Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is Gibraltar
's public service broadcaster
. It has provided the community with a radio and television service since 1963.
, the Corporation was established in 1963 with the amalgamation of Gibraltar Television, a private company, and the Government-owned radio service, Radio Gibraltar which started regular broadcasting in 1958. Unlike the BBC, the majority of GBC's funding comes in the form of a grant from the Government. GBC did receive a small amount of income from the levying of a television licence
fee. However, it was announced in Gibraltar's budget speech of 23 June 2006 that the TV licence was to be abolished.
. The station operates on both FM and AM, broadcasting a mix of local programming in English
and Spanish
, and retransmissions of the BBC World Service
. In December 2005, GBC started internet streaming of its radio service on the Internet, which, along with an up-to-date programme guide for GBC television and radio, can be found on the website. You can hear Radio Gibraltar live from 7am to 8pm on weekdays, after 8pm the station plays continuous music through the night with only the brief interruption of Radio Gibraltar's jingle. On the station's AM frequencies BBC transmission can be heard through the night. On Weekends the station broadcasts live from 8am to 9pm with the same format. Radio Gibraltar's station is currently located at 18 South Barrack Road in Gibraltar's south district, after moving there in the 1980s from Wellington Front, its old location since its beginning in 1958.
On Saturday 16 February 2008 Radio Gibraltar celebrated its 50th anniversary. In order to commemorate the occasion, past presenters were invited to co-host programmes in the slot whch they once occupied, amongst them Peter Canessa, David Hoare
, Norma Delgado, Gerry Martinez, Christine Dobinson and Richard Cartwright. During the week leading up to the anniversary, Radio Gibraltar broadcast interviews with former presenters who recalled their memories of Radio Gibraltar as well as on-air jingles from the past. One of the high points of Radio Gibraltar's history was that it served as a communications link between Gibraltar and the neighbouring communities in Spain
during the closure of the land frontier
, which divided families between 1969 and 1982. A special Roadshow
live from Main Street
was held on the anniversary.
GBC TV showed a special programme to commemorate Radio Gibraltar's 50th anniversary which was celebrated during the week starting 18 February 2008.
Local Television shows airing on GBC TV include:
GBC TV also screens religious, music, history and children's programmes as well as many specials which cover events held in the local community.
The majority of GBC's output is imported, particularly from the UK
, USA
and Australia
. These are unavailable for streaming on GBC's website due to copyright.
As has been the trend worldwide, GBC TV has also added a few reality shows to their line-up in recent years. The first reality series to air on the GBC was Let's Dance, a take on the BBCs Strictly Come Dancing
contest. In the GBC version, various local personalities competed in a weekly competition that run for four weeks. A second series followed, as did a third in Spring 2009. January 2007 saw the launch of GBC's new reality contest – Weekend Warrior in which two teams of local personalities battled it out against each other in a recruit training
type competition.
In 1999, GBC TV piloted the screening of a Spanish language programme in their late night slot (10:30 pm). Flor de Oro, a Colombia
n telenovela
was the first Spanish language serial to air on the channel. It ran for 65 episodes and had a replay the next day at 2 pm. Following the conclusion of the serial, GBC TV launched a second telenovela, Modelos 90 60 90, this time opting not to include it in its nightly transmissions and only maintaining it in its 2 pm slot. When the serial finished, GBC ended its Spanish language television programming and restricted Spanish broadcasts to radio (Radio Gibraltar) in its traditional 2 pm – 4 pm slot.
As part of the 1999 relaunch, GBC TV acquired the broadcast rights to various international TV series and Made for TV movies. Titles included the British action series Bodyguards, the Australian dramedy Seachange
, the Australian medical drama All Saints
,the British romantic dramedy Cold Feet
(screened under the Foreign Markets title "Life, Love and Everything Else"), reruns of classic Western drama Bonanza
, the Canadian police drama Cold Squad
; and factual series, "Hutan: Wildlife of the Malaysian Rainforest", Movies, Games and Videos
,Cybernet
, Adventure and discovery,Reel Adventures and "Sportsworx". GBC TV also "fills" its schedules with random episodes of music shows "London Live" "Legends of Jazz" and "The album Show". At present most "scripted fare" has disappeared from GBC TV schedules, and in its place the channel screens various lifestyle and travel programmes such as "Inside Luxury Travel" and various Country profile / promotional programmes.
The BBC 1992 made for television movie An Ungentlemanly Act
spearheaded the GBC 1999 schedules on Relaunch Night.
