A word from Central Media Group’s CEO - Gary Stroebel

OFMOFM - The Sound of Your Life is the number one entertainment provider in Central SA Offering an unrivaled listening experience

Mahareng PublishingMahareng Publishing is a publisher of books, magazines, newspapers and custom products

Digital PlatformsDigital Platforms is an internet and digital business whose services include website design and development, website hosting, etc.

RedstarRedstar is a specialist events and booking company which provides the client with an integrated solution to their event

CentralOutdoorCentral Outdoor provides our clients with a range of amazing outdoor opportunities, with brand exposure

Central Media Group (CMG) has successfully positioned itself as the leading media powerhouse in the region. Having built a reputation for innovation and excellence, it remains ahead in expanding and pioneering the best in the media and advertising platform. CEO of the group, Gary Stroebel, is delighted to share the journey OFM has undertaken to eventually have reached this pivotal point.“Radio Oranje started out at the SABC. For the first 10 years it was housed in a studio in the SABC building. 1996 brought privatisation and a new home. A new building in Second Ave was home for a couple of years – it was too small within just a few months! We moved to the Loch Logan Waterfront in 1999 where we had very smart offices, but, alas, they also grew too small pretty quickly as we were fast adapting to a new life in the private sector. “The Waterfront underwent a massive redevelopment and we were temporarily housed in the MTN building. It was to be for 11 months, but it became 9 years as we struggled to find suitable office space,” Gary says.In total OFM was housed in eight different buildings in one way or another and Gary enthuses when the development at Wild Olive Estate was given the green light and when they were able to purchase a commercial stand that would be large enough, they gladly took on the offer.That decision saw the establishment of Central Media Park, which now houses all the different departments within CMG. “Central

Media Group has emerged from the various businesses we invested in. Our aim is to continually be able to provide our clients with media and marketing products that are as good

as any in the country. “However, it is also

important to us that we are able to provide

these services in a way that works across all the different media platforms. This means we need to coordinate

creative elements and synergies to

obtain the very best results we can,” he

explains.CMG currently offers multiple

products and services in radio (OFM), publishing (Mahareng Publishing), event management (Redstar), experiential marketing, digital marketing, web design and web platforms (Digital Platform), as well as Outdoor. “That is pretty much a full house as far as local advertisers are concerned. We also intend to venture into streaming audio and digital video soon,” he says.“To be relevant in the media arena means everything – as they say, you are as good as your last pitch.” To remain in the top spot, Gary states that

digital has brought a whole raft of new opportunities for media and marketing. “We have invested heavily in a top team that understands the technology and barriers to integrate digital solutions into the businesses of clients. Central Media will continue to explore this brave new world and we hope to be able to help our clients to come with us.”“CMG is set on growing in leaps and bounds and the future looks more promising than ever. It is now almost impossible to imagine how the media landscape will look ten years from now. Remember, ten years ago Facebook was just launched, Twitter didn’t exist, Instagram and Pinterest had yet to be imagined. Our ambition will be to deploy technology, talent and energy in the most productive way we can to the benefit of our clients and multiple audiences.“To do that, we need to move ever more quickly, we need to learn faster, change faster, fail and succeed faster. Our new facility will assist in that ambition by allowing cross-fertilisation of ideas, co-ordination of learning and growth of knowledge. If nothing else, our company is a communication organisation. This building has been designed with the main purpose of encouraging this vital activity,” says Gary.Looking at the distinct path Central Media is treading on, the group’s

To attract and retain the most talented professionals also means that we need to take our working environment seriously.

vision is to continue building products and services that clients want and need. Gary emphasises consistently being innovative and experimental will guarantee success. “To attract and retain the most talented professionals also means that we need to take our working environment seriously. It must to be fun to come to work – I think our new building has been designed to improve communication across departments and to create more space for dialogue with clients and service providers. Finding a permanent home has been the biggest challenge. Now that we have done that, the sky is the limit .”

