East Rand Stereo started its first broadcasts from a small space at a shopping center in Springs, with only a tiny studio and a small reception area. Its first license was granted for three and a half days a week, sharing its 93.9 FM frequency with another community radio station. East Rand Stereo received a license in 1999 to broadcast seven days a week, 24 hours a day; and even more so when in 2004 East Rand Stereo became one of the first community radio stations to receive a permanent four-year license. In easily 2009 East Rand Stereo received its new converted permanent class license under the new Electronic Communication Act, which replaced all previous broadcasting acts. East Rand Stereo has come a long way, moving from a small two-room broadcast studio to the current studios, boasting one main broadcasting studio, three production studios, a fully operational newsroom and a news team, various administrative offices, permanent staff, an active sales team and approximately 20 freelance presenters and technical engineers.
Broadcast area
East Rand Stereo currently broadcasts from Springs and supplies local entertainment and news to most parts of Ekuruleni, also known as the East Rand. Areas currently covered include Springs, Brakpan, Benoni, Parts of Boksburg, Parts of Kepmton Park, Parts of Germiston and Parts of Alberton.
From its early days to now, it has been important for East Rand Stereo to give something back to the community to whom it broadcasts. East Rand Stereo not only has a strong Christian foundation, with Gospel Shows and a Focus on Gospel Music, but also plays an important role in the welfare of the residents of Ekurhuleni. For the past fourteen years, East Rand Stereo has reached out to the community with various projects and fundraising efforts. The East Rand Stereo "Be an Angel Network", supplies tons of food, clothes, blankets and other necessities to hundreds of people each, and in November and December, hosts fun Christmas Tree functions to almost 2000 children, providing not only Christmas Gifts, but also food at these functions.
Music selection
East Rand Stereo is well known for its variety and fun-to-listen-to music selection, day and night and also broadcasts various focused programs such as Gospel, Country, Boeremusiek and Classical Music
Technology
In 2005 East Rand Stereo once again became a leader in the industry, when it became the first community radio station in South Africa to broadcast using RCS, which was in the past only used by Larger Commercial Radio Stations. East Rand Stereo is also one of few community radio stations with a fully operational newsroom and a news team, providing local news to its community, including two daily "good-news" bulletins.
Outside Broadcast Units
East Rand Stereo is proud to be one of few community radio stations to operate Outside Broadcast Units. The two outside broadcast studios are available for event and corporate promotion across Ekurhuleni and is usually booked months in advance. The green, white and black caravans are a well-known attraction in our area.
Awards
East Rand Stereo is a winner and is the proud recipient of the 2007 VONK Music Award for its outstanding support towards the Afrikaans music industry of South Africa. They also won an award in 2007 from ABC Ulwazi for producing and broadcasting outstanding educational programming on HIV and AIDS and won a 2008 SABC News Award for its Afrikaans News.
