Radio Jamaica Celebrating 70 Years

Sunday July 4, 2021 Page 55 1999 : Television was again repositioned with another new name and launched on the platform of being the national station, Television Jamaica (TVJ), where local programmes would replace foreign imports, with the tagline: “Just Look At Us Now!” The New Millennium: 2000 : RJR 94 FM celebrated 50 years and spruced up its corporate identity with a new tagline: “Real Jamaican Radio”. Multi-Media Jamaica Limited was established to offer a wide range of media services. 2001 : Digital audio system was installed across all radio services in the group. Equipment was acquired to transfer material from reel-to-reel to digital audiotapes. 2002 : Jamaica hosted the IAAF World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, which introduced the world to sprinting sensation Usain Bolt. 2003 : Ground was broken for a new television news, sports, and engineering building at Broadcasting House. Two new television transmitters and one new radio transmitter were acquired. 2004 : TVJ moved to a new, state-of-the-art world-class television-production complex and news and sports centre at Broadcasting House. Radio 2 FM was rebranded Hitz 92FM, the Group’s niche station for sports and Jamaican music. 2005 : RJR acquired 20 percent share capital of Gleaner UK Limited, subsequently renamed GV Media Group Limited. TVJ commissioned four new transmitters into service in Shafton, Westmoreland; Carty Hill, Clarendon; Bamboo, St Ann; and Castle Mount, Portland. Five new transmitters were also installed for the radio operations. Radio Jamaica Group established the RJR Sports Foundation to stage the National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards, which is aired on TVJ annually. 2006 : RJR invested in Reggae Entertainment TV and Jamaica News Network, both leading content providers with strong brand images in the cable market. RJR launched TVJ Sports Network (TVJ SN), which enabled it to provide coverage of key sporting events through both free-to-air TV and cable. 2007 : RJR introduced Digital Radio Services to Jamaica. 2008 : TVJ provided Jamaica with excellent coverage of Jamaica’s most successful performance ever at the Beijing Olympics in China. The News and Sports departments at RJR are merged into a single entity. 2009 : RJR closed the era of AM radio services in Jamaica due to high cost of operation and poor transmission quality. 2010s 2010 : RJR 94 FM Celebrated 60 years. The Christopher “Dudus” Coke affair and Tivoli Gardens incursion led to the resignation of then Prime Minister Bruce Golding, a major news story of the 21st century with intensive coverage by RJR. 2013 : TVJ opened a high-definition studio (Studio C) in December, first in the island. 2014 : TVJ began upgrade of internal operation to HD workflow. 2014 : On December 27, 1spotmedia was launched to cover downloadable mobile applications for accessing radio and television programmes and videos in the fields of news, sports, entertainment, and culture globally. TVJ launches OTT 2016 : On March 16, the official merger of the RJR Group and the Gleaner Group took place to form the RJRGLEANER Group of Companies, adding The Gleaner (Media) Company Limited and IRC. 2017 : Television Jamaica celebrates its 20th anniversary, including the short span when it was known as Super Supreme Television. 2018 : The RG Group acquired 25 percent shares in e-commerce giant Gustazos. 2019 : In September, The Gleaner Newspaper celebrated its 185th anniversary. In November, The Star celebrated its 68th anniversary. 2020 : RJR 94FM was rebranded as Radio Jamaica 94FM, taking it back to its 1950 roots. The rebranding recognised the fact that rediffusion was no longer part of the station’s services and that the brand Radio Jamaica was a stronger indication of what the station actually represented.