Pre-Budget rally could cost PP Govt $260,000

The broadcast of the People’s Partnership pre-budget rally on Saturday  at Chaguanas could cost the party at least $260,000.  The rally was aired on three major television stations—CNC3, CNMG, and TV 6—and nine radio stations, including Radio Jagriti, Talk City 91.1 and Power 102 FM. Although Yaseen Rahaman, vice president of the T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA), told the T&T Guardian yesterday in a telephone interview that it would be “highly unethical” to disclose the amount the party paid to broadcast, Alicia Boodoosingh, marketing director of Radio Jagriti, disclosed a figure. Boodoosingh said Radio Jagriti charges $2,300 per hour. Airing of the rally broadcast on Jagriti cost a minimum of $9,200, as the rally aired from 3 to 7 pm. Boodoosingh was unable to give an exact cost for the entire broadcast. 

 

Rahaman said, however, that rates differ between radio stations depending on the size of the station and the number of technical staff used in producing the broadcast. He added that radio and television stations which belong to conglomerates may present special rates to customers. An unofficial figure from a CNC3 producer was that Saturday’s broadcast cost between $50,000 and $60,000. Rahaman said rates for TV stations varied as well and depended on the individual media houses.  TTPBA president Kiran Maharaj said political parties and governments were not privy to any broadcasting discounts, and pointed out that broadcasts during prime-time hours (6 -11pm) were more expensive. Other radio stations on which the rally was broadcast include Heritage Radio, Tambrin, 103 FM, and Radio 90.5.