Why the Abeng 88.7 FM is the last FM Radio Station as @BCJamaica plans DSO for Radio and Television

The Maroons of Accompong have finally stepped into the 21st century.

They now finally have a Radio station, Abeng 88.7 FM as reported in the article “Accompong Maroons celebrate peace treaty, launch radio station”, published Wednesday, January 06, 2016, by Balford Henry, The Jamaica Observer.

 

January 6 is a special time in Accompong Town, as it is at that time they celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty with the twice-defeated British colonial army. It also marks the birthday of Cudjoe, leader of the Leeward Maroons and brother of Nanny, leader of the Windward Maroons. 

Abeng 88.7 FM was launched Wednesday, January 6^th, 2016 in Accompong at 10 am during the celebration of the 278th anniversary of the peace treaty with colonial Britain, which ended the Maroon wars. The radio station was funded thanks to a US$12,500 grant from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and brings the total number of Radio station in Jamaica to 36.

Government and Opposition representatives, tourists, and residents of Accompong came out in their numbers for the celebration as well as the launch of this radio station.

Its name refers to the Abeng a cow's horn used to summon their people. It was also used to signal Maroon villages in case the British were coming.

The Abeng features prominently during the Maroon Wars and as such, Abeng 88.7 FM is being launched to advance Maroon history, development and indigenous cultural heritage.

Abeng 88.7 FM in Maroons of Accompong - Why DSO for Radio and Television coming

Unfortunately, DSO (Digits Switch Over) on the horizon for Television Broadcasters and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) to make more efficient use of the FM spectrum.

This is currently the case in Norway, which in May 2015 became the first country in the world to switch totally to Efficient Digital Audio Broadcast  as noted in my blog article entitled “Norway to Switch Off FM Radio – How Efficient Digital Audio Broadcast mandated by @BCJamaica is coming to Jamaican Broadcasters”,

This radio station may have jumped on the bandwagon a bit too late.

Abeng 88.7 FM may be the last FM Radio Station in Jamaica before DSO, which the BCJ (Broadcasting commission of Jamaica) plans to implement to transition towards digital television, which should have occurred in 2015 as noted in my blog article entitled “Why RJR is considering HDTV - GCML IPO on the NYSE possible as 4G LTE means Content Streaming and 5G Coming”.

Hopefully they can float an IPO for the new company to attract additional funding so as to fund the transition to a fully Digital and online format, potentially making money from the sale of White Space frequencies as explained in my blog article entitled “OfCom approves White Spaces usage in Britain - Why Digital Switch Over in Jamaica is Necessary for Unlicensed White Space Frequencies”. 

Now that the RJR Communication Group and The Jamaica Gleaner are now one company after shareholder had voted as reported in the article “RJR Shareholders Approve Resolutions To Facilitate Gleaner Merger”, published Thursday January 7, 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner, DSO for Radio and Television can move forward in earnest in late 2016!

Still, Abeng 88.7 FM is worth a listen if you like to keep up with the Maroons of Accompong Town!