ZNS-TV
Channels
BrandingZNS Network HD
Programming
AffiliationsIndependent (branded as ZNS Network)
Ownership
OwnerThe Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas
ZNS-1 AM/FM, ZNS-2 AM/FM, ZNS-3 AM/SW, ZNS-3-FM, ZNS News Channel
History
Founded1936 (Radio) July 4 1977 (Television)
CBS/NBC/ABC (all secondary, 1977–1992)
Call sign meaning
Zephyr (balmy breeze)
Nassau
Sunshine
Technical information
Licensing authority
Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA)
ERP54 kW
Links
Websiteznsbahamas.com

ZNS (Zephyr Nassau Sunshine) is a national television broadcaster operated by the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB). ZNS-TV's two transmitters, serving Nassau and Freeport, are the only over-the-air TV stations in the country. The rest of the country receives these channels (and a privately owned station) via Cable Bahamas, a privately held company that maintained an exclusive licence to operate cable TV services until 2009.

BCB also owns ZNS-1 AM Radio 1540 (a clear-channel station), its repeater, ZNS-1 on 104.5, ZNS-2 AM 1240, 107.9 "Inspiration 107.9 FM" in Nassau, and ZNS-3 AM 810 / FM 104.5 "Power 104.5" in Freeport.

History

Older ZNS-TV logo, with variant colors

ZNS radio was founded in 1937 to broadcast hurricane warnings to the islands throughout the archipelago. At its inception, the station broadcast for two hours a day, featuring news and musical recordings from the BBC[1] and Nassau sources. The radio station eventually established another transmitter in Freeport on the island of Grand Bahama.

ZNS-TV launched in Nassau on New Providence Island in 1977. The station aired programming to entertain, educate and inform. It aired sitcoms, sports, dramas, and even movies. In 1992, the station started to air only public affairs programming.

In October 2010, the BCB implemented a major restructuring exercise in which approximately 80 employees were made redundant. This event sparked much public debate. The government offered a severance package to employees who separated from the company. One reason for restructuring was that the previous governments had declared the BCB to be a major strain on the public purse, bringing in little revenue. The further reason for the downsizing was to enable the corporation's transition to a public broadcasting service.

The people behind the changes were then Minister of National Security with Responsibilities for Broadcasting, Hon. Tommy Turnquest, and the chairman of BCB, Michael Moss, along with his board and managers. Payouts were reported to cost the government around $4 million. Many of those who received separation packages and termination letters generally were unhappy, because it did not reflect their years of service. However, the government maintained that the separation package was generous, considering the economic climate in the country and that they were greater than required by law. In addition to the monetary payouts, those affected were provided with health insurance for 12 months.

On 14 December 2011, ZNS-TV announced that it was planning on converting to ATSC digital terrestrial television, with the additional capability of adding a mobile DTV feed.[2]

In 2017, ZNS-TV shut down its on-channel repeater in Freeport, ZNS-TV-1 (also using VHF 13), and substantially reduced power at its remaining transmitter in Nassau.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About". ZNS Network. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "Bahamas national TV to get multi-million dollar digital upgrade – video". The Bahamas Investor. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
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