LICENCING

GUYANA NATIONAL BROADCASTING AUTHORITY REQUIREMENTS WHEN APPLYING FOR A LICENCE 

1. Wholly or Partially owned Guyanese Company
 Covering Letter on official stationery
 Completed GNBA prescribed application form
 Copy of Articles of Incorporation of Trust or Company
 Copy of identity of Directors/Trustees (to verify nationality)
 Register (and identity) of shareholders giving evidence of 51% Guyanese ownership
 Business plan outlining clearly: Please see attachment
 Proposed facility for storage and retrieval of programming data to be in compliance with
Art. 38(2) of the Broadcast Act 2011 and attending regulations

2. Wholly CARICOM owned Entity
 Covering Letter on official stationery
 Completed GNBA prescribed application form
 Certified Copies of Articles of Incorporation of Trust or Company in Caricom member state if local
entity will operate as a Subsidiary
 Copy of identity of Directors/Trustees (to verify Caricom member state nationality)
 Certified register of shareholders giving evidence of 100% Caricom ownership
 Local certificate and Articles of Incorporation (Company must also be incorporated locally)
 List (and identity) of local Directors/Trustees if different from above
 If carrying on broadcasting in country of origin a letter from the broadcast regulator in that country
stating (for every broadcast station owned or controlled by the said broadcaster in excess of 50%
ownership) whether broadcaster is in good standing along with a list of all cited violations within the
past year and action taken.
 Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Commerce or other relevant Ministry or
Government Department stating that a Guyanese company wishing to establish a broadcasting
entity in that territory will have to fulfill no greater requirement than its citizens must fulfill in
Guyana. This statement must state the relevant legal provisions, judicial interpretation or bilateral
agreement which guarantees this possibility.
 Business plan outlining clearly: Please see attachment
 Proposed facility for storage and retrieval of programming data to be in compliance with Art. 38(2)
of the Broadcast Act 2011 and attending regulations.

Notes on Application Processing
1. Existing applicants may be asked to submit further documents while their application is being
considered.
2. After being notified by NFMU of the number of available frequencies or spectrum, if the number of
applicants in a given area is greater than the allocated spectrum can accommodate, the Authority
may invite shortlisted applicants to bid for the said frequencies. The Authority is responsible for
setting the bid criteria.

 

GNBA Requirements – Business Plan Template for Broadcast Station Applicant: 

1. Executive Summary
• State the purpose of the business plan of the company while showcasing the
expected financials and operations.
• Explain how the company will provide, develop and distribute programming to
customers in its targeted market.
• Explain the key niches of the broadcast industry your business idea will serve.
• Explain why your channel is necessary and show how its intended audience
compares to other broadcasters.

2. Mission and Vision Statement
• Discuss your vision and mission and explain how you will create content, attract
employees and build your schedule around it.

3. Target Market
• Define your target audience in detail and provide examples of how your channel
will provide something they can’t get elsewhere.
• Explain why the audience would prefer your programs compared to other
programs, say how you will attract sponsors and advertising.

4. Business Overview
• Provide a general overview the your company
• What inspired you to choose this type of company
• What personal qualities and experience will you invest in the company
• What are you offering that other businesses do not offer already?
• Do you believe there is a real need for the type of programming you would
provide?
• Where do you see your business in the medium and long term?

5. SWOT Analysis
• Strengths
• Provide a list of your core competencies or service advantages of your company
• Weaknesses
• What would you company need to improve
• Opportunities
• What does the company poses for growth and greater profitability
• Threats
• What factors could adversely affect your business in the future.

6. Human Resource Plan
• Describe your Management Structure
• Roles and Responsibilities of Management Team
• How many people do you plan to employ? (Full Time / Part Time)
• What types of skills and/or experience are you looking for?
• What training will your work force require to be able to meet your future plans?
• What measures do you plan to adopt to ensure employee loyalty?
• What is your developmental plan you as your company continues to expand.

7. Sustainability and Expansion Plan
Operational Strategy
• Defining what it will cost to build your broadcast channel, including equipment,
professional services and operational and marketing activities.
• Explain how you would finance your company for the first twelve months of its
operations.
• Show the company’s expected rate of growth from the start of operations for the
next three years
• What would your company provide to the public that would make give you a
competitive edge?
• Give details of company location and premises.
• How well the present premises (if any) meet your company needs and is it easily
accessible to your clients?
• Give details of equipment/machinery/vehicles you will require to operate your
company (such as purpose, current value and future replacement date)
• Give details of equipment/other items which you plan to acquire in the near future
(such as purpose, costs and credit terms)
• Show the sales, operating cost and profit forecast.
Pricing Strategy
• Estimate the value of your programming and the likelihood of attracting a
substantial audience.
• Show how your company would spend any investment funds and how those
expenditures will create audience numbers that result in a steady revenue.
Expansion Strategy
• State whether there is an expectation that the company will expand during years
of operations.
• If there is expected expansion(s) create a plan that will show the company can
effectively produce and distribute its operations.

8. Programs and Services
• State the benefits offered to the listeners and the advertisers that would draw
more people to the channel.
• How would your channel distinguish itself from channels services already in
existence
• How will your programs satisfy the needs and expectations of your target
audience?

9. Competitive Analysis
• Who are your most important competitors?
• What are their main strengths and weaknesses?
• How can you be different?
• How can your programs and service be more competitive?
• What are your competitors’ pricing policies?

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Application Process

• Download and complete form
• Return to the GNBA’s office with all supporting documents (See list of Requirements)
• Review by Licensing Committee followed by interviews with Applicant/s
• Applicant provides additional information if requirements are not met
• Board makes a final decision
• If approval is granted, the applicant goes ahead and purchases equipment
• If disapproved, the applicant can reapply, if disapproved again the applicant cannot reapply.

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FEE STRUCTURE 

 

The following fee structure are in accordance with the Broadcasting Amendment Act 2017:

ZONE	TELEVISION	RADIO	CABLE
Primary Zone (same fee if granted as an additional zone)	G$1,200,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater	G$2,500,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater	G$1,200,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater
Each Secondary Zone(same fee if granted as an additional zone)	G$600,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater	G$1,250,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater	G$600,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater
Each Tertiary Zone (same fee if granted as an additional zone)	G$300,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater	G$625,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater	G$300,000 (base fee) Or 3.5% of gross revenue of the preceding year whichever is greater
Community Broadcasting Service	G$150,000	G$150,000