Voice of Africa Radio
Encyclopedia
Voice of Africa Radio is a London
-based FM radio station
, founded on 1 January 2000 to correct the exclusion and marginalisation of the African community from the electronic media. Initially, the station operated unlicenced
, covering the Greater London area. It attracted a wide range of African businesses that advertised and sponsored most of its programmes. Listeners were mainly the youth, but also various African High Commissioner
s and Heads of State.
Voice of Africa Radio finally won its bid for a five-year permanent FM licence
in London on 16 February 2006, after six years of campaigning, making it the first and only legally licenced African radio station in the UK.
The station went live on 20 August 2007. After experiencing problems with pirate stations operating on the assigned frequency (94.3 MHz), Ofcom
proposed changing the station's carrier frequency to 94.0 MHz. The change would also allow an increase in radiated signal strength. This change was implemented on 25 February 2011.
Apart from entertaining listeners with an exciting range of African music spanning the continent of Africa
, VOAR also provides several phone–in programmes which discuss issues that are pertinent to Africans at local, national and international level. It is based at 24 Swete Street, Plaistow
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based FM radio station
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
, founded on 1 January 2000 to correct the exclusion and marginalisation of the African community from the electronic media. Initially, the station operated unlicenced
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
, covering the Greater London area. It attracted a wide range of African businesses that advertised and sponsored most of its programmes. Listeners were mainly the youth, but also various African High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
s and Heads of State.
Voice of Africa Radio finally won its bid for a five-year permanent FM licence
FM broadcasting in the UK
FM broadcasting began in the United Kingdom on May 2, 1955 when the BBC started an FM service broadcasting the Light Programme, the Third Programme and the Home Service to the south east of England. There are now over 40 BBC and over 250 commercial FM stations broadcasting in the UK.-BBC :The BBC...
in London on 16 February 2006, after six years of campaigning, making it the first and only legally licenced African radio station in the UK.
The station went live on 20 August 2007. After experiencing problems with pirate stations operating on the assigned frequency (94.3 MHz), Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
proposed changing the station's carrier frequency to 94.0 MHz. The change would also allow an increase in radiated signal strength. This change was implemented on 25 February 2011.
Apart from entertaining listeners with an exciting range of African music spanning the continent of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, VOAR also provides several phone–in programmes which discuss issues that are pertinent to Africans at local, national and international level. It is based at 24 Swete Street, Plaistow
Plaistow, Newham
Plaistow is a place in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It formed part of the County Borough of West Ham in Essex until 1965.Plaistow is a mainly residential area, including several council estates; the main road is the A112 - Plaistow Road, High Street, Broadway, Greengate Street and...
.
External links
- http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/Community/CR070.htm
- http://www.voiceofafricaradio.com