Listeners to pay to listen to East Coast Radio
As of August
2016, East Coast Radio listeners will need to pay for the service by purchasing
an annual listening licence, the station management announced last night.
“This decision follows months of deliberation with the Kagiso Media board and other stakeholders,” says East Coast Radio’s General Manager, Boni Mchunu. “East Coast Radio, like other subsidiaries of Kagiso Media, is exploring new revenue streams as a result of the digitisation of media. A licenced service is a natural progression for us.”
Mchunu stated that the station is in the process of deciding on the licence fee and that various factors are being taken into consideration including the country’s current economic climate.
The paid-for service will extend to East Coast Radio’s online platform. Those who tune in via audio streaming will also be required to pay a once-off annual fee.
The decision to monetise the listening experience follows a worldwide trend, in Europe and in the U.S. in particular, that has been spurred on by the global economic scenario. Economists forecast many other radio stations will follow suit.
East Coast Radio will broadcast as usual until 1 August 2016, when the licencing requirements will kick in.