CENTRAL MEDIA PARK 7 CHRISTO GROENEWALD STREET, WILD OLIVE ESTATE 051 5050 900

GARY STROEBEL

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OFM’s path is paved with numerous success stories

Central Media Park

Since it became independent in 1996, OFM has grown to be Central South Africa’s number one commercial radio station. With its mix of music, news and entertaining content provided by a well-prepared presenter line-up the station provides a product which is truly central South African in nature – made for the region by the region. “We have positioned the station to be the premier commercial radio station in Central South Africa. We continue to be innovative in our thinking and in providing advertising solutions to our clients and partners. At the same time we continue to provide a radio station that is fully Central South Africa in the manner in which we present it and the product offering we have for our clients,” Nick Efstathiou, General Manager of OFM, explains. CMG has indeed expanded into becoming the number-one leading mega media powerhouse in Central South Africa, to which Nick adds the move to the media park in Wild Olive Estate embodies a number of aspects that will further promote the expansion of OFM and the continuous impact the radio station has on its audience.“We are set to focus on OFM and investing in its own future – together with the Central Media Group of companies – showing the kind of economic growth which is taking place in South Africa and being a part of that growth, being the leading media house in South Africa which houses OFM. OFM’s loyal listenership is key to this growth. OFM have the highest time spent listening to radio in South Africa. Our listeners tune in to OFM for more than 16 hours every week. This is 20% more consumption than our closest competitor”

OFM’s path is paved with numerous success stories, including separate awards in the journalism and radio category, its very own first music awards - the OFM Music Awards - and the launch of the widely recognised “Driving while inTEXTicated” campaign, celeb radio and the celebrated breakfast special on OFM. The breakfast special

on OFM is the station’s premier radio show hosted by

Andre Kunz and Yolanda Maartens. The team

wakes up Central South Africa each weekday from 6am. The new premises and technology employed in the studio complex

allow for the team of presenters to produce

and present entertaining and informative radio

shows for the most loyal of OFM listeners. The broadcast complex houses two new broadcast studios, complemented by two news and sport recording booths plus three production facilities.Strongly occupying the seat of the only widely pioneered diverse media company in Central South Africa, Nick highlights innovation plays a big part in staying relevant and currently the

“We have positioned the station to be the premier commercial radio station in Central South Africa. We continue to be innovative in our thinking and in providing advertising solutions to our clients and partners

new studios have cutting-edge digital broadcasting facilities. “We have the latest and leading studio equipment in the country. The partnerships we’ve had over the past few years, which include our sports sponsorships, have led to those sports teams winning the Currie Cup as well as rugby and cricket trophies that are available.”Reaching over 418 000 listeners OFM is said to enjoy matchless competition and has its listeners tuning in for just over 16 hours every week.

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LOOKING IN ON THE RED STUDIO

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Digital Platforms - the leading digital agency in Central SA

Redstar - Central SA’s premier event management agency

Central Media Park

Central Media Group is surely not lingering behind in its digital expansion. Digital Platforms is steadfast in becoming the leading digital agency in Central South Africa.“The importance of digital marketing is that there will always be standard kind of marketing – radio and print – but if you don’t combine your websites with these two while people are using Google to search for everything, you might get lost in the evolving market.“And often your website or digital portal is the first impression the client is going to get from you. You have to make sure your web and mobi site is up to standard because people would hear your radio or see your print advertisement and the first thing they would do is go to your website. Your website has to be of high standard and impress the client as to ‘continue the conversation’,” Jaco Pienaar, General Manager of Digital Platforms, explains.To keep abreast of the best in the game, Jaco says Bloemfontein is a golden acre for talented programmers. “I think we have the best universities and schools in Bloemfontein. We are blessed with a lot of talented programmers. The city has challenges, but the reward is we can get great talent from technikons and universities with the same standard, if not better, than Gauteng or bigger cities.” Jaco brings to light that even though some critics are wary of the talent the City of Roses embraces, they are set to always convince people otherwise. “As soon as they see our product and

