Why WFM 91.7 has no competitor 0

WFM STUDIO

By AZUH AMATUS
An American radio technology expert, Engineer Dean Gay has said that the niche radio station, WFM 91.7, which hit the broadcast waves with its test transmission recently, has no competitor in Nigeria.
A statement made available to DAYLIGHT.NG by the promoters revealed that Gay who is resident in Abuja stated this while officially switching on the state of the art broadcast equipment of the radio station to mark the commencement of the station’s test transmissions prelude to the official launch of WFM 91.7 next month.
The radio technology specialist who supervised the installation of the ultra-modern studios and broadcast equipment of the history-making radio station (WFM 91.7 is the first radio station for women and the family in Nigeria, perhaps, Africa) stated that the station is different from what obtains in the industry in all ramifications. According to him, WFM 91.7 is different from other stations in content, character and focus.
“I’m not sure if WFM has any competitor in the market. They are completely different in all ramifications. It’s not your normal run-off-the-mill radio station. They have unique programming, unique target audience and a defined market,” he said.
Gay added that the station is also unique in terms of the quality and standards of the braodcast technology installed in the station. “It is the very latest in broadcast technology today.  From the microphone to transmitters, to consoles, servers, even mast, everything you have here are the very latest in radio broadcast technology and they are all of very high quality. They are the most sought-after equipment in radio broadcast industry today,” he said.
Dean explained that the station’s broadcast equipment were procured from Clyde Broadcast, a Glasgow, Scotland-based world renowned radio broadcast equipment manufacturer. He said the equipment are all high-end broadcast systems. “They are the very latest technology from Clyde Broadcast. There are very many stations that are barely hanging-on on air because they use very low-end systems. They (St. Ives Communications) spent a lot of money here to get the very best and the very latest in broadcast technology from Clyde Broadcast. That’s what it takes to be a good, reliable radio station,” he said.
Clyde Broadcast, the technology providers is renowned across the world as the “The Radio People” due to the quality of the company’s products. With the completion of its studio installation powered by Clyde Broadcast, WFM 91.7 joined the rich list of Clyde Broadcast’s clients which includes world renowned radio stations like BBC Radio, Radio Gold, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Forth 1, Virgin Radio (UK), SkyNews Radio, and our very own Lagos Traffic FM among others.
With the commencement of the on-going test transmission by WFM 91.7, Nigeria made history as the first country to own a first radio station for women and the family in Africa.
It will be recalled that the innovative radio station targeted at a niche market came into being when the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) issued licence to St. Ives Communications (owners and operators of the radio station) to operate a specialised radio station for women and the family in Ogun State and parts of Lagos environs.
The gender sensitive radio communication initiative is the brainchild of Dr. Tunde Okewale, Chief Medical Director at St. Ives Specialist Hospital, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos and veteran broadcast journalist, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Executive Director at St. Ives Communications and Managing Director of the broadcasting outfit.
The on-air-personalities (OAPs) that will run the station’s transmission operations include: Abisola Grace Aiyeola, a Nigerian British born broadcaster,  budding actress and singer,  Funmi Jinadu, who cut her teeth in radio broadcasting at BBC Bristol, UK , she’s also an active member of the National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom; and Bolatito Bez Idakula, a former banker.
The unique, women and family-focused radio station is poised to deliver on its unique operations targeted at a niche segment of the society – women, the men in their lives and the family.