GNBA CONTINUES OUTREACH SESSIONS – HBTV CHANNEL 09
The Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), in her quest to meet with Broadcast Operators throughout Guyana, conducted a successful session with the management of HBTV Channel 09, on Thursday last, at the Station’s location in Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. This session was led by dedicated officials of the GNBA, with the prime objective to listen and understand the challenges of this particular broadcaster, with the intention to address expressed challenges at the Board level.
Dr. Prudence Lewis- Bhola in her introductory presentation to the management of HBTV CH 09, explained the current state of the GNBA’s Board, and expressed optimism that the subject Minister will soon reconstitute and reconvene the new Board. In addition, she further noted that draft regulations for the broadcast sector have been developed, and will see the reduction of broadcast licence fees, as announced by the previous Board at its last interactive session held with broadcasters.
Relative to the challenges of this Station, the management of HBTV Channel 09 expressed that the station wishes to extend its services to include radio. This they noted, will make the station competitive and will allow HBTV CH 09 to contend with other stations that are offering both radio and television services. An application, they explained, has been made to the GNBA for a radio licence.
Dr. Lewis- Bhola noted that she remains optimistic that the Board will address this matter when it reconvenes. In addition, the management of the station raised the matter of the payment of both Spectrum and Broadcast Licence fees and the struggle to do so; the broadcaster asked for this to be improved and requested some consideration in this regard.
GNBA’s management team noted the concerns expressed. Additionally, Dr. Lewis- Bhola explained that a Memorandum of Understanding was developed to govern GNBA’s affiliation with the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), especially with regard to the communication of information to Broadcasters. The CEO explained the process of attaining a licence and the purpose of the NFMU, relative to the licensing process.
The management of HBTV CH 09 expressed delight to have had the opportunity this outreach created, where their concerns were addressed in the presence of GNBA’s vibrant, youthful and knowledgeable officials. GNBA’s CEO took that opportunity to commend HBTV CH 09 for the content broadcast on their television station, and expressed confidence that the station will continue to do well, especially given the new guidelines that will soon take effect. Moreover, the station was educated on areas for improvement, relative to good taste and decency of content broadcast.
The GNBA intends to continue such outreach sessions throughout 2017. This initiative is the brainchild of Dr. Prudence Lewis- Bhola, who feels it is imperative to first understand the challenges of broadcasters, in a concerted effort to address their expressed challenges, especially those intimately affecting the respective stations, all in an effort the develop the broadcast landscape in Guyana.
