Audience Survey Conducted on “Dewel” Radio ... - FES Ethiopia

survey across the country. But limited researches conducted by different bodies
show that the great potential radio broadcasting holds for Ethiopia. 3
3.3 FM Stations in Ethiopia
The first FM station was launched in Ethiopia in June 2000, established under
Radio Ethiopia. FM Addis 97.1 has been transmitting for 18 hours daily, mainly
focusing on urban issues and confined to Addis Ababa and nearby towns, with
2.5Kw (PMC, 2006). 4 Since this station was the first FM station in the country, it
has captured a large number of audiences in the urban areas, broadcasting musical
programs, news summaries, sponsored programs on social issues, attracting
different segments of the audience.
FM Addis 97.1 was basically started to be different in style and format to that of
Radio Ethiopia. Most of the programs in FM Addis are participatory. Listeners call
live and express their views and people appreciate to use this out let because it
helps to share their experience. However there is still criticism that sometimes
there is the influence of format of national service broadcasting over FM Addis.
“This out let shuttles between the conventional and formal and the innovative and
informal formats.” (BBCWST, 2006: 7).
Apart from programs produced by the station, partners also buy airtime and
broadcast their program. Major partners of the station include among others, Panos
Ethiopia, Population Media Center, Pro-Pride, AIDs Resource Center, Addis
Chamber and Forum for Social Studies.
3 A good experience that lessons can be drawn from is an audience survey conducted by population Media
centre (PMC) on the effects of Radio Serial Drama on Reproductive Health Behaviour. The <strong>Audience</strong>
survey outlined the key findings on lessons learned on issues of Reproductive Health, Women Status, HIV
AIDS, and Family Planning from Two Serial Radio Dramas.
4 Starting from January 2008, FM Addis started broadcasting for 24 hours.
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