Comments on: Defontes To Cease Operations, 19 Staff Affected

By: Christopher Dunne

Christopher Dunne — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 05:23:51 +0000

I don’t live in BDA but I did visit there in 2005. I thought that 1450 AM Gold was a great station. Is there anybody who can record for me (tape, CD, mp3) any of Gold’s last days? I can’t put my e-mail here, but you can contact me via my YouTube page—my “channel” is cd637299, thanks. —-Christopehr

By: Coffee

Coffee — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 23:43:49 +0000

It doesn’t have to be that , Shirley will always be welcomed around Union Square .

By: frank

frank — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 22:46:20 +0000

so what is it jt

By: Person who knows a little

Person who knows a little — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:58:05 +0000

It must be something extra in your juice.

By: stunned...

stunned... — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:50:32 +0000

RIP VSB. All of the show hosts will be greatly missed. So sorry.

By: Betty Rech

Betty Rech — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:47:22 +0000

not happy!!!

Surly going to miss by good music

By: jt

jt — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:32:33 +0000

There’s only one way to be profitable in radio in Bermuda. We all know the required content. It’s not music.

By: jt

jt — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:29:37 +0000

Why are they against it now?
They don’t care what they’are’.
They used to. But not for a decade.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:21:35 +0000

How is traditional radio NOT a dying industry? I’m in my mid 20′s and I don’t know anyone my age who listens to radio, in their cars they stream their personal music collection and if they want a radioshow they use podcasts.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:09:46 +0000

You are saying the PLP want a bigger govt workforce !!!

WOW. Can’t afford the current sized.

Why did PLP seek privatization of TCD testing, why did they Burt speak of privatizing some areas of Govt?

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:01:32 +0000

In quoting the Minister with reference to Commercial Immigration allowing individuals to gain certain residential and citizenship rights in another jurisdiction that they invest in. The concept was broached in the One Bermuda Alliance’s 2013 Throne Speech as a potential means of creating jobs and stimulating investment in the Island.
More than 20 countries have implemented some form of commercial immigration including St Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, Britain and Canada.
“There are any number of different models of commercial immigration in jurisdictions,” Sen. M. Fahy said yesterday. “In some you just buy a passport, which is in my view dangerous, and there are others where you have to have a certain residence that never attaches any voting rights. That was the model I repeatedly said we would be more inclined to look at.”
I do believe he and the O.B.A. have made a good move by placing it on the backburner…for now.

By: Onion

Onion — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 11:54:23 +0000

By employing large numbers of people locally and marketing Bermuda internationally to people who can afford to come here… among other things…

By: Tony Brannon

Tony Brannon — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 10:58:49 +0000

The shift in ADVERTISING $$$$$$
Bermudian are on Social Media these days between Facebook, Google ads, Instagram, LinkedIn etc….old media is suffocating. The oxygen of commercial dollars has dwindled. Digital measurement of who has seen your ad, who has clicked on your ad, is not offered by a TV station, a radio station or a newspaper. Its all guesswork. People are spending their ad $$$$, # 1 on Facebook. At least the paper (After years of not really working the web) now have ad $$$$ from ONLINE news.
Bernews (Bermuda’s 1st online news) were smart and got a leg up on the The paper

It seems no one in the media business in Bermuda read the book “GOOGLED: The end of the world as we know it”. They should have.
Mel Karmazin (Viacom) said to Sergey Brin of Google (when Madison Avenue and cable saw huge ad dollars going online), “YOU ARE F***ING WITH THE MAGIC”.
My take: “No sh*t Sherlock” !

A former GM of a local newspaper once said to us in 1999/2000,
“The Internet is a fad” (boy was his head in the pink sand)…..

The 21st century Digital Revolution is in it’s early years……
The changes to come will indeed see the end of printed news almost everywhere.
In the UK, my beloved NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS finally shut down its paper and tries to survive digitally.

Staying relevant and edgy is about the only way to keep people interested in “local media”. To stay alive you need advertising $$$$ or sponsorship. This is the challenge for many.

Good luck to those that are left. It is time for a real shakeup and for owners to really get smart about their programming, or else the dwindling ad $$$$ will vanish completely.

