What Central Media Group does

Central Media Group (CMG) is a Bloemfontein-headquartered, privately held media holding company and wholly-owned subsidiary of African Media Entertainment (AME). Established in 2012 as the umbrella over OFM (a commercial radio station broadcasting since 1986), Mahareng Media & Advertising, and Digital Platforms, CMG operates an integrated radio, print, and digital media business serving Central South Africa. Its core technology stack centres on licensed terrestrial radio broadcasting augmented by online streaming (OFM.co.za, OFM Stasie2 24/7 streaming) and mobile app delivery; the Digital Platforms division adds custom software development and web/social services, while Mahareng publishes Bloemfontein Courant and Get It Bloemfontein. Reach extends across Free State, Northern Cape, North West, and southern Gauteng, with audience scale of approximately 300,000 on-air listeners, an additional 300,000 streaming connections, and 250,000 social followers.

Name

Central Media Group

Legal name

Central Media Group

Website

https://centralmediagroup.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Central Media Group is a Bloemfontein-based media holding company operating OFM commercial radio, Mahareng print publications, and Digital Platforms web services, targeting affluent SEM 7-10 consumers across Central South Africa's Free State, Northern Cape, North West, and southern Gauteng.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Radio Broadcasting and Media Advertising

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

Keywords

• Commercial radio broadcasting
• Print media advertising
• Web development services
• Digital marketing services
• Media advertising sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloemfontein

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: Radio advertising airtime sales across OFM's broadcast footprint covering Free State, Northern Cape, North West, and southern Gauteng. Advertisers include local businesses, national brands, and agricultural sector companies.
2. Print Advertising: Mahareng Media & Advertising operates Bloemfontein Courant and Get It Bloemfontein publications, generating print advertising revenue.
3. Sponsorship Deals: Program sponsorships and show sponsorships where advertisers fund specific programming content and time slots.
4. Events and Activations: Community events including The Big Cover Up blanket drive, PinkTober cancer awareness, Kaptein en Vriende cruise, and various competitions generating sponsorship and participation revenue.
5. Digital Services: Web development and social media marketing services offered through Digital Platforms division to commercial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Central Media Group is a full-service media company offering radio advertising through its OFM commercial radio station serving Central South Africa, print advertising and publications through Mahareng Media & Advertising (including Bloemfontein Courant and Get It Bloemfontein), and digital services through its Digital Platforms division providing custom-built software, web development, and social media marketing to commercial clients. Revenue is generated primarily from airtime sales, sponsorship deals, print advertising, event activations, and digital services engagements.

Product overview

Central Media Group (CMG) is a full-service media company encompassing three key divisions: OFM (commercial radio broadcasting), Mahareng Media & Advertising (print media and design services), and Digital Platforms (digital solutions). OFM serves as the flagship commercial radio station targeting the affluent SEM 7-10 market across Central South Africa. Mahareng provides print media through Bloemfontein Courant and Get It Bloemfontein publications plus advertising services. Digital Platforms delivers custom-built software solutions and web development. Together, these divisions offer comprehensive media solutions including radio advertising, newspaper advertising, website development, and social media marketing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OFM: Premier commercial radio station serving Central South Africa with music, news and entertainment, reaching affluent SEM 7-10 economically active marketplace across Free State, Northern Cape, southern Gauteng and North West
• Mahareng Media & Advertising
• Digital Platforms
• Bloemfontein Courant
• OFM Stasie2

