A new FM radio station began test transmissions last Friday on 96.3 MHz. Abiyot Bayu, General Manager of Addis Ababa City Government Mass Media Agency told The Daily Monitor that the contents of the program would revolve around the social and economic problems of the city. “Ten sub cities in Addis have been given air time to have their say on issues concerning their districts,” Abiyot said.
“It was scheduled to begin work in 2002, but that was delayed until now due to the City government reforms and other changes. The installation of materials which was carried out by a US company called Broadcast Richardson, also took three years,” said Abiyot. The transmitter has a 3.5 kW power and can clearly be heard over a radius of 100 kms. It will broadcast 12 hours per day.
The City Government programme has been on the air for one hour a day, six days a week on another FM station on 97.1 MHz. But when the new station on 96.3 MHz begins regular programmes, the programme on 97.1 MHz will end.
