National radio station Kanal 77 introduced an on-line shop in order to create a solid and sustainable source of financing for its core business – creation of quality news. This innovative approach, Radio Kanal 77 is among the first outlets in the country to focus on such diversification of its income, was supported by a capacity building trainers and e-commerce expert tasked by Thomson Foundation.
The on-line shop, named super 7, will sell promotional materials with the Kanal 77 brand and goods and services from other companies. Besides through the radio, the news and other produced contents are also published on its sister web portal Macedonian Media Service (MMS).
“The main advantage of Radio Kanal 77, compared to other companies that sell on-line, is that the radio station, and the web portal MMS, already have loyal audiences trusting them as timely, relevant and objective sources of information,” said from Kanal 77.
The creation of quality journalistic products is tightly connected to financial stability and sustainable operation. The new business model will utilize the benefits of the digitalization, as well as opportunities for monetization of the audiences of the Radio Kanal 77. Beside on-line shop they also focus on developing Fan Club Kanal 77.
Radio Kanal 77 started in 1991 as a local radio station in Shtip. Through the years it developed and grew into a national radio station, currently with 10 full-time and 5 part-time employees, and a network of 16 correspondents who provide news from local and regional level. The staff operates from two well-equipped studios (the main one located in Shtip, and the second in Skopje).
