An online audience survey has voted Eye Radio as South Sudan’s most trusted and most listened-to radio station.
The study comprising 18 self-administering questionnaires was designed and posted on Google Forms from August 24 to 31.
In the survey, 68.1% of the over 300 participants still believe Eye Radio is the most trusted radio station followed by the UNMISS-owned Radio Miraya and Advance Youth Radio.
About 74.2% also say Eye Radio has the biggest number of listeners followed by Radio Miraya (voted by 12.1% of participants) and the Voice of America (voted by 10.6%).
News emerged as the most preferred content followed by peace agreements, economy, and the constitution-making process. Music, electoral, and youth issues were also voted for as some of the favorite topics for listeners.
According to the survey, majority (79.3%) of listeners say they are young people aged between 18 and 44 years, while people aged between 45 and 65 accounted only for a minimum percentage of the audience.
Meanwhile, only 5.3% of the station’s listeners are females while male counterparts represent an overwhelming 94.7% of the listeners are males, the survey shows.
It recommends that the station continues to produce existing programs to retain existing male listeners but to also produce more female-centred programs to attract more women and girls to its listenership.
Eye Radio is South Sudan’s first independent broadcast provider of news and information, formerly operating as Sudan Radio Service on shortwave and later on 98.6 SRS FM.
It first started its broadcasting on Shortwave in Nairobi, Kenya in 2003.
In June 2010, Eye Radio went on air in Juba a year before South Sudan gained its independence in 2011.
It is now operating 24 hours from its studios in Korok, Juba. It also transmits in the major towns of Renk, Malakal, Baliet, Bor, Yambio, Aweil, Wau and Kuajok.