The Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) is scheduled to begin transmission on 16 October this year, and will be available on approximately nine cable channels in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, Negril and Oracabessa. In March this year, former Prime Minister P J Patterson launched the PBCJ, which also had its inaugural television programme to mark the beginning of its operations. Since then, the PBCJ has conducted test transmissions between August 1 and 7.
The PBCJ will promote and broadcast national issues - including values and attitudes within society - culture, educational programmes and national activities such as state and official events, national campaigns, church services, civic activities, public debates and spiritual and motivational activities. The station is located at the former home of the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) on 5-9 South Odeon Avenue in Kingston. The facilities have been refurbished and the studio has been renamed Studio National.
The PBCJ was established by statute in 2002 as a system for public service broadcasting, offering public education, information and entertainment, to be funded by private companies and civic organisations. 140 million Jamaican dollars (US$2.1 million) from the divestment of the JBC was contributed to the PBCJ.
(Source: Jamaica Observer/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)