THOHOYANDOU - The Community Radio Station based at the University of Venda, Univen FM, is performing excellently against the other community radio stations in the Limpopo Province.

According to research by the Radio Audience Measurement Survey, 160 000 listeners in the Limpopo Province are listening to Univen FM.

University of the North Radio has 93 000 listeners, followed by Moletjie Radio with 11 000 listeners. Radio Mohodi has 10 000 listeners and takes the fourth position, the fifth position goes to Radio Bushbuckridge and Radio Botlokwa scores 8000 listeners, taking the last position.

In the National Survey, Jozi FM, based in Gauteng comes out on top with 349 000 listeners, and Radio Tygerberg, based in the Western Cape, has 233 000 listeners, taking the second position. The third position goes to the Eastern Cape-based Radio Unitra, with 203 000 listeners.

There are six community radios in the Limpopo Province and Univen FM Station Manager, Miss Paula Mathonsi, said that this is a great achievement for Univen FM and the station will make sure that it remains at the top.

"We have achieved this due to the changes we made in our 2003 programme schedule, which included the introduction of a current affairs programme. This program is attracting more listeners in the Limpopo Province."

She also praised the sports presenters, Thilivhali Muavha and Robert Mathe, for the smooth running of the sports programme.

"We are also focusing on the development of young people in the broadcasting room and the National Community Radio Forum is supporting us in the in-house training of young broadcasters," she said.