Trinidad and Tobago Television

The Trinidad and Tobago Television Company (ttt), (callsigns: 9YL on channels 2 and 9, and 9YM on channels 13 and 14) was a national television broadcaster in Trinidad and Tobago. The company operated two stations, ttt on channels 2 and 13 and Alternative Television on channels 9 and 14. The headquarters of ttt were located at 11 A Maraval Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago,^[1] which is now the home of the current state-run television station, C TV. The station was closed at midnight on 14 January 2005.^[2][3]

Company information

TTT has been the state-owned television broadcaster, and the only television operator for over thirty years from 1962 to 1991. TTT provided the young nation with its earliest collection of cultural heroes, showcasing the diversity of Trinidad and Tobago's plural society by embracing some of its best exponents of indigenous artistic expression.

History

TTT "It's Yours" rebrand 2001

Trinidad & Tobago Television was created by Canadian businessman Roy Thomson, then owner of the Thomson Organization. The Trinidad & Tobago Television Company, a partnership by the Thompson Organization (50%), British Rediffusion (30%), CBS-USA (10%) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (10%) was developed to serve the two islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

On August 24 August 1962, Trinidad and Tobago Television was launched one week before the two-island state of Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation on 31 August 1962 within the British Commonwealth. Mervyn Telfer, a former Radio Trinidad announcer, with Hazel Ward-Redman and Holly Betaudier read the first broadcast, the 7PM News. The two channels to transmit the service to the new twin island state were channels 2 and 13. News shown during that first week included highlights of Independence Day preparations.

The first events that were shown on the evening of August 30–31 were the Flag Raising Ceremony and the Playing of the National Anthem for the Birth of the Nation and the inauguration of television.^[4]

Timeline of events

• 24 August 1962: Trinidad and Tobago Television began broadcasting one week ahead of Independence Day on August 31.
• 1969: Government of Trinidad & Tobago acquired the shares of the Thompson Organization and British Rediffiusion making the station a state-owned majority.
• 1977: Color television was introduced as the station was traditionally black and white.
• 1983: The Trinidad & Tobago Television Company opened a second television station "Alternative Television" popularly known as TTT Channels 9 & 14.
• 27 July 1990: The stations were taken-over during the Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt Several employees were held hostage,^[5][5] and the station was used for propaganda by the Jamaat al Muslimeen. Channels 9 and 14 went off the air permanently after this incident.
• 13 March 1994: The Trinidad and Tobago Television Company was merged with the state-owned radio company, the National Broadcasting Service. The new entity was called the International Communications Network.
• February 1997: The Government of Trinidad & Tobago acquired the bankrupt AVM Television (AVM Channels 4&16), which merged with the state-owned International Communications Network (ICN). AVM Television was renamed and relaunched as "The Information Channel".
• September 3, 1999: The International Communications Network was restructured and renamed the National Broadcasting Network (NBN). "TTT It's Yours" re-branding exercise was launched. Archived content from TTT was shifted and later broadcast on The Information Channel.
• 14 January 2005: Due to financial woes, the National Broadcasting Network was shut down. TTT Channels 2 and 13 ended their transmissions at midnight.^[6][7][8] The Information Channel, was leased to the National Carnival Commission to become NCC4.
  

  TTT Anchorman Jones P. Madeira (right) informs the nation that the Jamaat al Muslimeen has taken over the nation on Friday 27 July 1990. Leader of the Jamaat, Imam Abu Bakr (centre) and other members of the organisation look on.

Programming

The station is best known for its local and cultural programming such as Know Your Country, At Home, College Quiz, It's In The News, Time To Talk, Turn of the Tide, Teen Dance Party, Party Time, Play Your Cards Right, Meet The Press, Mainly for Women, Rikki Tikki, Beulah Darling, Calabash Alley, Mastana Bahar, Community Dateline, 12 & Under, Indian Variety, Party Flava by Request, Calypso Showcase, Steelband Concert, Zingray, The Issues Live, Best Village Competition and Scouting For Talent.

The station's flagship news programme, Panorama, remains an icon in Trinidad and Tobago, even as the station has gone off the air. For 29 years it was the nation's only evening news programme, allowing the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago access to television pictures from across the country and around the world.

Personalities

ttt launched the careers of several of the most recognized journalists and broadcasters in the Caribbean.

Former staff members

• Dominic Kallipersad - now Head News Anchor at CCN TV6
• Lisa Wickham
• Francesca Hawkins - now News Anchor at CNC3 Television
• Shelly Dass
• Michael Clarke
• Tony Fraser
• Errol Pilgrim
• Sir Trevor McDonald - ITV anchor
• Allyson Hennessy - (deceased)
• Terrance Greaves - (deceased)
• Horace James (deceased)
• Mervyn Telfer - first ttt News Anchor (died April 26, 2017
• Melina Scott
• Dale Kolasingh (deceased)
• Hazel Ward-Redman - deceased
• Holly Betaudier - deceased 17 July 2016
• Sham Mohammed (deceased)
• Salisha Ali (deceased)
• Jai Parasram
• Bobby Thomas (deceased)
• Jones P Madeira
• Gideon Hanoomansingh
• Anthony Harford
• Robin Maharaj - (Weatherman)
• Debbie Lewis-DeGannes
• Hansley Ajodha - presenter at WIN TV
• Clyde Alleyne (Deceased)
• Ashford Jackman

Other notable presenters include Peter Minshall, Ann Austin, Barry Gordon, Freddie Wharwood, June Gonsalves, Errol Chevalier, David Evelyn, Carl Redhead, Hans Hanoomansingh, Raffie Knowles, Don Proudfoot, Farouk Muhammad, Lloyd Roehler, Brian Carter, Sharon Coward, Ruskin Mark, Terrance Greaves, Vaughn Salandy, Gary Moreno, Josanne Leonard, John Victor, Afzal Khan, Bernard Pantin. Technical staff included Victor Daniel, Shaffick Mohammed, Errol Harrylal, Wellington Yen Chong, Carl Narine, Geddes Jennings, Kenrick Grannum, Stephen Lee Pow, Charles Deighton Parris, Thomas Mora, O'Neal Davis, V Dave Surajdeen, Albert Charles, Peter Singh, Mario George, Grantley Ogiste, Tony Salandy, Buffy Sinanansingh.

Network slogans

• it's yours! (1962–2005)

References

External links

• ttt pioneers blog
• Facebook Group - remembering ttt
• ttt Pictures