Profile celebrates 30 years
PROFILE, TVJ’s Sunday evening personality interview programme, achieved a milestone last Wednesday when it marked 30 years of continuous broadcasting – the longest running non-seasonal television programme in Jamaica.
It’s a feat not just noteworthy locally but internationally. Host Ian Boyne has been at it longer than the greats of American television broadcasting Larry King and Oprah Winfrey ended their signature programmes after 25 years and Phil Donahue ended his after 29 years. Boyne now equals the renowned Johnny Carson who hosted the Tonight show for 30 years. Boyne enters his 31st year with today’s show, with no sign that the market is getting tired of him.
“I listen to the market and right now the market is saying, ‘keep on doing what you doing’”, Boyne says, pointing out that high-profile corporate sponsors such as NCB, Sagicor, JMMB, Gas Pro (Massy Group) and Jamaica Broilers all have long-term contracts with him. “They are hard-nosed business people and they spend where the big audiences are. Also, they support the values of Profile,” Boyne says.
On Tuesday these sponsors will come together to celebrate Profile with a special function at King’s House, which will be addressed by both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller. Jamaican billionaire Michael Lee-Chin will be guest speaker. “Profile has become an institution – an institution synonymous with excellence and the promotion of our best selves”, Boyne notes.
AN INSPIRATION
“The idea for Profile came about because I felt journalism had a role to empower people, to build their self-confidence and sense of self. I wanted to show that it didn’t matter where you came from and what obstacles you faced, you could make it and that success was not the preserve of any particular class or ethnic group”, Boyne explains.
“Inspiration matters”, Boyne insists. “You can’t achieve economic growth if people don’t believe in themselves and are not prepared to do what is called for to be successful. It is important that people have a forum like Profile, where they can learn from others who have achieved their dreams against the odds and who are models of excellence and peak performance. I meet so many people who tell me that Profile played major part in inspiring them when they were struggling. Hearing others’ stories boosted their confidence”.
This evening, Profile features Dr Vincent Reid, an accomplished cancer specialist and surgeon in the United States, who grew up dirt poor in Brandon Hill without electricity in his district and having to use a pit toilet and cook on a coal stove. His mother was 13 when she had him, yet he went on to study and work at some of the finest medical institutions in the United States.
Echoing the theme of his 30year celebration, Boyne says, “the inspiration continues”.
Inspiration matters, you can’t achieve economic growth if people don’t believe in themselves and are not prepared to do what is called for to be successful.