Products and services

• OFM Commercial Radio Station Central South Africa's premier commercial radio station offering a mix of music, news, and entertainment. Serves the affluent SEM 7-10 economically active marketplace with broadcast footprint across the Free State, Northern Cape, southern Gauteng and North West, reaching 300,000 on-air listeners and 300,000 streaming connections.
• Mahareng Media & Advertising Print media and advertising platform based in Bloemfontein, featuring flagship publications Bloemfontein Courant and Get It Bloemfontein, and hosting the annual Best of Bloemfontein Readers' Choice Awards. Offers print advertising and design services to local and regional advertisers.
• Digital Platforms Strategic software solutions development company providing custom-built software solutions, web development, and social media marketing expertise to commercial clients. Focused on creating smart solutions to everyday problems for clients' customers and growth needs.
• Bloemfontein Courant Flagship newspaper publication of Mahareng Media serving the Bloemfontein and Central South Africa region. Distributed through print channels and generates print advertising revenue.
• Get It Bloemfontein Community publication providing local news and information for the Bloemfontein area, distributed as a print publication in Bloemfontein and surrounding Central South Africa region.
• OFM Stasie2 Streaming Service Free 24/7 online music streaming service offering favorite hits and Afrikaans and international music content via online streaming platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000 on-air listeners with additional 300,000 streaming connections and 250,000 social media followers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Round Table Southern AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership with Round Table Southern Africa for The Big Cover Up winter blanket drive. Regional Round Tables identify NGOs within local communities to distribute winter relief funds.
• MSC CruisescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 April 2026Multi-year partnership extension through 2028 for the Kaptein en Vriende Cruise experience. OFM partners with MSC Cruises and South African music icon Kurt Darren to deliver cruise experiences for Central South African listeners. The 2027 cruise is scheduled for February 19-22 departing Durban to Portuguese Island.
• Kurt DarrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026South African music icon 'Kaptein' Kurt Darren leads the Kaptein en Vriende Cruise partnership extended through 2028. Performs aboard MSC cruise liners with rotating roster of South African stars.
• PACOFS (Performing Arts Centre of the Free State)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2023OFM as exclusive radio partner and Bloemfontein Courant as exclusive print partner to PACOFS. Partnership supports development of performing arts in the Free State through media coverage and community engagement.
• Grain SA (NAMPO Harvest Day)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding media partnership with Grain SA's NAMPO Harvest Day, one of the largest agricultural exhibitions in the southern hemisphere under private ownership. OFM broadcasts live from the event.
• Knights Cricket TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia partner and sponsor of Central South Africa's domestic cricket team for T20 and limited-over format games. Brings Knights players into homes through interviews and coverage.
• Cheetahs, Griquas, Leopards Rugby TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner, sponsor, and supporter of Cheetahs, Griquas, and Leopards rugby teams as well as Knights, Heat, and Dragons cricket teams.
• BeefmasterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PinkTober campaign and Bowling 4 Boobies bowls evenings in support of CANSA breast cancer awareness.
• Chatz, Vodacom, Bloemfontein AchillesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic Marathon 2017 partnership for road race event featuring marathon, half-marathon, 10km and 5km runs with themed music zones along the route.
• Central University of Technology (CUT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding for collaboration with Central University of Technology.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RSG (Radio Sonder Grense): SABC Afrikaans-language radio service competing for Afrikaans-speaking audiences in Central South Africa. Awards data shows OFM competing alongside RSG for national recognition.
• Algoa FM: Eastern Cape commercial radio station with similar community-embedded brand and regional advertiser focus. Direct competitor for community-driven commercial radio audiences.
• KFM 94.5: Western Cape commercial radio station operated by Primedia with comparable format, listener scale, and advertiser proposition. South African regional commercial radio peer.
• Jacaranda FM: Commercial radio station serving Gauteng and surrounding regions with a similar mix of music, news, and entertainment. Competes with OFM for national brand advertising budgets and Afrikaner-leaning listeners.
• East Coast Radio: KwaZulu-Natal regional commercial radio station with comparable audience scale, news programming structure, and community engagement model. Comparable in scope to OFM but serving a different province.
• Primedia (Primedia Broadcasting): Operates 702, CapeTalk, KFM 94.5 and other major South African commercial radio stations. Closest direct competitor as a multi-station commercial radio group targeting regional South African audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Kagiso Media: South African media group owning Jacaranda FM and other radio and digital assets. Comparable as a multi-format South African media operator with radio at its core.
• Media24 (Naspers subsidiary): South Africa's largest print and digital media publisher. Competes with Mahareng Media in print advertising and national advertisers, with far broader scale and digital reach.
• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio broadcaster with multi-station regional clusters. Illustrative global comparable for scaled regional radio operations and digital audio diversification.
• Caxton & CTP Publishers: Listed South African newspaper and publishing group. Comparable as a print-led regional media business competing for advertising spend against Mahareng's titles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-media-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Media Group