This follows a decision by regulatory body, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) earlier this year to grant the application for the amendment of Talk Radio 702's commercial licence to allow the station to migrate to frequencies 92.7 MHz in Johannesburg and 106.0 MHz in Pretoria. These are the frequencies that 702 applied for in its original application.
This is the first phase of the talk station's move to the FM frequency. The Pretoria signal is the bigger of the two.
Primedia Broadcasting executive chairman, Dan Moyane, says that today's move to the FM frequency has been the culmination of a long process for Talk Radio 702. "This is a new era, not only for Talk Radio 702, but for the broadcasting landscape. It has been a long road for us, but the hard work has certainly paid off."
Icasa has also granted Talk Radio 702 a 12-month period of 'double illumination'. This means the station is allowed to continue broadcasting on both the AM and FM frequencies for a period of one year.
"This is a historic moment for Talk Radio 702," says Talk Radio 702 station manager, Pheladi Gwangwa. "We would like to take this opportunity to thank our listeners who have been loyal, and stayed with us throughout this process. Like us, they have waited for this for a long time."
Talk Radio 702 officially migrated to its new home on the FM band during John Robbie's breakfast show (6am to 9am).
The signal will be fine-tuned over the coming months.
