OFM, the sound of central South Africa, walked away with three awards at the prestigious Best of Bloemfontein reader’s choice awards held on 21 October in Bloemfontein.

The Breakfast Special, presented weekdays from 06:00 to 09:00, won the local radio show category, while Andre Kunz, who presents the show, won the local radio presenter category.

In the local radio show category OFM’s afternoon drive show came in second with OFM presenter Success Lekabe as runner-up in the local radio personality category.

The awards are held annually by Bloemfontein Courant. The competition was launched in 2013 and gives the thousands of readers of Bloemfontein Courant the opportunity to vote for their favourite establishments in the city. In the debut year of the competition, 18 000 votes were received in 100 categories. This year, 122 000 votes were received in 100 categories, making OFM’s triple win even more impressive.

The third and most impressive Best of Bloemfontein reader’s choice award win was a landslide victory in the best local radio station category. OFM won the award with 92% of votes cast.

Says OFM General Manager, Nick Efstathiou: “The Best of Bloemfontein reader’s choice awards recognises great products and excellent service provided by businesses in the City of Roses. OFM is honored to have won in three of the categories in this prestigious competition. We will continue to provide a relevant radio product that engages, entertains and informs a loyal listenership across central South Africa. I am very happy with the three wins and especially the landslide win. The OFM on air team deserve the recognition for the hard work they out into their shows”

The winners of the first ever OFM Music Awards were announced on Tuesday 29 September 2015 during a special two-hour radio show complimented by a video stream on www.ofm.co.za. The show was hosted by Breakfast Special presenter André Kunz and afternoon drive presenter Martin van der Merwe, with a live performance by one of South Africa’s favourite rock bands, The Parlotones and central South African singing sensation Brenden Peyper.

In the run-up to the awards show, listeners had a chance to vote for their favourite artists, albums and songs in national and international categories.

In the international categories, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for her fifth studio album, 1989. The album was released in October 2014 and the title was inspired by the pop-music scene of the 1980s, particularly Swift’s birth year. Two Brits, Ellie Goulding and Ed Sheeran walked away with the Best Female Artist and Best Male Artist awards. Listeners chose the American pop rock band Maroon 5 as Best International Group. Winning Song of the Year, was Rachel Platten with “Fight Song”. The song topped the charts in the UK. It also proved to be the most popular song in Central South Africa!

In the national categories, Juanita du Plessis’ album Toe Staan die Wêreld Stil, won Album of the Year. It was released in May 2015 and has already sold more than 100 000 copies. Best Female Artist was won by Riana Nel and the award for Best Male Artist was won Bobby van Jaarsveld. Pop boy band and veterans of the South African music scene Eden was chosen as the Best South African Group. Finally, listeners chose Karen Zoid and Francois van Coke’s “Toe Vind Ek Jou” as the Song of the Year. Blending the voices and talents of arguably the king and queen of South African rock music, the song had more then 50 000 views on YouTube one day after it was published for the first time.

Says Nick Efstathiou, OFM General Manager: “The first OFM Music Awards was an ambitious project but turned into a rewarding success and we are very satisfied by the levels of engagement we received from our listeners. We received close to 36 000 votes on www.ofm.co.za over a 19 day voting period. We would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners of an OFM Music Award.”

Relive the OFM Music Awards and watch the show on www.ofm.co.za.

In September OFM, the sound of Central South Africa, will present its very first music awards – the OFM Music Awards. OFM will recognise and reward local artists for their contribution to the music played on OFM and show special respect to the international artists who add value to the overall sound of the radio station.

The nominees in five categories for local and international artists, will be announced on 9 September 2015. Categories include Best Male and Female Artist, Best Group, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. OFM’s loyal listeners will have the opportunity to vote for their favourites until 27 September 2015.

The winners will be announced during the special OFM Music Awards radio show broadcast from the new state of the art OFM radio studios in Central Media House in Bloemfontein.