I suspect others in radio and media in Bermuda are close to the line as well.
For a small island there was just too many stations trying to get listeners in a country of declining population.

By: frank

frank — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 10:18:16 +0000

1450 da

By: frank

frank — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 10:15:19 +0000

sirus radio don’t give you local content and no room for local spots

By: DONALD

DONALD — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 09:58:06 +0000

DON’T CRY FOR ME (Argentina) BERMUDA.

By: Onion Juice

Onion Juice — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 09:44:50 +0000

OH, NOW you want to sing Kumbaya now that the S!@# is falling on your watch, sound like the statement I heard on the news by a police officer after one of his own got killed that ALL LIVES MATTER, which I agree, but where was that outcry when Blacks have been systematically being killed by law enforcement for decades, now the chickens have come home to roost……………………………………………
The GOOD news is they can be a part of the 2000 future job recipients that was promised.

By: john galt

john galt — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 06:46:13 +0000

considering many here believe in the five finger discount im not sure it would work

By: john galt

john galt — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 06:42:02 +0000

tea party people want lower taxes and less govt spending and smaller govt workforce
the opposite of plp actions fyi

By: frank

frank — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 04:42:20 +0000

Radio is not a dying industry it just that people are afraid of change in bermuda
They should have shut down the television station a long time ago.

By: SHD

SHD — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 02:40:20 +0000

Going to miss Toni Bari in the mornings and Shirley Dill on Sundays – what a shame

By: RoseAnn

RoseAnn — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 02:30:06 +0000

I cant wrap my head around the fact that NBC won broadcasting rights for the Americas Cup and the rep here is going out of business!!!??
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QFjAAahUKEwiJgdaB5NTHAhVBWj4KHU4EAFE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americascup.com%2Fen%2Fnews%2F144_NBC-acquires-US-broadcast-rights-for-the-35th-Americas-Cup.html&ei=YgzlVYnIDMG0-QHOiICIBQ&usg=AFQjCNEmM5GSWDw5BymSDSYz1XgTuJjG3Q&sig2=ojvj2GkMZAZL85xz-3biBA

So how else is the ACBDA going to support the local economy?

By: Edwin

Edwin — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 02:16:30 +0000

I wonder where Mrs. Dill’s two favourite people are going to spew their venom now.

By: Felix

Felix — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 01:25:24 +0000

It’s all about technology. A low quality product delivered in an age where consumers have more choice from streaming internet services . A sad loss as local radio can be great, but it’s hard to execute when advertisers can get better results elsewhere.

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 01:14:29 +0000

@ Tony: It appears Bermuda has had its day bie’ Sad yes, but true

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 01:09:58 +0000

Those are the only two options for Bermuda to make any comeback. And yes, Sir David Gibbons was / is correct in stating, “whether business, government or at home, always keep something on hand for a rainy day…”
I thank God that my wife and I and our dogs will be re-locating to our retirement home overseas…

By: Lois Frederick

Lois Frederick — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:44:15 +0000

It was actually a combination of both.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:38:40 +0000

Like that would work in Bermuda.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:35:00 +0000

Well ‘He who must not be named’ must be celebrating tonight.

By: Chart

Chart — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:15:13 +0000

No was VSB

By: So sad

So sad — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:06:46 +0000

Wow..this is such sad news. I will really miss hearing the voices of The Captain, Shelly and Eddie. Wishing all of the VSB family much success in the future.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:00:53 +0000

I disagree actually. Traditional radio is a dying industry. With more digital/internet alternatives popping up on the island, marketing/advertising probably slowed down and was invested in alternative venues.

By: Late But

Late But — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 23:46:07 +0000

very bad news. our choice of local stations now sucks beyond belief. nothing but praise for 106.1 god bless you we will miss you and your GOOD music. Guess its satellite now because I refuse to listen to whats left.

By: outkasted

outkasted — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 23:43:49 +0000

The age of ‘Technological Unemployment’ will eventually hit Bermuda. The next market to be hit maybe the purchasing of goods and services market. I.e groceries. Who will be the first to have check out kiosk where you scan your own items…

By: Ringmaster

Ringmaster — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 23:01:33 +0000

Very unfortunate but a symptom of technology. Many other private sector jobs have been lost for the same reason. This is a worldwide situation and it is not restricted to Bermuda, or caused by the PLP or OBA.

