THE EDGE is a monthly live hour-long broadcast profiling community and business leaders in southern Alberta hosted by Economic Development Lethbridge CEO (& Stirling Mayor) Trevor Lewington. The show is produced in collaboration with Lethbridge’s locally owned and operated internet station Jess FM and Jess TV.
Jess TV and Jess FM report having over 50,000+ local listeners in Lethbridge, almost 47,000 YouTube subscribers and over 5 million listeners worldwide, which demonstrates the beauty of internet based digital platforms.
Forbes Magazine recently noted that ”In 2023, Edison Research found that forty-seven per cent of the Gen Z (age 13-24) online population in the United States are monthly podcast listeners, and further, podcast listening has grown among those age 13-24. In 2018, 30% of those age 13-24 had listened to a podcast in the last month. Today, 47% of those age 13-24 have listened to a podcast in the last month a 57% increase.” The growing importance of podcasts as a source of information is key for economic development organizations to note to remain relevant and connect with target audiences.
Reaching a local audience through the monthly show helps promote local success stories and profile key organizations in the community as part of EDL’s business retention and expansion efforts. Access to a large global audience also supports investment attraction by profiling Lethbridge and the business opportunities in the community. The hour-long format provides for more in depth discussion of local issues that may be of interest to potential investors as well as providing a platform for detailed exploration of the projects, topics of businesses discussed.
The key messaging for promotion of the broadcast is that guests will share insights to help views “gain an edge in building their business, building their community and building their life.” Calling the show “The Edge” was intended to play to both the sense of staying informed to be on the “cutting edge” of business topics from a range of thought leaders as well as provide a “competitive edge” with the insights shared during the show.
The first 11 episodes of the show have captured a total of 695,640 impressions during the live broadcasts and have delivered over 22,801 subsequent views of the recordings on YouTube underscoring the impact of digital platforms for expanding knowledge of your community and the opportunities available therein.
Jess FM/TV is a group of local producers dedicated to providing viewers and listeners with a wide variety of programming. Shows are designed and self-produced by a diverse group of hosts, all with various topics of interest. The programming is authentic and unfiltered and broadcast live without editing. Jess TV aims to create a genuine connection between hosts and listeners as a means of building community.
Programming is accessible across multiple formats at no cost including Roku TV, SSH101 TV, Apple TV , Fire TV, Android TV, NCG Television Network and is live streamed at www.jessfm.ca, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.