The City of Roses is yet to bask in the best of entertainment, events and promotion services. This is since Redstar has taken the forefront as Central South Africa’s premier event management and promotions agency. Its dynamic promotions portfolio is adorned with a variety of trained promoters who represent brands at promotions, product launches and events. Colin Sorour, General Manager of Redstar, is riding the wave of the agency’s success and despite it being formerly known as Redstar Talent, he gives light to the new blooming success of what is now known as Redstar.“Redstar Talent’s main objective was to manage artists and look after their interests. About two years ago it was decided that we should move into events. We started doing OFM events mostly. Redstar Talent used to do the OFM cycle race (or OFM Classic) as it was called. It was our biggest event and when we lost it, we did not really know where to go from there. We had all our eggs in one basket,” he says. Redstar, however, emerged better and transformed, ready to take on more ventures than before. The makeover clearly paid off, with Colin enthusing that their aim is to keep the naysayers mum on the opinion that Bloemfontein is years behind in trends and growing markets.“In the sense of advertising the big picture is simply that you can advertise on radio, the newspaper or Get It

they see what we can do, they realise they can trust and use us,” he enthuses.This digital division of Central Media emerged in 2007 and its successes have only cemented its place as the most sought-after digital agency in the city.“We did our own digital solutions for building the website for OFM. We realised our clients also needed the same quality systems and applications we have developed. So from that we developed a new division, Digital Platforms, which is servicing OFM’s clients. We have expanded and have more products after having developed the in-house solutions.”Jaco also affirms Digital Platform aims to continue reinventing new things all the time and building new products and applications. “We are currently developing new applications, mobile apps, which are really exciting times for us,” enthuses Jaco. Moving into the Central Media Park

has left Jaco and his team easily fitting in,

despite them having been in a separate

building prior to the move. “I think the transition has

been great. It’s nicer to feel part of the company even more, it’s easier now to get together and discuss what we could do for a client and I think culturewise we fit in nicely. It’s been a great transition.”Under his reign, Jaco voices he wishes to see Digital Platforms being one of the biggest digital agencies in South Africa, creating digital products that are of world standard.“We are part of Central Media Group, so we always want to simplify digital for clients. That’s one of our strongest points. We are not all just programmers or technical guys, we are also marketers, so we understand how to fit digital into your business and simplify it for a client. That’s why we are here. Even if you don’t understand, we’ll make sure you do,” he says.

magazine, but there are a lot of people who either can’t afford it or don’t like it. That’s where we need to move in. I think we can add value to what Central Media Group (CMG) offers.” He adds that Central Media Group not only gives clients digital, radio or print coverage, but can also be more hands on in promoting products. “We can add value to someone’s campaign, even if he or she is already on radio or in print, by helping them from Redstar’s side.”Moving away from Redstar Talent has also come with its own challenges. Colin explains moving away from the ‘before’ identity will take time. “I think the challenge is to keep moving. It can’t happen quickly and I think we have grown quite a bit in a year. The challenge is that people should become aware of what we do. We have OFM, which is our biggest partner in the group and we wish to see Redstar adding value either to clients of OFM or to clients of Mahareng for that matter, even to clients who are not clients of CMG at the moment. If we could bring in new

There are a lot of possibilities and great events out there and often people don’t market them enough

people and refer them to OFM, I think we’ll be adding more value to the group. That is what I would like to do, not only to receive but also to add value.”Many people second-look the entertainment vibe in Bloemfontein, further lambasting the City of Roses for assumingly being tedious. Colin refutes this, saying that Redstar is set to dispute that notion.“It’s all about what you produce at the end of the day. I think there are always perceptions – with anything in life – and the only way to change it is to prove it wrong. There are a lot of possibilities and great events out there and often people don’t market them enough. The other thing is people being aware of events taking place, yet not attending and then complaining there is nothing to do.”Highlights from the diverse Redstar agency include its first self-owned event, the “MiWay National Sevens Rugby”, which is – apart from the Prestige Sports that was held in Pretoria – its biggest event. Adding the Get It Sparkling Breakfast and Ladies’ Nights on September 10th under the growing portfolio, the agency is surely headed in the right direction.Colin states that moving to Central Media Park is adding to the prospects that lie ahead. “With the new building comes a new vision. I think everyone has bought into the CMG vision going forward and the support of the sales team has made a big difference.”

