid-Gauteng en Noordwes insluit. OFM is sinoniem met die mense van Sentraal Suid-Afrika, en sluit 'n volle spektrum van luisteraars in, van stedelike werkende ouers, tot korporatiewe professionele persone, sowel as landelike gemeenskappe en landbouprodusente.

Die stasie het 'n ongelooflike lojale en ondersteunende gehoor. OFM se luisteraars spandeer van die meeste tyd wat luisteraars in Suid-Afrika spandeer om radio te luister. Dit word bereik deur die stasie se gepaste musiekaanbiedinge – luisteraars kan hul gunstelingliedjies op die Request Network versoek en op Saterdae kan hulle inskakel om saam Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se 30 grootste treffers op die Central SA Top 30 af te tel.

OFM bied verskeie nisprogramme aan – insluitend 'n toegewyde landbouprogram met drie bykomende landbounuusopdaterings per dag, sowel as 'n toegewyde besigheidsprogram met twee bykomende ekonomiese nuusopdaterings deur die loop van die dag.

Sport lê OFM-luisteraars na aan die hart en dit is wat baie Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners bymekaar bring. Die stasie is 'n trotse vennoot, borg en ondersteuner van die Cheetahs-, Griekwas- en Luiperds-rugbyspanne. OFM is daartoe verbind om die regte goeie lewe te lei, en terselfdertyd Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners te help om hul beste lewens te lei.