New contracts for radio broadcast of the V.I. Legislature begin Wednesday at 9 a.m. with a hearing of the Committee on Economic Development, Energy, and Technology. The V.I. Legislature will be broadcast live at WXZT-FM 90.9 on St. Croix, replacing Reef Broadcasting’s WDHP-AM 1620. On St. Thomas, WIUJ 102.9 FM will continue broadcasting the Legislature under a new contract.
Bids for new contracts were solicited in some V.I. newspapers back in November. The contracts had not yet expired, but they both allow either party to cancel with 30 days notice.
With the new contracts, both districts are served by non-profit radio stations. WXZT is operated by the Crucian Educational Non-Profit Group, headed by José “Papi Love” Martinez. WIUJ, headed by Leo Moron, is run by the non-profit V.I. Youth Development Radio.
Each contract was issued in the amount of $60,000 annually, and will run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010. Reef Broadcasting had provided streaming online audio. That service will be discontinued. However, online streaming video, with sound, will continue to be provided directly from the Legislature at www.kallaloo.com and at the V.I. Legislature’s website (www.legvi.org.)
