Antique Radio & Television set
The roots of radio production in Jamaica can be traced back to the war times of the 1930s; when a local operator John Grinan convinced the government to use his amateur equipment to operate a public broadcasting system.
The government adapted his system to meet local demand and regular scheduled broadcasts began in November, 1939.
The first radio station was called VP5PZ which was Grinan’s call-sign. It started with a single broadcast a week. In a year the station had a small staff and daily broadcast began in June, 1940.
Despite the adversity of operating in the inadequate space of Grinan’s home; the broadcasts grew increasingly better. In addition to wartime and other news the station started offering more and more information, eventually hosting interviews and live performances from local acts.
VP5PZ laid the foundation for the sounds emanating from Jamaican radio today; delivering news and other information and showcasing Jamaica’s local artists and culture.
The government eventually decided to only play a regulatory role in the radio industry and issued licenses to private companies to provide broadcasting services.
Radio Jamaica got the first license in 1949. A subsidiary of the Re-diffusion Group in London, England, Radio Jamaica is responsible for covering the entire island with radio broadcasting reaching rural residents as well as to urbanites.
The company distributed wireless sets to about 200 listening posts around the island at gathering spots like in the schools, police stations and shops with the communities. The entity decided that its revenue would come solely from commercials and from sponsored radio programmes; and advertisers where forced to pay for air time and listeners had their programming interrupted by advertisements.
Miss Lou (left) chats with Juanita Poiter (right), wife of actor Sidney Poitier, and Burley Dixon, wife of Ivan Dixon, star of the former TV series Hogans Heroes' on an episode of 'Ring Ding' in 1973.
1963 - Mr. Hugh Begg of the Scottish Television Consortium, adds his signature to contract for the establishment of television services in Jamaica. Rt.Hon. Edward Seaga, Minister of Development and welfare signs on behalf of Government.
The television industry started in the 1950s. The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) was established by law in 1958 and launched in 1959. The corporation provided a greater focus on Jamaican culture with programmes like the variety show 'Ring Ding' hosted by Louise 'Ms. Lou' Bennett-Coverley. But the entity was plagued by financial woes, protests of bipartisan journalism and poor management. In 1972 its television and Radio 2 assets were bought by Radio Jamaica for about $70 million.
Radio Jamaica later became the RJR Communication Group and acts as an umbrella company for: Radio Jamaica Limited, Television Jamaica Limited, and Multi-Media Jamaica Ltd.
No comments:
Post a Comment