Says Nick Efstathiou, OFM General Manager: “We aim to recognise and reward local artists for their contribution to the music played on OFM and show special respect to the international artists who add value to the overall sound of the radio station. As central South Africa’s premier commercial radio station, we aim to recognise our most valuable asset – the music we playlist and the music that is requested through our channels by our loyal listeners.”

Listen to OFM for more details on the OFM Music Awards or go to www.ofm.co.za.

The Breakfast Special with Andre Kunz and Jolanda Maartens had the honours at 6 AM this morning to switch on the Red Light for the very first time. A year’s worth of preparation led to a seamless transition.

The new facilities are housed at CMG House, a multi-media facility developed by Central Media Group in the new Wild Olive Estate business precinct. The broadcast complex boasts two live broadcast units, and a further 7 multi-purpose studios where pre- and post-production, news packaging and streaming solutions will be housed.

According to Gary Stroebel, CEO of Central Media Group, the new building reflects the group approach with specialist spaces designed specifically for brands and departments. Therefore, throughout the design phase, experts were closely involved with the layout and purchasing of equipment for the new space. CMG currently comprises the radio station OFM, Mahareng Publishing, Digital Platforms – a digital and web Design Company – and the promotions company Red Star Talent.

Jan van der Walt, OFM’s Technical Manager, says the most challenging aspect of the move is installing new studio and broadcasting equipment and making sure that the new technology functions as it should. He predicted a seamless transition, and is hugely excited by the wide range of new technology deployed – from a fully networked complex of studios to a remote access security system and the latest VOIP solutions.

Says Nick Efstathiou, OFM’s General Manager: “We are all very excited about the move. Moving into a new building represents a huge milestone in OFM’s existence. We have grown from a tiny radio station, with six permanent staff members, to a successful company housing over 15 different brands and 135 employees. The new building represents a new chapter in OFM’s history. The team and I cannot wait to see what new and exciting challenges this new era will bring!”

The new building is located at 7 Christo Groenewald Street at the Wild Olive Estate in Bloemfontein. All other contact details of Central Media Group, including OFM will remain the same.

“We are delighted to introduce the three radio stations as part of our offering. We hope to enhance the listeners experience by providing them with excellent digital audio quality from their favourite radio stations”, said Ziyanda Mngomezulu, Channel Acquisitions at Platco Digital.

Gagasi FM, Heart FM and OFM, are leaders in their respective provinces and play significant roles in providing their listeners with hit music shows, talk shows and current affairs show. Gagasi FM is the number one commercial radio station in KwaZulu Natal with a strong urban black youth following. Heart FM prides itself as the Western Cape’s top all-round entertainer in touch with the values of Capetonians.

Catering to an English and Afrikaans audience across the Free State, North West Province, Northern Cape and the south of Gauteng, OFM is the largest independent radio station in South Africa. It plays a mix of old and new classic hits while providing content that is engaging and entertaining.

“Our viewers will be spoiled for choice with radio content from the three provinces. They now have the opportunity to easily access Mzansi’s best and loved radio shows which have a strong local identity. The platform will further boost the reach of the stations, from regional to national influence,” added Mngomezulu.

In addition to the new radio stations, LM radio will is also back on the platform. The station was awarded a licence to broadcast in Gauteng in 2014 after it was established in 2009. It plays classic jazz and funk from the 1960s down to the nostalgic sound of modern day artists, dance hits from the 70s and pop from the 80s. The tone and selection of the music is intimate and reminiscent. Its Radio genre is described as Nostalgic Adult Contemporary and Golden Oldie.

The radio stations will be available on the following channel:

LM Radio: Channel 602
Gagasi FM: Channel number 603
OFM: Channel number 604
Heart FM: Channel number 605

About the radio station:

Gagasi FM is the number one commercial radio station in KwaZulu Natal to reach the black urban and peri-urban black youth. The station harnesses a strong local identity and embraces KZN’s urban and peri-urban black youth market by boradcasting in Zunglish – a combination of English and isiZulu.

