LINK FM is a Christian, Community radio station based in the heart of the Eastern Cape - East London, South Africa. Link FM broadcasts 24 hours a day via FM stereo within the Eastern Cape area, via satellite audio to Southern Africa, and via audio streaming to the world.
LINK FM is run by a board of Management, Trustees, a Station Manager, Full time staff and on-air presenters. LINK FM encourages the participation of the community of East London both in its radio broadcasting, as well as the various community projects.
The PURPOSE of LINK FM is to provide a professional radio service that sets a high standard of Christian Broadcasting, characterized by an attitude of excellence.
The VISION of LINK FM is to portray a willing heart and provide a voice that cares, by keeping the Word of God alive 24/7/365, through highly skilled, committed, motivated and passionate staff, and to be on the cutting edge of technology, marketing and creativity.
The STRATEGY of LINK FM is as follows:
- Meeting the requirements and standards set out in our license conditions
- Broadcasting relevant Christian programming
- Providing focused training and incentives
- Offering support structures by networking with various ministries and churches
- Uplifting the community by giving, socially motivating and developing relevant projects
- Using media communication to its full potential
- Using state of the art digital equipment, setting the trend for contemporary radio
- Promoting the corporate identity of LINK FM in the community
The Coverage Area of LINK FM on 97.1FM is +/-75km radius of East London (reaching the greater Buffalo City region, as well as Port Alfred, Stutterheim and Morgan Bay), via audio streaming and DSTV satellite audio channel, 175.
Our latest listener demographics amounts to approximately 175 000 listeners for every 7 days (figures as at March 2009). The station targets the LSM (Lifestyle Measurements) group 1-10 aged between 13 and 50+ with an average monthly income of between R4500 and R30 000 per month.
The programming on LINK FM reflects the Christian Community, made up of talk (20%) and music (80%), including traffic updates, weather, on-air competitions, sport, community focus news, comedy and both local and international news reports. Programming is listener focussed with Women’s, Mens, Ministry, Music, Youth, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa programmes.
With an increase in listenership, LINK FM owns an 18% market share in the total radio listenership audience within the Buffalo City and surrounding areas, which is quite substantial for a community radio station.
Listener Involvement with the station is encouraged, through our sms line (34791) which responds to the sender with an encouraging text message, email to studio (studio@linkfm.co.za) , and studio phone line (043 743 3820)
LINK FM partners with “Living Waters’, our community focussed ministry, which facilitates and supplies (by listener donations) soup kitchens and feeding schemes, and assists with sponsored education of children at primary school
level.
LINK FM has seen tremendous growth in the last 11 years, and is now rated 13 out of 91 community radio stations in the RSA, and the 3rd biggest Christian Community radio station in the country.