With the arrival of satellite TV to Gibraltar, GBC TV decided to compete with a Microwave Distribution System MMDS which carried the BBC TV Europe
service. Due to difficulties in securing the rights to rebroadcast other channels and propagation problems, the service was terminated. GBC started relaying BBC Prime
on its VHF and UHF channels. In the early 1990s this comprised the BBC programming throughout the day with GBC TV productions screening in appointed "windows", such as the NewsWatch programme at 8:30 pm. At the time reception of these satellite channels required a 4 m dish which was impractical for home users. The BBC service was re-encrypted with decoders supplied to licence holders free of charge.
This rebroadcasting ended in 1999 when GBC ceased BBC transmission in favour of a relaunch which would see the channel broadcasting its own output between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm.
Prior to the 1990s, GBC TV was the only English language channel available in Gibraltar. As a result, Gibraltarian viewers saw legendary TV shows first on GBC TV. Some well known TV shows to have aired on GBC TV include:
Dallas
, The Sullivans
, EastEnders
, Coronation Street
, Benny Hill
, Wonder Woman
, Adventures on Kythera
,Charlie's Angels
, Bonanza
, Skippy
, The Bill Cosby Show
, The Simpsons
, Twin Peaks
, St Elsewhere, Hunter, 'Allo 'Allo!
, Birds of a Feather
, and Blackadder
.
Local programmes from the past include titles such as "City Talk", "Snippets", "Soundchaser", "Storyliners", "A Walk through History", "Girl Chat", "From the Archives", "The Magic garden / Playground", "Romper Room", "Susan's Corner", "3 to 6", "Brain Box", "Smarty Pants", "Taboo", "Community Call", "Sunday Message", "Coastline"
The Corporation appoints the General Manager and other staff to carry out its policies and the Board is empowered to delegate any of their duties to their employees except responsibility for policy. Within GBC the Board’s powers are absolute.
The Chairman and Board thus work through their permanent staff, headed by the General Manager, who are responsible to the Board.
Although the chief concern of the Board is undoubtedly broad policy, once laid down it is left to the General Manager and senior staff, whom they appoint to carry out as trustees of the public interest in broadcasting. In view of their ultimate responsibility for everything that is broadcast, it is the Board’s duty to take an active interest not only in the programmes, but also in the financial and staff policies of the Corporation.
This is done through a number of sub-committees in which Board members and senior staff participate in decisions relating to the treatment of political and public affairs, finance and development, and programmes. Only the House of Assembly has the power to change the Ordinance and the Governor-in-Council the Directions.
Government was then subsequently re-elected in 2007 for a further term. It has been said that the Government would consider privatising in full or in part broadcasting in Gibraltar.
During a function held to celebrate Radio Gibraltar's 50th anniversary, Chief Minister Peter Caruana announced that the planned review of GBC and Broadcasting in Gibraltar would take place before the end of 2008.
As at June 2009, the Government has confirmed that a full review of GBC TV and Radio was completed earlier in the year. During a session in Parliament, when asked by the Opposition, Government announced that they had no "immediate plans" to reveal details of the survey. They further added that the GBC Review is "no major priority". Any changes to GBC will be unlikely to take place before 2010.
, Allan King (formerly of the UK's Sky TV
), in a report commissioned by the Government. King's report is dated November 2008 and entitled "Preparing GBC for the next 50 years". Following the release of the paper, the Government has opened a period of public consultation
that will run for six weeks and in which the public is invited to write in with their own suggestions as to the future of broadcasting in Gibraltar.
In summary, the paper recommends that GBC TV and Radio Gibraltar close up one day at midnight, and re-open the next day at 6am as a completely "New GBC" with a brand new logo
, slogan
, feel and programme schedule.
The paper looks at different areas and stresses the importance attached to providing better facilities, technical equipment, staff development and better management in order for broadcasting to move forward and survive. The paper states that there should be more local special interest programming, in-depth documentary series, one-off programmes and local "magazine" programmes separate from news programmes. It states that there is little justification for many of the current "bought-in" programmes as they do not relate to Gibraltar, and are simply a cheap way of filling airtime. GBC's raison d'être is its service to Gibraltar, i.e. its public service broadcasting function. There could be justification for some bought-in programmes where there is genuine local interest (providing they are cost effective), and for films.
