ZNS-1

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ZNS-1
ZNS-1 logo.png
CityNassau, Bahamas
Broadcast areaThe Bahamas
Frequency1540 kHz
BrandingRadio Bahamas
Programming
FormatNews/Talk
Ownership
OwnerThe Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas
ZNS-2; ZNS-3; ZNS-3-FM; ZNS-TV
History
First air date
May 12, 1937 (1937-05-12) (AM)
1988 (1988) (FM)
Call sign meaning
Zephyr Nassau Sunshine
Technical information
Facility ID105377
ClassA (NARBA clear-channel station)
(previous I-B station)
Power50,000 watts (AM)
54,000 watts (FM)
Transmitter coordinates
25°00′14.10″N 77°21′01.20″W / 25.0039167°N 77.3503333°W / 25.0039167; -77.3503333 (AM 1540)
25°02′48.70″N 77°19′02.65″W / 25.0468611°N 77.3174028°W / 25.0468611; -77.3174028 (FM 104.5)
26°32′N 78°39′W / 26.533°N 78.650°W / 26.533; -78.650 (FM 107.7)
Repeater(s)ZNS-1 104.5 MHz (Nassau)
ZNS-1-FM 107.7 MHz (Freeport)
Links
WebsiteOfficial website

ZNS-1 (branded as Radio Bahamas) is the oldest broadcast station in the Bahamas. It has a News/Talk format, and broadcasts on 1540 kHz and 104.5 MHz in Nassau, with a repeater in Freeport on 107.7 MHz. It is under ownership of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. The AM station has a Class A clear-channel allocation under NARBA and its nighttime signal can be heard throughout the Bahamas, most of Cuba, and southeastern Florida.[1]

History[]

The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB) was created as a state-owned radio broadcast service in 1936, out of a primary concern of providing accurate hurricane warnings to all of the islands of the Bahamas. A callsign of ZNS (standing for "Zephyr Nassau Sunshine) was chosen and the first broadcast was held for the coronation of Britain's King George V on May 12, 1936.[2]

In the early days, ZNS broadcast for only two hours per day using a 500 watt transmitter. Programming included global news from the BBC, local news and musical recordings (from the BBC).[3]

All programming from 1936-1950 was aired on a non-commercial basis by the colonial government, but advertising sponsors began to appear in the early 1950's[4] and since that time the station has functioned as a government-owned but commercially funded station.[5]

Today[]

Radio Bahamas(ZNS-1) operates from its premises on Third Terrace, Centreville in Nassau (the station's home since 1959).[6] Today programming is a mix of news, cultural affairs,[7] and music, and is described as being "the national voice of the Bahamas."

References[]

  1. ^ Fitz, Jose "The Oldest Broadcaster in the Bahamas"Ten Watts (blog) Oct. 2018 Accessed Jan. 5, 2022
  2. ^ "ZNS to be honored by Bahamas Press Club" Bahamas Weekly (Nov. 15, 2015) (Accessed Jan. 5, 2022)
  3. ^ "About ZNS" ZNSBahamas.com Accessed Jan. 5, 2022
  4. ^ "About ZNS" ZNSBahamas.com Accessed Jan. 5, 2022
  5. ^ Lent, John A. Third World Mass Media and their search for modernity: The Case of Commonwealth Caribbean, 1717-1976 (Bucknell Univ. Press 1977) Accessed Jan. 5, 20222
  6. ^ "About ZNS" ZNSBahamas.com Accessed Jan. 5, 2022
  7. ^ Brown, Susan Love This is the Real Bahamas: Solidarity and Identity in Cat Island (Univ. of California-San Diego 1992), p. 120.

External links[]


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