Many stakeholders and radio listeners within and outside the Oyo State have been inundated with the poaching of On Air Personalities (OAPs) among radio stations in the Pace Setter state.
This has become the topic of discussion in the state, especially the movement of sport presenters from one radio station to the other which has been dubbed a “new transfer window”.
About four OAPS recently left Fresh FM, Ibadan for a new radio station called Success FM, also within the heart of Ibadan. Observers believed that such impromptu exodus might affect the listenership of Fresh FM.
I personally monitored Fresh FM and Success FM today Friday 5th January, 2024 at 12:09am as both stations have the same sport programme in which the man behind the mic at Success FM was formally behind the mic for the same sport programme at the same time at Fresh FM.
Undoubtedly, the decision of Success FM to have the same programme at the same time is to divert listenership of Fresh FM to the new radio station to grow its audience base.
It is also pertinent to note that the recent opening of new radio stations in Ibadan city might not necessarily affect the existing stations in terms of listenership but rather it will be a wake up call for the existing radio stations to give their listeners good, informative, educative and entertaining programmes.
Be that as it may, much more responsibility lies in the hands of the new and upcoming stations to be ready to stand at par with the existing station by bringing up contents that will outshine the existing stations without breaching the broadcasting codes set up by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
I believe that the establishment of new broadcast stations in the state will also make practitioners and On-Air Personalities to be up to date by always staying relevant so as they can be the icing on the cake that many new radio stations will be looking forward to engaging their services.
To the broadcasting station proprietor/owners, the encouragement also lies with them to understand that the space is wider for all to fly and also making sure that On-Air Personalities are well remunerated and well taken care of so that they don’t use their platforms as a stepping stone towards stardom and leaving the establishment when they are best needed.