The paper also mentions the need to rebalance frequency use in Gibraltar, as the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) has too many for its small audience. A second channel could be used for special events etc., or even be leased out in programming block format such as the breakfast television
franchise GMTV
which operates via ITV
in the UK.
The Way Forward also recommends that GBC take up the role of cable television
operator in order to provide a new revenue stream for the broadcaster.
On radio, King stated that Radio Gibraltar tries to cater for too wide an audience, and recommends launching a second radio station, one for a general audience with news and current affairs at its heart, with a the second service targeting a younger audience.
Already the King report has initiated much debate in Gibraltar, but nonetheless, the community at large defend the need for a local TV and Radio service. Meanwhile Chief Minister of Gibraltar
, Peter Caruana, has also proposed to the GBC board that Allan King be appointed the broadcaster's first chief executive officer
. It is planned for changes at GBC to take place no later than spring 2010, with a complete overhaul scheduled to take place over a three year period thereafter.
In late March 2010, the Board of GBC appointed Allan King as the broadcaster's first CEO for a term of three years. King begins his employment with GBC on 7 April 2010.
As of July 2011 no major changes had been seen in GBC's TV broadcasting, albeit a reformatting of its daily News Programme, to shorten it substancially, and follow it with a 'Magazine' style programme.
GBC Television
Internet
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
's public service broadcaster
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
. It has provided the community with a radio and television service since 1963.
History
Modelled on the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, the Corporation was established in 1963 with the amalgamation of Gibraltar Television, a private company, and the Government-owned radio service, Radio Gibraltar which started regular broadcasting in 1958. Unlike the BBC, the majority of GBC's funding comes in the form of a grant from the Government. GBC did receive a small amount of income from the levying of a television licence
Television licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
fee. However, it was announced in Gibraltar's budget speech of 23 June 2006 that the TV licence was to be abolished.
Radio Gibraltar
Radio Gibraltar broadcasts 24 hours a day and its programme format is similar to that of commercial local radio stations in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The station operates on both FM and AM, broadcasting a mix of local programming in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, and retransmissions of the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
. In December 2005, GBC started internet streaming of its radio service on the Internet, which, along with an up-to-date programme guide for GBC television and radio, can be found on the website. You can hear Radio Gibraltar live from 7am to 8pm on weekdays, after 8pm the station plays continuous music through the night with only the brief interruption of Radio Gibraltar's jingle. On the station's AM frequencies BBC transmission can be heard through the night. On Weekends the station broadcasts live from 8am to 9pm with the same format. Radio Gibraltar's station is currently located at 18 South Barrack Road in Gibraltar's south district, after moving there in the 1980s from Wellington Front, its old location since its beginning in 1958.
On Saturday 16 February 2008 Radio Gibraltar celebrated its 50th anniversary. In order to commemorate the occasion, past presenters were invited to co-host programmes in the slot whch they once occupied, amongst them Peter Canessa, David Hoare
David Hoare
David John Frank Hoare was an English cricketer. Hoare was a left-handed batsman. He was born in West Malling, Kent....
, Norma Delgado, Gerry Martinez, Christine Dobinson and Richard Cartwright. During the week leading up to the anniversary, Radio Gibraltar broadcast interviews with former presenters who recalled their memories of Radio Gibraltar as well as on-air jingles from the past. One of the high points of Radio Gibraltar's history was that it served as a communications link between Gibraltar and the neighbouring communities in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the closure of the land frontier
Disputed status of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, near the southernmost tip of the Iberian peninsula, which is the subject of a disputed irredentist claim by Spain....
, which divided families between 1969 and 1982. A special Roadshow
RoadShow
RoadShow , formerly known as "資訊娛樂共同睇" [paraphrased as Integrated View of Information and Entertainment]) is the first "Multi-Media On Board" service on transit vehicles in the world. It was launched by Kowloon Motor Bus Company on 26 November 2000...
live from Main Street
Main Street, Gibraltar
Main Street is the main arterial street in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.Main Street is recognised today as Gibraltar’s main commercial and shopping district...
was held on the anniversary.
GBC TV showed a special programme to commemorate Radio Gibraltar's 50th anniversary which was celebrated during the week starting 18 February 2008.
GBC Television
The television service also broadcasts 24 hours a day with the programme profile favouring the inclusion of local productions, including news and current affairs programmes. GBC TV programming airs daily between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm, with the rest of its transmission hours being taken up by an Information Service which provides local information as well as from time to time broadcasting TV programme replays and programming from the channel's archives.Local Television shows airing on GBC TV include:
- Newswatch – the channel's flagship news bulletin which airs every weekday at 8:30 pm and replayed at 11 pm.
