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Adult urban radio station Ebony 104.1FM has shut down its operations.
Popular radio announcer Fabrice Francois was in studio when he along with five other radio announcers were called to an emergency meeting where they were of the management’s decision on Friday.
At the end of the meeting, however, Francois was not allowed to return to studio to wrap up his “Drive Time Ebony with Fabrice” segment or to inform listeners of the sudden decision.
This year would have been 16 years for Francois at the Newtown, Port-of-Spain-based station, which had thousands of listeners locally and internationally via an online feed as far as Dubai. He along with six other radio announcers, who were the only ones employed at the radio station, are now left without a job.
Ebony 104.1FM was one of four radio stations locally owned and incorporated by its parent company, Caribbean Lifestyle Communications. The organisation also owns a film and video production company and a diverse event production and management company, according to its website. Its owner, executive chairman and CEO is Anthony Maharaj, fondly called Tony Maharaj.
The only written correspondence on the issue was given on Friday to employees during a meeting called by management to announce the termination of its operations. Maharaj’s daughter, Karishma Maharaj, administrative manager/director, signed the letter, which indicated a decision was taken to cease operations from February 16. The letter also said there was no practicability of placing any of them in another format, “as to do so would result in an impractical incompatibility.”
Karishma then thanked employees, including freelancer announcers, and wished them success in their future endeavours.
Some employees yesterday recalled being called to a meeting over a year ago and being told the station was not making money. Rumours also surfaced thereafter of a possible buy-out by another popular media company.
One former employee, who wished not to be identified, said: “In January, we were given notice to turn around the station in one month till after Carnival, but it was not possible because everyone’s focus would have been on fetes. Management said they tried everything but we saw that they didn’t…we always felt like the outside child in the network.”
Contacted yesterday via email on the decision, Karishma Maharaj would only say that “the format was no longer viable in the current market.”
“We have decided to discontinue the Ebony format as of 1st March 2018, as our findings indicated that this format was no longer viable in the current market. While this decision was difficult, we must keep up with market changes (as do many other companies in our local and global economic climate). We thank our listeners, clients and our exceptional on-air crew for their support. Stay tuned for what’s coming to 104.1FM,” Maharaj said.
Francois yesterday described Ebony as “part of his life,” having been there from inception in 2002.
“It leaves a void in my life right now,” Francois said.
Another radio announcer and staff member Adrian Don Mora was packing up his belongings at the station when he was contacted yesterday.
“I just want to relax as this is all still soaking in…It’s been a good ride…an excellent ride over the few years with the organisation,” Don Mora said.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t viable, in at least management’s opinion, and they have made the decision to close down the brand or re-brand or do something.”
An ardent listener to the station was so shocked on the news that she took to her Facebook page and wrote: “I came back on my FB page just for a little while to catch up, not knowing that I will see the news of my favourite radio station Ebony 104.1 FM is no more…Music is one of my lifelines…The crew at Ebony keeps me sane with the music and I have grown to love them…”
Another loyal listener, Dominic Hosein, described the programming as “perfect while on the go.”
“The announcers were there for years so a connection was made with listeners and presenters. I wish management could have done more to keep them around. The quality was way better than many of the urban stations in TT. I will miss each and everyone of them,” Hosein said.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2018-02-17/ebony-1041fm-closes-its-doors
88sins wrote:Management move real cold there boi. could have at least allowed them a minute to wrap up the broadcast & inform the listening public.
I curious as to the why behind their now for now decision & implementation.
88sins wrote:That answers the decision aspect.
But the implementation could have been done a little differently is all I'm saying. I doubt that a 2 minute farewell sign off would burn that much current and time to make it impractical.
But then again I don't really listen to local stations much, other than 100.1
paid_influencer wrote:when you really check it, it doh make sense to have so many fm radio stations in a market as small as ours. We have the same number of fm stations as most major cities in the USA, which doh make sense given our tiny population.
the future is these radio announcers transitioning into live work and online media personalities. They have twitter, people can follow them. no need for this archaic fm transmission equipment in the year of our lord 2018.
The_Honourable wrote:paid_influencer wrote:when you really check it, it doh make sense to have so many fm radio stations in a market as small as ours. We have the same number of fm stations as most major cities in the USA, which doh make sense given our tiny population.
the future is these radio announcers transitioning into live work and online media personalities. They have twitter, people can follow them. no need for this archaic fm transmission equipment in the year of our lord 2018.
Exactly.
With USB and smartphone tech, you don't need so much of music format radio stations anymore. That just leaves spoken/talk radio format where it is on borrowed time once talk show hosts begin to embrace podcasting and/or live streaming.
Probably don't want them to say anything out of timing to all the listeners when they find out they fired88sins wrote:That answers the decision aspect.
But the implementation could have been done a little differently is all I'm saying. I doubt that a 2 minute farewell sign off would burn that much current and time to make it impractical.
But then again I don't really listen to local stations much, other than 100.1
Phone Surgeon wrote:Probably don't want them to say anything out of timing to all the listeners when they find out they fired88sins wrote:That answers the decision aspect.
But the implementation could have been done a little differently is all I'm saying. I doubt that a 2 minute farewell sign off would burn that much current and time to make it impractical.
But then again I don't really listen to local stations much, other than 100.1
skylinechild wrote:88sins wrote:That answers the decision aspect.
But the implementation could have been done a little differently is all I'm saying. I doubt that a 2 minute farewell sign off would burn that much current and time to make it impractical.
But then again I don't really listen to local stations much, other than 100.1
we all have to face the reality.. .times are changing and everyone wants the modern age.
you going to hardly find ppl who know about real music and such..everyone want the vybes cartel and soca and etc etc ...essentially the more "in music"
when was the last time you heard paul davis - i go crazy or stephen bishops' on and on -on the radio ???
face the reality... stations need to modernize or close its doors. no sense wasting cash operating a station that hardly persons listen to.....when that same cash can be used to generate more cash... << this is how business men think..
reality as it stands.... 95.1 went "urban" due to whatever reasons...
ebony 104 is closing doors....
more may be soon to come.
Ebony 104 Press Release
In a follow up to the news on Saturday of the change in format at the Ebony Radio station which resulted in the sending home of the station's announcers.
Kiran Maharaj, Managing Director at Caribbean Lifestyles Communications the group under which the radio station falls issued a statement to CNews late on Saturday evening to clear up any misconceptions about the change in format of the radio station.
The statement's exact words were.
"We have decided to discontinue the Ebony format as of 1st March 2018, as our findings indicated that this format was no longer viable in the current market.
While this decision was difficult, we must keep up with market changes as do many other companies in our local and global economic climate.
We thank our listeners, clients and our exceptional on-air crew for their support."
http://ctvtt.com/ctv/index.php/c-news/news/item/54362-ebony-104-press-release
sMASH wrote:who cares?
if enough people did, they would not need to close.
95.1 trying to keep up, their wednesdays are amazballs.
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