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Central Media Park: Epitomises the heart of the Free State

Mahareng Publishing is a unique division of Central Media Group and provides the Mangaung Metro and surrounding areas, as far as Bethlehem in the Eastern Free State, with appreciated community-focused publications.General Manager of Mahareng Publishing, Christel Basson, says Mahareng Publishing is the publishing arm of Central Media Group and has established itself as a serious player on the local publishing scene.Christel walks us through on how Courant came to be. “Bloemfontein Courant is owned by Mahareng Publishing, a subsidiary of Caxton Community Papers and joint venture between Caxton CTP and Central Media Group. The precursor to Bloemfontein Courant, an independent community paper called Krant, was first established in June 2009. “About five years ago we bought Krant and we have not looked back since. It has been going really well, growing from strength to strength. I would say there were other products that were born from Courant’s success. Bloemfontein Courant is the product of thorough market research with regard to what readers want from a community newspaper.”Mahareng Publishing also owns Get It Bloemfontein, Campus Get It Bloemfontein and The Woodpecker.The business of custom printing also seems to be a huge success. “I think the initial thought around Mahareng Publishing was not necessarily at the stage of conception to venture into custom printing per se, but that has really evolved in the last two years.” Some of the exciting projects adorning Mahareng’s broad portfolio

include the Woodlands Wildlife Estate publication, The Woodpecker, to which Christel adds, “It’s one of our proud products that has been growing ever since we started. This year we started the first Family Businesses edition and very soon we will be giving out the wedding edition The Vow. So, a lot has happened and a big part of our business has become custom-printing and design where we incorporate identity development for clients, we do logo designs and any type of printing, so it has expanded quite a bit,” she enthuses.

With such diversity and expansion it’s no wonder Christel is heading the department with a firm vision of where they are steering the business. “The market has changed a lot and I think the most important thing is to stay abreast with the changes, otherwise challenges might become a big problem. What we’ve learnt with Bloemfontein Courant is that our editorial pillars have really become one of our most successful selling points.”She swiftly adds, “with regard to corporate identity designs and development for clients, I think our client base trusts us because they know that we can deliver a 360-solution to them now, it’s not just radio or print, it’s really full circle.” Further projects she reveals include the Property Guide and a reading project at three schools in the area.“I think it’s important to thank our current client base. Our success is their success, and the other way around. I would like to ensure them that we would like to offer the best solution to them. The great part of it is giving a message to clients and potential clients that none of this would have been possible without their support. We look forward to offering them the best solution there might be. It doesn’t matter how big the problem, we would like to solve it,” she beams.

The Central Media Park is a reflection of a Free State inspired structure to which Christoff Steyn, project architect and interior designer of Roodt Architects, states the context of the building played the biggest role.“By context we mean the surrounding areas. Central Media Park is basically a Free State inspired building. The red bricks, part of the soil, and the roof sheeting are typical finishings that would have been used years ago in the Free State,” he says.He elaborates that the curvature of the roof is derived from the colonial style that was sought after in the Free State many years ago. “In those days the roofs were made of available material.”Steyn further highlights it was very important to abide to the Wild Olive Estate guidelines. “We tried to create a building that depicts the Free State. The guidelines determine the shape and width of the building. Wild Olive Estate prefers the building to be as close as possible to the street as they want to create an urban area later on. When all the buildings are completed, they ‘need to talk to one another’. “The view also played a pivotal role in the design of the state-of-the-art building. “The length of the building is to optimise the northern exposure. We need everyone to enjoy the view.”“We didn’t want to create a typical office building and I think we have achieved that. We don’t want people working in cubicles, to necessarily feel that they are at

work. Everybody now has a glimpse of the view, there are no corridors and it’s not dark at all. The idea is to make the most of their surrounding areas.” The materials used include modern glazier windows. Steyn emphasises the building was designed to be as energy efficient as possible. Despite the double glazing windows being more expensive, it does pay off at the end. “The air-cons in the building are important, especially in the Free State where temperatures are extreme,” Steyn says.