- Talk About Town – A discussion series in LlanitoLlanitoLlanito or Yanito is an Andalusian Spanish based creole spoken in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It consists of an eclectic mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English, marked by a great deal of code switching and loanwords from many other Mediterranean languages.Gibraltarians also...
(the local vernacular) in which three presenters discuss local affairs, from the need to replace a street sign to important political affairs. - Viewpoint – The flagship political discussion show.
- Pepe's Pot – Culinary series in Llanito in which presenter Pepe Palmero teaches viewers how to prepare local favourites. The series ended after five seasons in 2006.
- Sports Report – Long running local sports review type show
- Telebingo – Long running local gameshow hosted by local presenter David Hoare and then Andy Coumbe, based on the traditional bingo game. The gameshow ended on 25 July 2007.
- In Him I Trust - Long running religious magazine show
GBC TV also screens religious, music, history and children's programmes as well as many specials which cover events held in the local community.
The majority of GBC's output is imported, particularly from the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. These are unavailable for streaming on GBC's website due to copyright.
As has been the trend worldwide, GBC TV has also added a few reality shows to their line-up in recent years. The first reality series to air on the GBC was Let's Dance, a take on the BBCs Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
contest. In the GBC version, various local personalities competed in a weekly competition that run for four weeks. A second series followed, as did a third in Spring 2009. January 2007 saw the launch of GBC's new reality contest – Weekend Warrior in which two teams of local personalities battled it out against each other in a recruit training
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
type competition.
In 1999, GBC TV piloted the screening of a Spanish language programme in their late night slot (10:30 pm). Flor de Oro, a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
was the first Spanish language serial to air on the channel. It ran for 65 episodes and had a replay the next day at 2 pm. Following the conclusion of the serial, GBC TV launched a second telenovela, Modelos 90 60 90, this time opting not to include it in its nightly transmissions and only maintaining it in its 2 pm slot. When the serial finished, GBC ended its Spanish language television programming and restricted Spanish broadcasts to radio (Radio Gibraltar) in its traditional 2 pm – 4 pm slot.
As part of the 1999 relaunch, GBC TV acquired the broadcast rights to various international TV series and Made for TV movies. Titles included the British action series Bodyguards, the Australian dramedy Seachange
Seachange
Sea-change or seachange is a poetic or informal term meaning a gradual transformation in which the form is retained but the substance is replaced, in this case with a marvellous petrification. It was originally a song of comfort to the bereaved Ferdinand over his father's death by drowning...
, the Australian medical drama All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
,the British romantic dramedy Cold Feet
Cold Feet
Cold Feet is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his award-winning 1997 Comedy Premiere of the same name. The storyline follows three couples experiencing the...
(screened under the Foreign Markets title "Life, Love and Everything Else"), reruns of classic Western drama Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, the Canadian police drama Cold Squad
Cold Squad
Cold Squad is a Canadian police procedural television series first broadcast in 1998 that followed the investigations of a part of the Vancouver Police Department Homicide Division tasked with solving cold cases, the titular Cold Squad, as led by Sergeant Ali McCormick .The cast of Cold Squad was...
; and factual series, "Hutan: Wildlife of the Malaysian Rainforest", Movies, Games and Videos
Movies, Games and Videos
Movies, Games and Videos was a television programme shown on ITV in the United Kingdom on Saturdays during the 1990s and early 2000s. The show reviewed new releases of movies, games and videos, and was originally voiced by Steve Priestley...
,Cybernet
Cybernet
Cybernet was a weekly video gaming magazine programme, originally broadcast overnight on the ITV network in the United Kingdom. The programme was commissioned by Yorkshire Television and produced by Capricorn Programmes and also aired on GBC TV in Gibraltar...
, Adventure and discovery,Reel Adventures and "Sportsworx". GBC TV also "fills" its schedules with random episodes of music shows "London Live" "Legends of Jazz" and "The album Show". At present most "scripted fare" has disappeared from GBC TV schedules, and in its place the channel screens various lifestyle and travel programmes such as "Inside Luxury Travel" and various Country profile / promotional programmes.
The BBC 1992 made for television movie An Ungentlemanly Act
An Ungentlemanly Act
An Ungentlemanly Act is a 1992 BBC television film about the first days of the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982.-Production:The film was written and directed by Stuart Urban, and commissioned to mark the tenth anniversary of the Falklands War...
spearheaded the GBC 1999 schedules on Relaunch Night.
