NBN is no more

FOLLOWING the broadcast of the 7 pm News last night on TTT Channels 2 and 13, production crew and other staff members swarmed the studio with the newscast still in progress and while presenter Shelly Dass was thanking the country for viewing TTT over the past 40 years. Some of the production personnel sat on the desk from which John Victor and Dass read the nightly news over the past few years, while others wined and some stood by laughing. Hugs were ex-changed as well. After four decades of broadcasting, the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) comprising TTT, The Information Channel (TIC), 610 AM, 91.1 FM, 98.9 FM and 100 FM closed its doors and went off the air.

But while some staffers were preparing to leave earlier on yesterday, consultant Steve Seedansingh was said to be setting up a microwave link to enable TIC’s Channels 4 and 16 frequencies to reach a wider audience, to facilitate the lease agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the National Carnival Commission (NCC). When Newsday visited NBN’s Maraval Road headquarters, we were denied entry into the main building. A security guard said he was directed by acting CEO Dominic Beaubrun, “not to let any member of the media inside.” Staff members who spoke to us outside the building expressed disgust at the directive and apologised profusely. Newsday was told that most of the 200 staff members were “liming” yesterday while others were kept busy producing the hourly radio news and preparing for the last Panorama newscast.

Radio announcers carried out their shifts as usual, many having to comfort listeners who choked back sobs during their farewells. Employees who spoke to us refused to have their photos taken for fear of being kidnapped, while others maintained a happy disposition. Amid the hugs and kisses, however, the sadness of the end of an era was etched on their faces. VSEP cheques were distributed, but there were reports of minor hitches because of failure by some staff members to settle their tax matters. Newsday was told that those who did not receive cheques yesterday would receive them on Tuesday.

At the Morvant based TIC, the compound was almost deserted, except for a few of the 15 member-staff milling around, keeping the frequency on air. General Manager Augustus Shannon, who was also the chief engineer at Maraval Road, said he still had a few things to pack before departing. He has held the post since 1997, but began his career in the media in 1962 at Rediffusion. Shannon said although TIC was closing, he still had a dream of distance learning becoming a reality via TV, as the nation needs to be educated. He said he would be resting at home, but he had indicated his interest to return to any new company, by putting his name on a list passed around by NBN. Other TIC staffers said they knew nothing about the list. The new State-owned company Caribbean New Media Group is expected to come on stream in six months.