Two acronyms dominate official news in Grenada. GBN, the Grenada Broadcasting Network, is the country's largest broadcaster, part-owned by the government but controlled by a regional media company. GIS, the Government Information Service, is the government's own communication unit, producing the press releases, videos and briefings that much of the media republishes.
Their relationship with each other and with the government of the day is a recurring subject of debate. Are they public service media, state media or something in between? Who decides what they broadcast? This explainer sets out how each is structured, what it does, and what questions are worth asking when consuming their output.
From state broadcaster to joint venture
For decades broadcasting in Grenada was a government service. Radio Grenada and later the Grenada Broadcasting Corporation operated as state entities, and governments of different parties were accused of using them to promote their own messages. The period of the revolution, when the station became Radio Free Grenada, was the most explicit example, but criticism of political influence over the state broadcaster long predates and outlasts it.
In 1998 the government sold a 60 per cent stake in the Grenada Broadcasting Corporation to the Caribbean Communications Network, a Trinidad-based media company, creating the Grenada Broadcasting Network. The government retained a 40 per cent shareholding. In 2006 the Trinidad company merged with Barbados's Nation group to form One Caribbean Media, which therefore became GBN's controlling shareholder.
The arrangement aimed to bring commercial investment and management experience while keeping a public stake. It also created an unusual hybrid: a broadcaster run on commercial lines by a regional group, with the government as a significant minority owner and, in practice, an important source of programming and advertising.
What GBN does
Television. GBN operates a television channel carrying local news, current affairs, sports, church services, entertainment and special events, alongside regional and international content.
Radio. Its radio services include Klassic, which mixes talk and music with a mature audience in mind, Hott FM, aimed at younger listeners, and GBN Gospel for religious programming.
National events. GBN covers Independence Day celebrations, Spicemas, state funerals and major announcements, often live. During emergencies it carries official warnings and updates.
Online. Like other broadcasters, GBN publishes news and clips online and streams some programming, extending its reach to the diaspora.
Commercial operation. GBN earns revenue from advertising and sponsorship, so it competes with private stations and social media for the same advertisers. Commercial pressure shapes programming choices, favouring content that attracts sponsors.
Reach. Because its radio signals are designed to cover the mainland and, in the case of Hott FM, reach Carriacou and the nearby Grenadines, GBN has a geographic reach few private stations match.
What GIS does
The Government Information Service is a department of government responsible for communicating official information to the public. It issues press releases from ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister, photographs official events, produces video and radio programmes, and publishes notices on behalf of departments. It also handles logistics for official press conferences and media coverage of state events.
A regular feature is the post-Cabinet press briefing, at which ministers or officials summarise decisions taken by Cabinet and answer questions from journalists. GIS also supports the broadcasting of parliamentary sittings, giving citizens direct access to debates in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
GIS material is widely carried by private media, often verbatim, because it is free, timely and authoritative. That can be efficient, but it also means the government's framing of an issue may reach the public largely unchallenged unless reporters seek other perspectives.
Government advertising and official notices
Beyond news releases, government is one of the largest buyers of advertising and airtime in Grenada. Ministries and statutory bodies pay for public information campaigns, vacancy notices, tender announcements, health messages and sponsorship of national events. For small outlets this income can make the difference between profit and loss.
Across the Caribbean, media associations have argued that the allocation of official advertising should follow transparent criteria such as audience reach, rather than political sympathy. Without published data, it is difficult for anyone to assess whether allocation is fair. Outlets that believe they are being starved of state advertising because of critical coverage rarely have the evidence to prove it, and governments deny favouritism.
Legal notices required by law are another channel. The Government Gazette publishes official notices such as new laws, appointments and statutory instruments. It is the formal record, and journalists and lawyers consult it to confirm when a law took effect or a regulation changed.
Official media in an emergency
The relationship between GIS, GBN and the government is most visible during disasters. When a hurricane threatens, official warnings from the meteorological service and the National Disaster Management Agency are relayed through GIS and broadcast by GBN and private stations. Press briefings by the Prime Minister and disaster officials are carried live, and instructions on shelters and curfews are repeated throughout the day.
After Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, official channels became the main source of verified information about conditions on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, relief distribution and the restoration of services. In such moments, the value of a trusted official voice is obvious, and so is the cost of any perception that information is being managed for political reasons.
Public service, state media or neither?
Public service broadcasting, in the sense used in Britain or Canada, means a broadcaster funded wholly or partly by the public but run independently of government, with a legal mandate to inform, educate and represent diverse views. Grenada does not have such a body in pure form. GBN is commercially run with a minority government stake; GIS is a government department with no independence mandate.
That leaves questions about who carries public service functions, such as covering Carriacou and Petite Martinique, producing educational programming or providing airtime for opposition parties outside election periods. In practice these functions are shared among GBN, GIS and private stations, with no single body responsible.
Editorials and commentary in Grenada's press have periodically questioned how independent GBN's news coverage is from the government of the day, given the state shareholding and the importance of official advertising. Such debates arise under governments of both main parties, which suggests they reflect the structure rather than any one administration.
Questions to ask of official media
Official and partly state-owned media play an essential role, but audiences benefit from approaching them with some standard questions.
- Whose voice is this? A GIS release is the government speaking. A GBN news report should include other voices; notice whether it does.
- What is missing? Official accounts rarely dwell on problems, costs or dissent. Look to other outlets, opposition statements and civil society for those.
- Is opposition coverage proportionate? Over time, does coverage give fair space to opposition parties and critics, not only during election campaigns?
- Are sources named? Official statements are authoritative about what the government says, not necessarily about what is happening. Check claims against independent data where possible.
- Is this news or promotion? Government-sponsored programmes, advertisements and features about ministry achievements are legitimate, but they are not independent journalism.
How these institutions could evolve
Clearer mandates. Some media advocates argue for a defined public service mandate, with funding tied to obligations such as coverage of all parishes, programming for Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and balanced political airtime between elections as well as during them.
Transparency on advertising. Publishing how government advertising is allocated across outlets, perhaps annually alongside the budget, would help address suspicions of favouritism and give smaller outlets a clearer basis for planning.
Digital first. As audiences move online, both GBN and GIS are shifting resources to social media and streaming, which changes how official information reaches people and how quickly it can be challenged.
Archiving. Recordings of national events, budget speeches and parliamentary debates are part of the historical record. A systematic, publicly accessible archive would serve researchers and citizens for decades.
Frequently asked questions
Is GBN a state broadcaster?
Not entirely. GBN is majority-owned by a company in the One Caribbean Media group, with the Government of Grenada holding a minority stake. It operates commercially, earning advertising revenue, but the state shareholding means its independence is periodically debated.
What does the Government Information Service do?
GIS is a government department that communicates official information. It issues press releases, produces videos and programmes, photographs official events, supports parliamentary broadcasts and organises press briefings, including those held after Cabinet meetings.
When was GBN created?
GBN was formed in 1998 when a Trinidad-based media company bought a majority stake in the state-owned Grenada Broadcasting Corporation. That company later merged into One Caribbean Media, which became GBN's controlling shareholder in 2006.
Can you watch Grenada's Parliament live?
Parliamentary sittings are commonly broadcast and streamed through official channels and some media outlets, allowing citizens at home and abroad to follow debates. Check current arrangements through the Government Information Service or Parliament for schedules.
Does Grenada have a public service broadcaster?
Not in the strict sense of an independent, publicly funded broadcaster with a legal mandate. Public service functions are shared among GBN, the Government Information Service and private stations, which is why debates about independence and coverage recur.