The walls are what Steyn describes as “cavity

walls”, where between the brick walls there

are cavities which trap the air. There is no exchange of heat from the outside to the inside.“We also had to

provide backup power, since that

is an issue today. We have a generator which

serves the whole building. We have also made provision should there be a water issue. Water tanks provide a long-term solution for the building. They could supply the building for at least two weeks,” he explains.The second phase of the building will include solar panels on the roof to contribute to energy saving.

Material used for the entire building:818 m³ concrete (136 trucks)261 924 bricks100 438 kg steel21 km electric cable472 m water pipes1500 litres paint

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27 August 2015 THURSDAY

CATHY DLODLO & THANDI XABA

The Performing Arts Council of Free State (Pacofs) is mum about the internal problems that led to its CEO, Teboho Macholo, being put on special leave.Several attempts by Courant to get answers from Pacofs were unsuccessful. Insiders, however, indicated that the move by the Pacofs board might have something to do with a meeting with parliament’s Arts and Culture portfolio committee earlier this month. Pacofs was scheduled to provide feedback to the committee on its performance regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the committee following an oversight visit to Pacofs in November last year.Committee chair Xoliswa Tom said they expressed concern when Macholo was in charge and the board, that is actually the

Anas al-Hamati (Gift of the Givers-verteenwoordiger in Jemen) en Yolandé Korkie (weduwee van wyle Pierre Korkie), diep in gesprek tydens hul ontmoeting in Bloemfontein die naweek. Dit is die eerste keer dat hulle ontmoet sedert Yolandé se vrylating in Jemen in Januarie verlede jaar. Lees meer op bladsy 2. FOTO: MARICELLE BOTHA

Insiders are now speculating that might have been the signs of the first cracks in the relationship

Teboho Macholo• He was appointed CEO from Jan 2014 and is currently suspended following a decision taken by the members of the board.• Macholo was the centre’s CFO from March 2011 until he took his seat as CEO.• He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Financial Management Services from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Timeline of PACOFS CEOs

authorising body, was not even aware of the meeting. She said the committee then decided not to go ahead with the presentation and asked Macholo to submit a report within seven days. Weeks after the meeting when Bloemfontein Courant enquired about the report, Tom said the committee had not received the report yet. Insiders are now speculating thát might have been the signs of the first cracks in the relationship between the board and Macholo.Another possible reason for the move mentioned was the employment status of many

of Pacof’s employees. Several employees have been working for for Pacofs for years, but have been appointed on a contract basis. A move by Macholo to negotiate packages with the contract employees for permanent employment was allegedly first accepted by the staff, but later rejected. Staff members were allegedly unhappy because they were not appointed on the same salary scale and package. Pacofs made headlines last month when over 70 disgruntled Nehawu members and employees of Pacofs disrupted a live Free State Arts Festival performance at the Sand du Plessis theatre in Bloemfontein by marching on stage. The show Liewe Heksie Flower Power was cancelled as a result and had to rescheduled, infuriating spectators and leading to a public outcry. The employees were accusing Macholo of corruption and fraud and said they were being treated poorly

and were forced to work under unsuitable conditions. Nehawu chairperson, Sello Rampaku, said the union approached the Pacofs management as per a recognition agreement and the Labour Relations Act to address their complaints, but without success.Bloemfontein Courant spoke to several employees and the staff seems to be divided with some indicating they are siding with Macholo, while other welcomed the move by the board to put him on special leave. Several CEOs of this organisation left under a cloud of controversy while Pacofs has to answer questions about the scope of the pending investigation against its current CEO. Acting CEO Nelson Salimane said he does not want to comment and when prompted to refer questions to the chairperson of the board, he refused.cathy@centralmediagroup.co.zathandi@centralmediagroup.co.za CONTINUES ON PAGE 2►

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Pacofs mum on internal problems

SEPTEMBER 2015

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