Nationwide off air - JamaicaObserver.com

Saturday, November 07, 2009 10:56 PM

News

Nationwide off air

Radio station moving to FM frequency as RJR ceases AM service

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Nationwide Radio's enterprising move to broadcast on the AM band ended yesterday when Radio Jamaica (RJR) ceased operation of its AM service six minutes into the Cliff Hughes-led radio station's 5:00 pm newscast.

However, the newscast - Nationwide@5 - continued on the Internet where Hughes said his programmes would be streamed until the station starts broadcasting on the FM 90 frequency it leased from the Government last year.

HUGHES. it was amicable. we have nothing but good to say about RJR

Nationwide's listeners were informed of the developments at 4:30 pm yesterday after Hughes and RJR Managing Director Gary Allen arrived at what they described as "an amicable separation".

The decision was also carried on RJR's 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm newscasts in its evening news and current affairs discussion programme Beyond The Headlines.

"It's not a surprise to Nationwide that we have arrived at this decision," Allen told the Observer.

"We have been having extensive discussions about the financial viability of operating on the AM band. This is the end of an era."

Hughes admitted that there were extended discussions between both stations up until late yesterday "trying to work something out".

"It was amicable," he said of the decision. "We have nothing but good to say about RJR."

In May 2007 when Nationwide bought space on the RJR AM frequency, AM radio was virtually dead. However, Nationwide's reputation for breaking stories, coupled with a range of interesting programmes led many Jamaicans back to AM radio.

Last year, however, in an apparent move to increase market share, Nationwide secured from the Government a 49-year lease of the FM 90 frequency which was reserved for public radio broadcasting.

In order to free up that frequency, the Government has decided to transform the state-owned KOOL FM, which operates on the frequency, to a public broadcasting entity.

Last night, Hughes and his general manager, Chantal Hylton Tonnes, declined to say when they would start airing on the frequency.

"We will soon be on the FM band, and an announcement will be made shortly," said Hylton Tonnes. "I won't quote a particular date as we are (now doing) engineering and testing."

Hylton Tonnes added that Nationwide staff would not be adversely affected by yesterday's events.

Nationwide programming, she reiterated, would continue on the Internet at www.nationwideradiojm.com through their service provider Telegens.

"Nothing changes in that regard," said Hylton Tonnes. "We are streaming programmes just the same."

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