What needs to be accepted by many is that the same technology and shift has replaced hundreds of administration jobs in Government. The difference being Government has not shed the jobs and the reduced private sector is paying for the same number. The longer it goes on the more painful it will be when the cuts have to be made, and they will have to be made.

By: Rmeenswell

Rmeenswell — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:59:17 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong but is BBC not on ZBM???

By: oh dear

oh dear — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:58:42 +0000

Sadly one more media outlet down. How about a march?

By: oh dear

oh dear — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:56:41 +0000

This closure has nothing to do – or at least very little – with technology. Many local businesses are struggling and some have decided to downsize, merge or close – the reason being…’it’s the economy stupid’. Sadly this trend will continue as too will the reduction in population and collection of taxes, with the costs of living increasing – and a decline in revenues circulating.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:51:33 +0000

There are just so many advertising dollars. We have how many FM stations, all of them playing a similar genre of music, some of us call it noise.

There are how many other options to listen to & watch available? Don’t know what I’d do without my Sirius Radio.

By: Kim Smith

Kim Smith — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:34:40 +0000

I’ll be very sorry not to have Mix 106.1 to listen to. The DJs are so upbeat, positive and just genuinely nice people… and that’s rare these days on radio. And they play good music too.

By: Varied

Varied — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:20:59 +0000

A shame – it wasn’t that long ago when some of the news crew were looking to provide content using online channels.

By: Tony Brannon

Tony Brannon — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:17:41 +0000

BBC too has lost money for several years….. Combine that with DeFontes and you have to look at the very model itself…. collectively they both were losing over ONE MILLION a year….

if it wasn’t for deep pockets Perry or Kenny subsidizing the business they both would have closed years ago.

People now have Sirius satellite radio etc in their cars….
Cablevision will also struggle with internet TV etc….

As DYLAN sang ” the times they are a changing”….
radio programming has been dire in my view for way too long. No program directors, crap commercials, ripping off music from established artists to advertise shoes, etc…. who CARES about what the salad of the day is at the marketplace ??…. Damn that drove me nuts…. had to switch off the radio…..

SAD for the employees…. but the programming was out of sync etc….
DeFontes had their day….. and times have changed it really is that simple….
Good luck to all…

By: Coffee

Coffee — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:17:30 +0000

Family Man’s gloating over the loss of my favorite Sunday morning talk show host . How sad is that ?

By: Jus Wonderin'

Jus Wonderin' — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:09:46 +0000

tea party chorus…lmao! If anything the PLP is more aligned with the tea party. get ya game up bra!

By: Bonnie Blue

Bonnie Blue — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:59:56 +0000

I will miss Mix 106 in the morning when I am driving to work. So sorry to see people lose their jobs.

By: Rick Olson

Rick Olson — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:23:54 +0000

No one can continue to lose money year after year hopefully BBC will take advantage of this opportunity and secure their own future by starting to turn a profit. Technology has put a hurt on TV,radio and the print media and advertisers are looking for value and results we are in a new era and need to embrace it.

By: Loquatz

Loquatz — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:15:16 +0000

No more BBC World – and there goes our last “pop” music station – never mind another piece on news reporting diversity. Sigh.

By: Hmmmm

Hmmmm — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:03:57 +0000

Swing, I agree somewhat, Kenny is not a young man, he has tried to sell the business on a number of occasions without success… Yes I believe VSB was on a downward spiral, but I believe Kenny just wanted out…

However, the PLP didn’t borrow to feed the machinery or the beast, just their own ego’s. Sir David told me years ago, whether business, government or at home, always keep something on hand for a rainy day… Trust me, that rainy day will come. he problem is that the OBA inherited a massive debt, the only way they can get us back on our feet is to increase tax (significantly) or reduce spending (reduce size of government and their own pay)

By: Family Man

Family Man — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:52:06 +0000

I’ll bet its something a little more sympathetic than the last government who made the comment “one down …”

By: Ameboa

Ameboa — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:49:07 +0000

Add this to the list of 2000 jobs lost and not gained. With the years of experience they have I hope that they can continue on on their own or even form a new news broadcast outlet perhaps.