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10-year licence brings joy to Nationwide
Monday, June 15, 2009
Nationwide News Network (NNN) last Friday evening received a 10-year Public Service Sound Commercial Broadcasting Radio Licence, setting off spontaneous staff celebration at the Cliff Hughes-led entity that had faced opposition to the bid.
Hughes... we want to say to our thousands of loyal listeners, thanks for believing in us, and the work has just started.
The licence was delivered to Hughes at the station's Mannings Hill Road offices shortly before 6:00 pm while NNN's flagship news and current affairs programme, Nationwide@5, was being aired.
"We want to say to our thousands of loyal listeners, thanks for believing in us, and the work has just started," Hughes told the Observer by phone above the celebratory noises in the background. "To the rest of the industry, we wish them well," he added.
Hughes explained that the licence requires Nationwide to provide a range of programming to the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica, including children's and regional issues, matters of public concern and programmes that are distinctly Jamaican.
The Opposition People's National Party and the Media Association of Jamaica had questioned test broadcasting being done by Nationwide within the FM 90 frequency after the Broadcasting Commission recommended that the station be granted the licence.
But last week, Daryl Vaz, the minister without portfolio with responsibility for information, telecommunications and special projects in the Office of the Prime Minister, defended the Government's decision to allow Nationwide to start test transmissions.
"In consideration of the entity's commitments to its staff, the company's advertising and other contractual obligations and also the expectations of the listening audience, a decision was taken in all the circumstances to allow the testing exercises to be carried out, maintaining the news and current affairs features, which are central to the services offered and which is supported by advertising revenue," Vaz said in a statement.
He said that the information gathered during the test period would be reviewed by the Spectrum Management Authority against set criteria in keeping with customary practices.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Nationwide News Network (NNN) last Friday evening received a 10-year Public Service Sound Commercial Broadcasting Radio Licence, setting off spontaneous staff celebration at the Cliff Hughes-led entity that had faced opposition to the bid.
Hughes... we want to say to our thousands of loyal listeners, thanks for believing in us, and the work has just started.
The licence was delivered to Hughes at the station's Mannings Hill Road offices shortly before 6:00 pm while NNN's flagship news and current affairs programme, Nationwide@5, was being aired.
"We want to say to our thousands of loyal listeners, thanks for believing in us, and the work has just started," Hughes told the Observer by phone above the celebratory noises in the background. "To the rest of the industry, we wish them well," he added.
Hughes explained that the licence requires Nationwide to provide a range of programming to the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica, including children's and regional issues, matters of public concern and programmes that are distinctly Jamaican.
The Opposition People's National Party and the Media Association of Jamaica had questioned test broadcasting being done by Nationwide within the FM 90 frequency after the Broadcasting Commission recommended that the station be granted the licence.
But last week, Daryl Vaz, the minister without portfolio with responsibility for information, telecommunications and special projects in the Office of the Prime Minister, defended the Government's decision to allow Nationwide to start test transmissions.
"In consideration of the entity's commitments to its staff, the company's advertising and other contractual obligations and also the expectations of the listening audience, a decision was taken in all the circumstances to allow the testing exercises to be carried out, maintaining the news and current affairs features, which are central to the services offered and which is supported by advertising revenue," Vaz said in a statement.
He said that the information gathered during the test period would be reviewed by the Spectrum Management Authority against set criteria in keeping with customary practices.
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