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NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

‘AMH won’t turn into media monopoly’

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AMH chairman Trevor Ncube yesterday dispelled fears the newspaper group will morph into a media monopoly if given a chance to venture into radio.

ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) chairman Trevor Ncube yesterday dispelled fears the newspaper group will morph into a media monopoly if given a chance to venture into radio.

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Ncube was part of an AMH team that made a pitch for a licence for Capital FM, a proposed Harare metro radio station that has links with the newspaper publishing house.

“We should get the licence because we think we deserve it. We think we can provide jobs and we think no one is doing what we are proposing in Harare,” he said.

AMH Chairman Trevor Ncube speaks during the company's pitch for a licence for Capital FM.
AMH Chairman Trevor Ncube speaks during the company’s pitch for a licence for Capital FM.

“Research has shown that media that focus on local issues are the most successful.”

Capital FM and Yes FM made their public presentations to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) on their applications to be awarded the Harare commercial radio licence.

Capital FM, owned by Carryslot which is linked to AMH, was the first to make its presentation where it said it was ready to operate a radio station in Harare if granted a licence.

Part of the Capital FM panel.
Part of the Capital FM panel.

Kangai Maukazuva, the Capital FM chief executive officer, led a panel that included Ncube, publisher Rita Chinyoka and editor-in-chief Vincent Kahiya, as well as Chris Masikati, Lovemore Nyabadza and Sifikile Thabete.

The station made an elaborate multimedia presentation that portrayed the company’s mission and values and its proposed refreshing and creative programming.

“We hope that we find favour with you after our presentation. It is our dream, our passion to provide a radio to Harare and we feel we deserve to get a licence,” Ncube said.

Listen to Harare residents speak on proposed new radio stations below:

Maukazuwa said: “We are ready to operate in 10 months after being granted a licence by the authority.”

Capital FM programming will be made of 70% music and 30% talk radio. Its target audience is the 25 to 49 years age group.

“We want to create a brand and make money, hence our target for the 25 to 49 years age group.

“This is the group that comprises the economically independent persons who advertisers are also interested in following,” Chinyoka said.

Listen to Harare Residents Trust Advocacy officer Pretty Chabuda speak on the importance of a people based radio station below:

Yes FM, led by radio personality Innocent Tshuma, also made its case yesterday.

However, it faced a torrid time from BAZ who asked about their finances and budget they had presented in their application.

BAZ chairman Tafataona Mahoso makes a point.
BAZ chairman Tafataona Mahoso makes a point.

The company yesterday presented a substantially different financial plan to the one they made in their original application. Commissioner Elasto Madzingira probed the authenticity of the company’s $1,9 million budget saying the figure was too high for a radio station.

“This is overkill, the amount you are raising for a local commercial radio,” he said.

Tshuma said the figures looked high because they were looking at getting the best broadcasting equipment which they hoped would place them in a position to compete against established radio stations.

Yes FM like Capital FM will also have 70% of their programming filled by music and 30% by talk radio.

Today the last applicant, Kingstons Limited, will be making its presentation. Carryslot has also applied for a radio licence in Bulawayo and the station would be known as Skyz FM if granted a licence.