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Current - One Radio: Path to Entrepreneurship

It is a not an easy experience when you decide to choose the entrepreneurship path to achieve what you really want in life. Your adrenalin is always at its peak, wearing you down everyday. There are days that you just stare at the wall without actually seeing it whilst your brain tries so hard to prevent your head from bursting by the sudden rush of blood as your thoughts suddenly run wild due to uncertainties. The fear of failure constantly bombards your mind, especially if things do not come as expected. Resources run dry even before your business could start to roll. You are simply overwhelmed with real or imagined scenarios that confuse your senses and ultimately, your judgment.
The above description I confess is not even close to the real experience of the people behind the newest radio station in town, One Radio on 102.7 FM. After cutting ties with their former employer, the group decided to pursue the path of entrepreneurship instead of applying for jobs with other broadcast companies. The choice of business for them was obvious. They have been in the broadcast industry for decades, and their passion to have a radio station to call their own is without question.
However, owning a radio station in Davao city is next to impossible for those with mainly guts for capital. To others, being mere former employees dreaming to have one (that is of course, legally operating) is highly improbable. For one, aside from the huge amount it requires, the difficulties of getting the necessary permits and other documents are simply insurmountable for those who have less in life!
To compensate the lost incomes, the group at first thought of selling their talents for broadcast media training, research and broadcast material production. However, Davao is far different from NCR where the money is for this type of skills, and they decided to shelve the idea, at least for now.
With personal resources already on the brink, the group frantically offered its talent to broadcast companies, but this time, they offer business partnership instead of employment. They are convinced that a new path to achieve their life’s dream is necessary to avoid a repeat of what happened to their past employment. Confident with their résumé – operating a profitable station that remained on top of the radio-rating chart for more than a decade, could be the best come-on for companies who want to make their network compete at lower cost. An offer they thought was hard to resist, particularly for profit-starved radio stations. Still, it turned out not that easy.
The group’s attempts to talk to the owners were met by their “cordon sanitaire” with disdain and prevented any chance for personal meetings. On one instance, a broadcast network officer during a talk with the representative of the group bluntly replied that they had already been resigned to their stations’ fate at the end of the chart, and that he was a hundred percent sure that the owner would not accept the group’s offer. Clearly, this “inanimate” network officer’s attitude is understandable knowing personally the group’s proven reputation in the industry and that, they may pose a serious challenge to his career that depends mainly on the owner’s trust.
That could have been the easiest and most cost-efficient approach towards their dream business.
As months passed without any positive results, some members of the group surrendered their dreams by stealthily accepting employment offers. Frustrations already ran high as their dream started to slip away. However, the determination of the remaining few persists despite all setbacks. Like the movie Last of the Mohicans, the remaining souls, despite all odds, charged towards what they believe as their only hope – to build their own radio station whatever happens!
Cash-strapped and barely able to feed their families, they turn to their friends who believe in their dream – to build a profitable media workers-owned station that offers the public programs that uphold professionalism in journalism, willing to defend press freedom and struggle for social justice.
To the group’s amazement, the option that was at first thought to be impossible turned out to be the most doable!
Some of their friends agreed to invest in the idea. Moreover, a franchise owner agreed to make the group their affiliate station. This is the most critical requirement by the National Telecommunication Commission, for the application to the remaining frequency allocated to Davao City on FM band.
After a year of struggle, the group is proud to have their new transmitter and studios on the third floor of Anda Corporate Centre. One Radio is currently on test broadcast to determine the reach and audio quality. They call it “One Radio.” The group claims that this fits the description of the brand of the station - a station that combines the AM and FM program formats. The station is currently developing programs that fit the interest of the different segments of listeners during a given time of the day.
It is a “dream come true” for these budding entrepreneurs. They are finally at the beginning of their chosen path. However, the group is fully aware that challenges that are more serious lie ahead for them in this dynamic and competitive industry, as the path to entrepreneurship is never easy.
Nevertheless, the group’s initial experience taught them valuable lessons in life - that despite lingering ambiguities, courage in the face of despair and persistence in the face of adversity are time-honored values that a dreamer must have. I am proud of this group, and I am lucky to be a part of it. With Dodong Solis and Jessie Casalda, and the support of our friends, we are confident of our chances in this venture.

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