Are your ears still buzzing from the sound of the vuvuzelas at the FIFA World Cup’s 64 matches? Listeners tuned in by radio and the web (11 June – 11 July) to hear special programmes Up for the Corner (2K Plus International Sports Media), Afrique 2010 (Feba South Africa), short wave broadcasts to NE Africa and many more. They also joined in discussions by SMS text, email, website posts and mobile calls.
As reported in June, the special World Cup programmes provided news, comment and analysis, interviews, testimonies from Christian players and post-match reports. Programme presenters also captured the culture and celebration from South Africa with news from big screen Fan Parks and groups involved in Christian service. (See Football mania spreading across the airwaves.)
Up for the Corner
2K Plus’ Up for the Corner was available free to radio stations (downloadable from their website and posted on Facebook). They produced 30 programmes, a total of 15 hours, from their team in Johannesburg with contributions from match reporters at the venues and correspondents around the world.
From listeners:
Kenya: “Thank you for your splendid programme. I have listened online today and will listen daily till the end of the World Cup.”
The feature in the first week on whether England fans should forgive goalkeeper Rob Green for his howler against the USA on Saturday got listeners' fingers tapping:
Malawi: “Absolutely yes, players should be forgiven when they make mistakes just as Christ forgives us. Forgive and you will be forgiven."
Afrique 2010
Feba South Africa’s Jonah Tshilenga produced a 15-minute, daily World Cup programme for FM stations across French-speaking Africa. The programmes kept Africans informed about the World Cup by bringing them reactions to the matches and testimonies from believers. Since this is a hot topic in Africa these days, many eagerly listened. Pray that they can retain this audience for future programmes in the French service, including a new youth programme.
From listeners:
DRC: “The programme was very useful for us, those who listened with me through the community radios. It gave us a bit of the ambience of football world. Those who have no TV received a bit of news through this programme and like me they were edified. It was innovative. It is my very first time to hear such kind of programming during great world events like the football World Cup, and I tell you it added to our faith.”
Burkino Faso: “I am a pastor, the director of the Christian alliance. Do you have questionnaires on the games regarding 'atmosphere de footbal'?. I thank Feba and 2K Plus who help us analyse the matches of the World Cup in South Africa.”
Short wave programmes to northeast Africa
“I was very, very happy to have this remarkable opportunity to have coverage of a major world event on both our evening short wave broadcast and our website,” says a Feba UK partner. They included three-minute summaries of the daily World Cup events in a local East African language in their normal programming. He continues: “It gives a sense of relevance, and connectedness that helps overall with our standing among the audience. This marks the first time we have ever broadcast events this current in our 36 years on the air.”
From listeners:
“Football. Truly, we are happy to find football, who is this person reporting. He has a nice voice. This is a good development.”
“You have done very well. I am listening to your news of the World Cup. Every day I am waiting for what you will put in.”