By Somalilandtimes network

The Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (EBA) has granted the first ever licenses to two private commercial FM radio operators.

This is   a move that many consider as a significant step after the promulgation of the broadcasting proclamation in June 1998.

Zami Public Connections and Tinsae Fine Arts & Adei Promotions are the two companies that the Authority issued license to while the bids submitted by BT Digitals and MPL PLC were rejected.

"Financial and, technical capacity, program standards, experience in broadcasting fields, time schedule and staff standard were the main criteria for the selection of the winners and the two were better qualified," Desta Tesfaye, Deputy Director of the Authority, said.  

Zami Public Connections is jointly owned by Mimi Sebahatu, veteran journalist of the Amharic service of the Voice of America (VOA) and Zerhiun Teshome, General manager of the allegedly government-affiliated newspaper Iftin. Tinsae Fine Arts & Adei Promotions, owned by Abebe Balcha and colleagues, is currently running a weekly radio program called Chewata on FM 97.1.  

Source: The Reporter