With the arrival of satellite TV to Gibraltar, GBC TV decided to compete with a Microwave Distribution System MMDS which carried the BBC TV Europe
BBC TV Europe
BBC TV Europe was a BBC subscription-funded television service founded in 1987 serving continental Europe. It was available on satellite and cable....
service. Due to difficulties in securing the rights to rebroadcast other channels and propagation problems, the service was terminated. GBC started relaying BBC Prime
BBC Prime
BBC Prime was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe and the Middle East from 30 January 1995 until 11 November 2009, when it was replaced by BBC Entertainment.-Launch:...
on its VHF and UHF channels. In the early 1990s this comprised the BBC programming throughout the day with GBC TV productions screening in appointed "windows", such as the NewsWatch programme at 8:30 pm. At the time reception of these satellite channels required a 4 m dish which was impractical for home users. The BBC service was re-encrypted with decoders supplied to licence holders free of charge.
This rebroadcasting ended in 1999 when GBC ceased BBC transmission in favour of a relaunch which would see the channel broadcasting its own output between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm.
Prior to the 1990s, GBC TV was the only English language channel available in Gibraltar. As a result, Gibraltarian viewers saw legendary TV shows first on GBC TV. Some well known TV shows to have aired on GBC TV include:
Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
, The Sullivans
The Sullivans
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
, EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, Benny Hill
Benny Hill
Benny Hill was an English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme The Benny Hill Show.-Early life:...
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, Adventures on Kythera
Adventures on Kythera
Adventures on Kythera is an Australian children's television series starring actress Amelia Frid about children who have adventures on the Greek island of Kythera. It premiered on 13 August 1991 and aired until 1992. The series was produced and directed by John Tatoulis....
,Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
, Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, Skippy
Skippy
Skippy may refer to:* Skippy , portrayed the character Asta in a 1934 film, The Thin Man* Skippy * Skippy , in computers* Scipionyx samniticus, dinosaurMusicians* Scott "Skippy" Chapman keyboardist, guitar...
, The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show is an American situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Cosby's first solo foray in television, after his co-starring role with...
, The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
, St Elsewhere, Hunter, 'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC One from 1982 to 1992 comprising eighty-five episodes. It is a parody of another BBC programme, the wartime drama Secret Army, and was created by David Croft, who also wrote the theme music, and Jeremy Lloyd. Lloyd and Croft wrote the first 6...
, Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather was a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1989 until 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.The first episode sees sisters...
, and Blackadder
Blackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
.
Local programmes from the past include titles such as "City Talk", "Snippets", "Soundchaser", "Storyliners", "A Walk through History", "Girl Chat", "From the Archives", "The Magic garden / Playground", "Romper Room", "Susan's Corner", "3 to 6", "Brain Box", "Smarty Pants", "Taboo", "Community Call", "Sunday Message", "Coastline"
The Board
The activities of the Corporation are controlled and governed by a Board consisting of a Chairman and not more than seven members appointed by the Governor. Subject only to any directions of the Governor-in-Council the Board is responsible for the Corporation’s policy.The Corporation appoints the General Manager and other staff to carry out its policies and the Board is empowered to delegate any of their duties to their employees except responsibility for policy. Within GBC the Board’s powers are absolute.
The Chairman and Board thus work through their permanent staff, headed by the General Manager, who are responsible to the Board.
Although the chief concern of the Board is undoubtedly broad policy, once laid down it is left to the General Manager and senior staff, whom they appoint to carry out as trustees of the public interest in broadcasting. In view of their ultimate responsibility for everything that is broadcast, it is the Board’s duty to take an active interest not only in the programmes, but also in the financial and staff policies of the Corporation.
This is done through a number of sub-committees in which Board members and senior staff participate in decisions relating to the treatment of political and public affairs, finance and development, and programmes. Only the House of Assembly has the power to change the Ordinance and the Governor-in-Council the Directions.
Future
In summer 2007, the Government of Gibraltar announced that if it were to be re-elected in that year's elections, they would review broadcasting in Gibraltar and GBC TV and Radio would undergo a major overhaul in 2008. The GSDGibraltar Social Democrats
The Gibraltar Social Democrats, abbreviated to GSD, is a centre-right political party in Gibraltar.Their current leader is Peter Caruana, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. The GSD has been the governing party in Gibraltar since 1996.-History:...
