Dear Editor,
I’ve been listening to 98.1 ‘Hot’ FM on JumpTV.com over the past couple of weeks and am now in a better position to evaluate the programmes and broadcasting style of this lone FM station in the country. First of all, 98.1 can be heard on the internet at JumpTV. However, you cannot listen to any channel (radio or TV) there with a dial-up connection. You must have a connection with a higher speed. So, I am getting 98.1 and Voice of Guyana (VOG) on JumpTV crystal clear, something that I could not get out of my ordinary pocket radio. And I do enjoy It — well, most of it anyway. I also discovered 98.1’s website http://98hotfm.co.gy/index.html. You can also listen live there.
NCN is really trying hard with 98.1 FM. The programmes are commendable (well at least most of them).
Some of the better programmes that I’ve developed a liking for over the weeks include the Sunday night music show from 6pm to midnight. The music is wonderful. NCN must have a very good musical library to bring such music to listeners. I love to listen to the 98.1 on Sundays. The music is terrific from sunrise to sunset! I may seem to be very critical of NCN from time to time. I have nothing against NCN. However, some standard is expected from the state-owned media. This, though, does not hinder me from giving praise where same is due. And I praise 98.1 Hot FM for a much improved service, though there is always that room for further improvement.
Is the weekday afternoon programme aired at 4pm a programme prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture to disseminate the policies of this ministry? If so, could NCN please confirm this?
98.1 FM cannot be an ‘all-music’ channel. It is not. It does air music throughout the day; however, it is done within the context of specified programmes that air within a programme guide. Many North American FM stations are ‘all-music’ stations. They play a set of songs then a period for commercials and the cycle repeats itself for 24 hours daily. No song is played more than once per day on those stations.
The reception on JumpTV is crystal clear but at times JumpTV experiences ‘technical difficulties’ and 98.1 FM is not heard.
So is it true that Radio Roraima (RR) is back on the air? I’ve been hearing something of the sort airing on 98.1 FM over the past couple of days. If I didn’t mistakenly hear, RR is now heard only on the FM band. You know what that means. No RR for Berbicians. My suggestion is that NCN also put RR on the internet so that people could tune in around the world.
98.1 FM, this month, is celebrating its 10th year on the air. I congratulate NCN and urge them to expand their radio services to better serve Berbicians so that all could get a clear signal of 98.1 FM, VOG and now RR.
Still, even though every Guyanese should be proud of our only FM channel, my local radio listening habits have become lax over the years. Since the discovery of internet radio, there is where I tune in to most of the time. I find the American FM channels a more pleasing choice —the reception is clear, the broadcast is reliable, and most of all I love the music. Well, what do you expect me to do when Guyana, in this new millennium, cannot even have one private radio station?
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran