Radio Belize
Encyclopedia
The Broadcasting Corporation of Belize, otherwise known as Radio Belize, was a radio station in Belize
that shut down in November 1998. Until the 1980s it was Belize's only radio station.
Broadcasting Service, modeled on the home country's British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Amandala columnist Selvin "Smokey Joe" Wade remembers the station by its original callsign, ZIK 2, with which it signed on in the 1930s. At this stage it played mainly music from abroad. With the rise of the nationalist movement efforts were made to bring the BHBS closer to Belizean identity and it assumed the name Radio Belize.
, better known to Belizeans as "Sefe", entered the radio business in the 1960s and completely revolutionized radio in Belize. He was very popular & funny and was Belize's foremost comedian. Coleman was a mainstay of Radio Belize through the 1980s until his death in 1994. Son Gerard Coleman has followed him into the radio business at LOVE FM
and Positive Vibes
. During this time Radio Belize was considered the official voice of the ruling People's United Party
.
Radio Belize entertained Belizeans with a variety of music. In that era television broadcasting was unavailable in Belize, so the population was dependent on the only radio station in the country for entertainment and news. Popular programs from the BBC stable included "Portia Faces Life", and Doctor Paul which were aired daily & nightly.
in 1984, Radio Belize began to experiment with being more of a culture-oriented station rather than simply playing music. Now known as Belize Radio One, it mixed contemporary music with chatter from local radio personalities: Debbie Tillett, Mike Nicholson, Rudy Aguilar, Andy Palacio
, Paul Mahung, and in the 1990s, Silvana Woods and Brian Mossiah. But the revamped Belize Radio One, even with a new television wing, still found trouble holding its own against the all-music format of KREM Radio, established in 1989. The government first tried privatizing the BCB and then extending its brand to include an all-music station named Friends FM, but with the proliferation of radio stations in Belize and an increase in technology, the BCB was rapidly becoming obsolete. General Manager Rene Villanueva Sr. resigned in 1992 after helming the BCB for two years and working there for 23.
-DJ Neil Hall (and, according to Villanueva, himself and Patrick Jones) shut down at Noon Central Standard Time (18:00 G.M.T.) on November 30, 1998. The equipment was bidded out and purchased by LOVE FM and KREM Radio, respectively. While the BCB itself is defunct, former employees are still to be found on the Belizean airwaves, working for other stations. LOVE FM is unique in this respect; former BCB manager Villanueva now owns and operates that station and Mossiah, Terry Gordon, Ruben Morales Iglesias and some other veterans work there. Mike Nicholson worked for FM 2000
and now for Positive Vibes FM
. In this way, the BCB remains, as its slogan says, "The Voice of Belize."
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
that shut down in November 1998. Until the 1980s it was Belize's only radio station.
Beginnings
The BCB began as the British HondurasBritish Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
Broadcasting Service, modeled on the home country's British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Amandala columnist Selvin "Smokey Joe" Wade remembers the station by its original callsign, ZIK 2, with which it signed on in the 1930s. At this stage it played mainly music from abroad. With the rise of the nationalist movement efforts were made to bring the BHBS closer to Belizean identity and it assumed the name Radio Belize.
The Sefe Coleman era
Edison Denburg Clifford ColemanEdison Coleman
Denburg Edison Clifford Coleman was a radio pioneer, comedian and journalist. He worked primarily with Radio Belize and is recognized as having brought that station to a position of prominence in the small Central American nation.- Biography :Coleman was born in Benque Viejo del Carmen to...
, better known to Belizeans as "Sefe", entered the radio business in the 1960s and completely revolutionized radio in Belize. He was very popular & funny and was Belize's foremost comedian. Coleman was a mainstay of Radio Belize through the 1980s until his death in 1994. Son Gerard Coleman has followed him into the radio business at LOVE FM
LOVE FM
LOVE FM is a Belize City-based radio station operating since February 14, 1993. It is part of RSV Media Center, whose chairman is Rene Villanueva Sr.It airs family-oriented programs and mature, contemporary style music.- History :...
and Positive Vibes
Positive Vibes FM
Positive Vibes FM is a private radio station in Belize and the radio arm of the Opposition People's United Party.- Conversion to Positive Vibes :...