Government was then subsequently re-elected in 2007 for a further term. It has been said that the Government would consider privatising in full or in part broadcasting in Gibraltar.
During a function held to celebrate Radio Gibraltar's 50th anniversary, Chief Minister Peter Caruana announced that the planned review of GBC and Broadcasting in Gibraltar would take place before the end of 2008.
As at June 2009, the Government has confirmed that a full review of GBC TV and Radio was completed earlier in the year. During a session in Parliament, when asked by the Opposition, Government announced that they had no "immediate plans" to reveal details of the survey. They further added that the GBC Review is "no major priority". Any changes to GBC will be unlikely to take place before 2010.
The Way Forward
On 2 February 2010, the Government of Gibraltar published a paper detailing the future of GBC. Entitled "The Way Forward", the paper was based on the various recommendations made by media personality and consultantConsultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
, Allan King (formerly of the UK's Sky TV
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
), in a report commissioned by the Government. King's report is dated November 2008 and entitled "Preparing GBC for the next 50 years". Following the release of the paper, the Government has opened a period of public consultation
Public consultation
Public consultation, or simply consultation, is a regulatory process by which the public's input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparency and public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies...
that will run for six weeks and in which the public is invited to write in with their own suggestions as to the future of broadcasting in Gibraltar.
In summary, the paper recommends that GBC TV and Radio Gibraltar close up one day at midnight, and re-open the next day at 6am as a completely "New GBC" with a brand new logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
, slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
, feel and programme schedule.
The paper looks at different areas and stresses the importance attached to providing better facilities, technical equipment, staff development and better management in order for broadcasting to move forward and survive. The paper states that there should be more local special interest programming, in-depth documentary series, one-off programmes and local "magazine" programmes separate from news programmes. It states that there is little justification for many of the current "bought-in" programmes as they do not relate to Gibraltar, and are simply a cheap way of filling airtime. GBC's raison d'être is its service to Gibraltar, i.e. its public service broadcasting function. There could be justification for some bought-in programmes where there is genuine local interest (providing they are cost effective), and for films.
The paper also mentions the need to rebalance frequency use in Gibraltar, as the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) has too many for its small audience. A second channel could be used for special events etc., or even be leased out in programming block format such as the breakfast television
Breakfast television
Breakfast television or morning show , is a type of infotainment television program, broadcast live in the morning...
franchise GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
which operates via ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in the UK.
The Way Forward also recommends that GBC take up the role of cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
operator in order to provide a new revenue stream for the broadcaster.
On radio, King stated that Radio Gibraltar tries to cater for too wide an audience, and recommends launching a second radio station, one for a general audience with news and current affairs at its heart, with a the second service targeting a younger audience.
Already the King report has initiated much debate in Gibraltar, but nonetheless, the community at large defend the need for a local TV and Radio service. Meanwhile Chief Minister of Gibraltar
Chief Minister of Gibraltar
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the leader of the largest party elected to the Gibraltar Parliament, and is formally appointed by the Governor of Gibraltar, representative of the British Crown.-List of Chief Ministers:...
, Peter Caruana, has also proposed to the GBC board that Allan King be appointed the broadcaster's first chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. It is planned for changes at GBC to take place no later than spring 2010, with a complete overhaul scheduled to take place over a three year period thereafter.
In late March 2010, the Board of GBC appointed Allan King as the broadcaster's first CEO for a term of three years. King begins his employment with GBC on 7 April 2010.
As of July 2011 no major changes had been seen in GBC's TV broadcasting, albeit a reformatting of its daily News Programme, to shorten it substancially, and follow it with a 'Magazine' style programme.
Frequencies
Radio Gibraltar- Medium Wave 1458 kHz (206 metres)
- FM 91.3 MHz West side of the Rock and town area.
- FM 92.6 MHz South District, Costa del Sol and Campo de Gibraltar (Spain)
- FM 100.5 MHz South District, Campo de Gibraltar (Spain).
GBC Television
- VHF Channel 12 West side of Rock including town area.
- VHF Channel 6 Town area, East Side including Catalan Bay and Cost del Sol (Spain)
- UHF Channel 53 South District
- UHF Channel 56 North District
- UHF Channel 32 Gibraltar, Campo de Gibraltar (Spain)
Internet
- GBC Radio live 24/7 in both Real Audio and Windows Media formats
- GBC Television with video on demandVideo on demandVideo on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
of local programming. - Daily news headlines and the evening 'Newswatch' programme.