The Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation was established by Edict No.6 of 1973. The station became operational in 1978 as Radio Rivers 1 and on 2nd May, 1981 the first maiden broadcast of Radio Rivers 2 99.1 FM was made. It remains the first FM station east of the Niger, second only to Lagos State FM Station.
The pioneer General Manager of Radio Rivers FM station was late O.B. Fubara, followed by Sonny Joe, Albert alali, Eriye Iyaye, B.O.B. Graham Douglas, Victor Madume, Morgan Omodu, Gloria Fiofori, E. T. S Ogbanga, Friday Olube, Mike Oku, Mediline Tador and Sampson Fiberesima presently.
The station has produced notable broadcasters who became household names nationwide, namely: Boma Erekosima, Mike Yempe, George Amaewhule, Brighten Sorgwe, Eric Uzoma, Diggy Hart, Mablas Maconi Akpuluma, Jnr., Joetex Dumpe, Dafini Gogo-Abbey, Bina Coin, Florence Ekiye, and Tammy Golden Alalibo to mention but a few.
In the field of radio journalism, Bobo Brown, Precious Okolobo, Ogbonna Nwuke, Silas Anyanwu, Late Paul Alozie, Lizzy Fombo, Boma Nwuke and Christ Iyalla are products of Radio Rivers.
In terms of reach and adherence to NBC Codes, the station is second to none. Even with neglect by successive administrations in the state, the station sets the standards in Radio broadcasting. The 10 Kilowatts Electronica Transmitter beams Radio Rivers signals to far away places as Kogi State and Abuja up to Southern Cameroun in the evening when there is less interference in the atmosphere. Radio Rivers remains a veritable platform for businessmen and politicians to reach their target audience. The private stations are municipal radio stations and allowed to use only 2 kilowatt transmitters that cannot be heard outside Port Harcourt metropolis.
Radio rivers is the mouthpiece of the people and government of Rivers State. It has trained thousand of media personnel including industrial trainee students, and youth corps members. As a public service station, the achievements of Radio Rivers cannot be quantified in strictly monetary terms. The station has made Rivers people proud and was regarded as the best station on the continent in the 1970s and 1980s. Those old enough to listen to radio in that era will confirm that there was no radio station like Radio Rivers and there may never be.
The present state of Radio Rivers is an embarrassment to the people and government of Rivers State and well meaning Rivers men and women should help the station react what made us numero uno in the 1970s and 1980s.
Radio Rivers FM broadcasting studio is located along Degema Street in the heart of the old Port Harcourt township commonly referred to as ‘Town’. The station’s transmitters are based in the Port Harcourt neighborhood of Elelenwo from where it transmits to various towns and municipalities of the state and beyond
Radio Rivers has a broad range of programming. This includes news and information (particularly on the native ethnic groups of Rivers State who don’t receive wider coverage on other stations), local sport, music, arts and culture and public announcements. It is the only major radio station existing that is devoted to promoting Riverians and their local vernacular languages.
Radio Rivers 99.1 FM