One of the Western Cape’s top commercial radio stations, Heart FM is a thought leader, trusted member of the community, and all-round entertainer in touch with the values Capetonians hold close to their hearts. The station enjoys a fiercely loyal and highly interactive relationship with its well over 600 000 strong fan base, which has a core listenership of LSM 6-10 and ages 35-45. Heart FM is well known for its music line-up which includes a mix of old and new that inspires and energises. It also hosts a number of exciting signature events: Mommy & Me; HeartBeats4Youth and Women At Heart.

OFM started broadcasting on the 1st of July 1985. Since then the station has established itself as the media power house of central South Africa. Today the station broadcasts in English and Afrikaans across four provinces – Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Southern Gauteng. The station boasts with more than half a million listeners in the LSM 7 – 10, age 25 – 49 target audience. Our listeners are innovators; enjoy leisure activities, sport and the outdoors.

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The Kagiso Shanduka Trust, together with the Free State Department of Education, aims to effect educational transformation in 428 schools in the Fezile Dabi and Motheo districts. These schools include primary, secondary, combined, intermediate and farm schools. The main goal of the Trust and its activities, is to equip learners with skills and knowledge to thrive and contribute to the development of our society.

Says Nick Efstathiou, OFM’s General Manager: “OFM is incredibly excited to become part of this worthy cause. Education is a high priority in South Africa and the work done by the Kagiso Shanduka Trust is making a huge difference to the educational landscape in the Free State. We hope that our involvement will help the Trust to grow from strength to strength.”

The Trust’s activities centre around four focus areas, namely transformation and empowerment workshops, curriculum and social development, infrastructure development and leadership development. It is run by passionate individuals, who bring knowledge, guidance and strategic leadership from three organisations – the Free State Department of Education, Kagiso Trust and Shanduka Foundation.

“OFM will be a proud media partner of the Kagiso Shanduka Trust’s programmes in the Free State. Hopefully, we can provide a platform through which the Trust can promote its programmes and gain vital support. The future of our country’s youth is everyone’s concern and we look forward to playing our part in creating a better educational environment for the learners in our province,” says Efstathiou.

OFM, the sound of Central South Africa, is once again leading the way with innovative radio content offerings by presenting “Celeb Radio” during June and July.

In June and July central South Africa will hear some of South Africa’s favourite celebrities present their own radio show from 09:00 to 12:00 weekdays, for a full five day week. Each show will be hosted by the respective celebrity with the assistance of the hosts of the Breakfast Special on OFM, André Kunz and Yolanda Maartens.

Says Nick Efstathiou, OFM General Manager: “Our regular mid-morning presenter, Isabel Potgieter, will be on maternity leave from the 22nd of June. At OFM we love a challenge and instead of coming up with the usual stand-in solution, we decided to up the entertainment stakes by doing something unusual and fresh. “Celeb Radio” is the result!”

Celebrities in their own right but know more for their stage performances and popular music include Arno Carstens (week of 22 June), Monique Steyn (week of 29 June), Margit Meyer-Rodenbeck (week of 13 July) and Nadine (week of 27 July).

“The celebrities we have chosen for this exciting new venture are some of our listeners’ favourite stars and are also loyal friends of the station. All of us at OFM is looking forward to the next few weeks and in welcoming these celebrities to the OFM family. Winter has never been this exciting!”

OFM is Central South Africa’s leading commercial radio station with offices in Bloemfontein, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark.

Being the regional radio station with the second biggest footprint in the country, OFM broadcasts to the greater Free State, parts of North West, Northern Cape and Southern Gauteng.