. During this time Radio Belize was considered the official voice of the ruling People's United Party
People's United Party
The People's United Party is one of two major political parties in Belize, and currently the main opposition party. It is a Christian Democratic party; the current Party Leader is Francis Fonseca....
.
Radio Belize entertained Belizeans with a variety of music. In that era television broadcasting was unavailable in Belize, so the population was dependent on the only radio station in the country for entertainment and news. Popular programs from the BBC stable included "Portia Faces Life", and Doctor Paul which were aired daily & nightly.
The Belize Radio One experiment and brand extension
With the accession of the UDPUnited Democratic Party (Belize)
The United Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in Belize, and currently the ruling party, having won the 2008 general elections. A centre-right conservative party, it is currently led by Dean Barrow.-Founding:...
in 1984, Radio Belize began to experiment with being more of a culture-oriented station rather than simply playing music. Now known as Belize Radio One, it mixed contemporary music with chatter from local radio personalities: Debbie Tillett, Mike Nicholson, Rudy Aguilar, Andy Palacio
Andy Palacio
Andy Vivian Palacio was a Belizean Punta musician and government official. He was also a leading activist for the Garínagu and their culture.-Biography:...
, Paul Mahung, and in the 1990s, Silvana Woods and Brian Mossiah. But the revamped Belize Radio One, even with a new television wing, still found trouble holding its own against the all-music format of KREM Radio, established in 1989. The government first tried privatizing the BCB and then extending its brand to include an all-music station named Friends FM, but with the proliferation of radio stations in Belize and an increase in technology, the BCB was rapidly becoming obsolete. General Manager Rene Villanueva Sr. resigned in 1992 after helming the BCB for two years and working there for 23.
Limping to the finish line
As it entered its last decade the BCB seemed anachronistic compared to other local stations. While still owning some of the best equipment in Belizean radio at that time, it could not handle the introduction of competitive and new formats of radio. All that remained was to shut it down, and after one last act of service-informing the nation of the progress of 1998's Hurricane MitchHurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch was the most powerful hurricane and the most destructive of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph . The storm was the thirteenth tropical storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the season. Along with Hurricane Georges, Mitch...
-DJ Neil Hall (and, according to Villanueva, himself and Patrick Jones) shut down at Noon Central Standard Time (18:00 G.M.T.) on November 30, 1998. The equipment was bidded out and purchased by LOVE FM and KREM Radio, respectively. While the BCB itself is defunct, former employees are still to be found on the Belizean airwaves, working for other stations. LOVE FM is unique in this respect; former BCB manager Villanueva now owns and operates that station and Mossiah, Terry Gordon, Ruben Morales Iglesias and some other veterans work there. Mike Nicholson worked for FM 2000
FM 2000
FM 2000 was a Belizean radio station which operated from 1994 to 2006 in Belize City, Belize and was owned by Gerald Garbutt. Its primary signal was 90.5 FM and secondary signal 102.9 FM.-History:...
and now for Positive Vibes FM
Positive Vibes FM
Positive Vibes FM is a private radio station in Belize and the radio arm of the Opposition People's United Party.- Conversion to Positive Vibes :...
. In this way, the BCB remains, as its slogan says, "The Voice of Belize."
Radio Belize
- Ladyville, Belize District: A.M. 834 kHz (shifted to 830 in the early 1980s), F.M. 91.1 MHz.
- Punta Gorda, Toledo District: F.M. 88.3 MHz
- International: shortwaveShortwaveShortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
radio (90m "tropical band") 3.285 MHz
Friends F.M.
(all frequencies in MHz)- Belize City, Belize District: 91.3
- Independence, Stann Creek District: 94.7
- Ladyville, Belize District: 88.9