BRUTAL Group Incorporated is set to launch its multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art radio station – MAAD 97.5FM, in July, 2018, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Christian Duncan disclosed when a high-level team from the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) visited the group’s headquarters on Monday.

Chairman of GNBA’s Board of Directors, Leslie Sobers and GNBA’s CEO, Dr. Prudence Lewis- Bhola formed part of the team that visited the newly refurbished building on Waterloo Street that is now the home of Brutal Group Inc. radio station.
In offering the GNBA officials a tour of the radio station that is approximately 80 percent complete, Duncan disclosed that the refurnished building comprises two studios and an administrative department.

“In terms of the studios, we have a multi-media TV studio which allows us to broadcast live on social platforms what is happening in our radio studio…And we have our main radio studio which is directed squarely for the business of FM broadcast and FM streaming,” he explained.

Brutal Group Inc. is in the process of employing the use of modern technology to reach key locations in the country using a single frequency.

“We are building a network; it will be the first synchronous FM network in Guyana. Our intended geographic coverage will extend from the Corentyne through Demerara to Charity and from Demerara–the Coast, all the way up to Linden, Bartica, Ituni and Kwakwani–that general geographic area,” Duncan explained while adding that the final phase would see the company expanding to Lethem.

Known for its production of local music and cultural programmes, it is Brutal Group’s intention to reach the widest geographic market while promoting Guyanese music and way of life.

“Our purpose for doing that is to bring local content, local creativity to Guyanese people and to use the Guyanese people as a platform [and] as a stage to package and send our experience to North America and the first world countries via streaming,” Duncan explained.

Impressive was the word used by GNBA Chairman after completing the tour of the state-of-the-art facility. Brutal Group Inc. was among six entities that were issued Radio Licences by GNBA in January. Both Sobers and Dr. Bhola said they were pleased with the progress made by the company in establishing its radio station.

While all of the new radio broadcasters committed to be in a state of readiness within months of receiving their licences, Sobers noted thus far only Brutal Group Inc. has offered a status report.

“All we know is that thus far, six new broadcasters were licensed to venture into radio broadcasting and we have not heard from them,” the GNBA Chairman told Guyana Chronicle.

In the coming weeks, GNBA Licensing, Legal Matters and Fees Committee will be seeking updates from the other entities which are in receipt of radio broadcasting licences. It was noted that while a deadline was not given for the establishment of radio station, recipients would not be allowed to delay the process indefinitely.

“We have not confined our broadcasters to a particular time when they should start testing or when they should be on the air ready to launch, because it may all depend on how quickly they can source their equipment in keeping with their own cash flow or the content or concept of their broadcasting studio,” Sobers posited.

However, he stated that holders of radio licences will not be allowed to extensively delay the establishment of their radio stations as was the case in the past or hoard frequencies. This issue, he noted, is being discussed at the level of the board.

“It took persons a long time to get started; we will not condone that type of conduct because every broadcaster has to submit his business plan, and if you submit a business plan that in reality is not achievable, well, that is an indication that you really did not examine the industry properly,” the GNBA Chairman explained.

Pointing out that frequency is a scarce commodity on the basis that the electromagnetic spectrum could only accommodate a limited number of broadcasters, Sobers said it is for entities to utilize the opportunity granted to them and “get down to business.”

“We will not condone broadcasters hoarding, for whatever reason, because they may be hoarding it to speculate. When all the others are gone then they may decide that they want to transfer to somebody else and that has happened already where persons had frequencies and they disposed of it to others,” he further explained.

While the transfer of frequency from one individual or entity to another is provided for under the law with permission of the broadcasting authority, Sobers said it is not a practice that GNBA will encourage.

As such, GNBA will be gauging the new holders of radio broadcasting licences.
“After three to five months, it would be considered reasonable for a broadcaster to start putting himself in order. It may not in every instance be reasonable for him to start because, again, that would depend on his own affordability; but after three to four months is reasonable time for us to say, well yes, positive steps are being made by this broadcaster. If we believe that any broadcaster is really entering into a hoarding scheme, we will have to review their licence,” he said.

Dr. Bhola, in offering brief remarks, congratulated Brutal Groups Inc. on the significant progress made.