OFM was originally a split of Radio Hoëveld broadcasting only four hours a day in the evenings under the name Radio Oranje (after the Orange Free State, its home province) on 1 July 1985. At that stage the station operated with a staff compliment of only three people – Christo Olivier, the station manager, Albe’ Grobbler, the programme manager and Bill Otto, the advertising manager. The station only had two full-time presenters, Manie Kitching and Johleen du Plessis. Jaco de Wet, a student at that time, helped out during weekends. OFM became a regional broadcaster on 1 July 1986.

OFM is known for its on-air radio talent. Controversial television and radio presenter Riaan van Heerden was part of the team from 2009 until 2011. Van Heerden presented the popular Mambo Jumbo, which aired weekdays from 15:00 – 18:00. Known for causing a stir with the Central South African audience, Van Heerden’s blog, the Mambo Jumbo blog was rated the number one blog according to amatomu.com in the Marketing and Media category in South Africa (www.amatomu.co.za). Tim Thabethe was another presenter on OFM. Thabethe, a Zulu man from KwaZulu-Natal with no knowledge of Central South Africa, its culture and its people, captured the heart of Central South Africa. During his tenure at OFM, when he presented the Breakfast Club, he embraced the audience and their language and thus grew OFM’s morning listenership to a record 323 000 by the time of his departure in 2013.

Today OFM boasts some of the country’s top presenters as part of the on-air team. The Breakfast Special with Andre Kunz and Anna Visser is the number one morning show in Central South Africa. Other members in the breakfast team include news anchor Leanne Nel, sport anchor Liezl Liebenberg, traffic presenter Cathy de Lange and producer Lebogang Kotsi. Johrne van Huyssteen of ddisselblom fame presents the mid-morning show Oppi Draadloos from 09:00 – 12:00. Yolanda Maartens presents the midday to 3pm show. Yolanda was found by OFM during a presenter search in 2009.

The new afternoon drive time show Siesta is the highlight of weekdays on OFM. Presented by one of the youngest talents in the country, Martin van Merwe, the show has already stolen the hearts of Central South African listeners. Since its launch in April 2013, reaction from listeners and clients has been phenomenal.

OFM is not only the sound of Central South Africa but also a caring company operating in central South Africa. OFM runs a social investment programme that is about building trust and relationships with the Central South African community. OFM runs four main community driven projects as part of giving back to the community.

The OFM Classic is one of the safest cycling events in South African cycling. OFM uses this platform to raise funds for deserving organisations or causes in its footprint. In 2012 the OFM Classic donated R25 000 to the Rotary Organisation and the Sunflower House. A further R30 000 was donated to the Tempe School of Armour in Bloemfontein.

The Spar OFM Carols by Candlelight is another community driven project that aims to gather as many toys and cash donations as possible for distribution to children’s homes across Central South Africa just in time for Christmas. Homes in Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Welkom, Vanderbijlpark, Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp benefit from the generosity of the audience.

The Winter Warm Up with PEP and Vodacom aims to collect as many blankets as possible to keep Central South Africa warm during the cold winter months. In 2012, 18 000 blankets were collected – a total value of R629 100. The Shoprite Checkers OFM Chip 4 Charity celebrates Central South Africa’s love for golfing, Calling upon on businesses and government to raise funds for vulnerable children in the region. In 2012 the golf spectacular raised R120 000 in Bloemfontein and a further R40 000 in Kimberley.

Target Audience:
25 to 49 years old, LSM 7 to 10

Content of OFM:

Adult Contemporary, interspersed with news and views from the station’s team of on-air personalities. The community is strongly reflected. Exciting competitions form part of the station’s day to day activities. In 2005 the station gave away a house to the value of R2 million! The main competition campaigns in 2009 and 2010 was the 10 second challenge where listerners could win R50 000 by identifying 10 songs in 10 seconds and the Pack your bags campaign – where an “ever-so” friendly customs official, Smiley du Plessis stood between listeners and R1 million! In January 2011 the station gave away a DTV Roadrunner to the value of R151 000 as part of their Sound of your Summer campaign.

For more information, click on the link below:
OFM