MPowerFM

MPowerFM is a commercial radio station serving Mpumalanga. Broadcasting from studios in eMalahleni and Mbombela, MPowerFM went on air in December 2007.^[1]

MPowerFM

Broadcast area	Mpumalanga
Programming
Language	English
Format	Adult Contemporary
History
First air date	December 2007
Links
Website	http://www.mpowerfm.co.za

History

MPowerFM was a dream that became a reality in the early part of 2006. With African Media Entertainment (AME) and Direng, shareholders and owners of various radio stations in South Africa, approaching the Lowveld Chamber of Business and Commerce to enter into a bid for the tender of the only commercial radio licence to be issued by ICASA in Mpumalanga. After a lengthy process of acquiring potential local investors, as well as investors from up country, a successful bid was presented to ICASA and won. This resulted in the birth of MPowerFM - the first and only commercial radio station in Mpumalanga.^[2]

State of the art equipment was installed into their studios, which broadcast across the province on the 7 frequencies made available to them by Sentec.^[2]

Over the past few years some changes have occurred, with challenges that are faced by many startup companies. From opening the Witbank (Emalahleni) Studio at the Ridge to moving their main studio's to the Grove Shopping Centre in the Riverside Precinct in Nelspruit (Mbombela). Things have progressed and MPowerFM is fast becoming the heart of Mpumalanga. With great emphasis being placed on supporting charities and communities with specific needs, the radio station continues to strive and meet the expectations of the community at large.^[2]

Take over

Mpowerfm was bought out by Times Media Group in December 2013. The radio station now goes by the name RISEfm (www.risefm.co.za)

Coverage Areas & Frequencies

Broadcasting from eMalahleni (Witbank) to all of Mpumalanga^[3]

Coverage Areas^[4] & Frequencies^[4][3]

Area	Freq.
Nelspruit / White River / Komatipoort / Barberton	94.3 FM
eMhalahleni (Witbank) / Middleburg	106.4 FM
Davel / Ermelo / Secunda / Standerton / Bethal	105.8 FM
Sabie, Graskop / Pilgrims Rest / Mashishing (Lydenburg)	89.7 FM
Piet Retief	89.0 FM
Dullstroom	101.6 FM
Chrissiesmeer / Carolina	94.8 FM

Current Presenters

•Shaun Lukhele •Portia Adams •Tony Murrell •Dave Walters •Sasha •Sam Jagger •Celani Dubai •Desire Malunga

Broadcast Languages

• English^[3]

Broadcast Time

• 24/7^[3][5]

Target Audience

• LSM Groups 7 – 10^[3]
• Adults^[3]

Programme Format

• 80% Music^[3]
• 20% Talk^[3]

Listenership Figures

Estimated Listenership^[6]

	7 Day	Ave. Mon-Fri
May 2013	109 000	40 000
Feb 2013	85 000	30 000
Dec 2012	84 000	23 000
Oct 2012	61 000	19 000
Aug 2012	68 000	21 000
Jun 2012	82 000	28 000