RJRGLEANER aims to transform into a more agile operation
Published:Friday | November 14, 2025 | 12:05 AMNeville Graham - Business Reporter
Amid ongoing efforts to reverse financial losses and transform the multimedia business, Radio Jamaica Limited, which trades as RJRGLEANER Communications Group, updated shareholders on plans to break down internal silos, streamline operations and pursue digital growth at the company’s annual general meeting on Monday.
Group CEO Anthony Smith outlined a three-pronged revenue strategy focused on reorganising commercial operations, attracting complementary talent, and diversifying revenue streams.
“We’ve restructured our commercial operations around line-of-business heads for print, TV, radio, and digital,” Smith said. “Each head is laser-focused on profitability, supported by unified sales and marketing teams. This eliminates duplication and ensures strategic alignment across the group.”
RJRGLEANER’s leadership struck a bullish tone, even while nature has delivered yet another blow in the form of Hurricane Melissa, the damage from which the company is in the process of evaluating relative to its systems, infrastructure and revenue streams.
Smith emphasised the media group’s digital performance, citing over 176 million monthly views and 7.7 million followers across platforms.
“We’re not just building audience numbers, we’re converting them into cash,” he said. “TV revenues alone increased by more than 40 per cent between January and September 2025,” Smith told shareholders.
The CEO also highlighted the group’s use of AI and data analytics to optimise content delivery and advertising.
“We know what our audiences want, when they want it, and we’re using that insight to drive monetisation,” Smith added.
Chairman Joseph M. Matalon described the company’s ongoing transformation as “structural, not cosmetic”, noting that over 90 per cent of the commercial restructuring is complete.
“We are simplifying the organisation, improving agility, and embedding accountability,” he said. “Our independence and integrity remain non-negotiable. In a world awash with misinformation, Jamaica needs strong and trusted media more than ever,” the chairman said.
Matalon acknowledged the group’s net loss of over $660 million for the year ended March 2025, but he pointed to normalised EBITDA improvement of $112 million as evidence of strengthening fundamentals. EBITDA relates to a company’s core operating earnings before the application of charges, inclusive of depreciation and amortisation, debt servicing and taxes.
“Despite inflationary pressures, we held operating expenses flat through rigorous cost control,” he said. “We’re building a leaner, more agile, and financially stronger company,” Matalon said.
However, the company is still bleeding heavily. For the first six months of its current financial year, April-September, net losses amounted to $260 million but was slightly improved from $270 million in the year prior period. The accumulated losses continue to eat away at the company’s capital base, which shrank from $3.37 billion at March 2025 to $3.12 billion as at September 2025.
The half-year losses came amid a decline in revenue, which fell from $2.69 billion to $2.46 billion in a year-on-year comparison.
Chief Financial Officer Karla Stephens-Hall said EBITDA improved by $36 million in the six-month period ending September.
“We’re not yet in positive territory, but the trajectory is encouraging,” Stephens Hall reported to shareholders at the meeting.
The CFO also pointed to improved liquidity and cash flow management, saying, “Our days-sales outstanding dropped from 47 to 32 days, and days-paid outstanding fell from 74 to 57 days. These metrics show we’re managing working capital more effectively,” Stephens Hall reported
Meanwhile, Matalon also addressed lobbying efforts around digital switchover, referred to as DSO, which is now said to be 66 per cent of the Jamaican population.
“We’ve invested over $1 billion in ATSC 3.0 compliance,” Matalon said. “But further progress requires government support to ensure vulnerable households aren’t left behind.”
Looking ahead, the chairman struck an optimistic tone in his national outlook.
“The crisis brought on by Hurricane Melissa presents a chance to build back better,” he said. “With the RG Cares Foundation, we’re committed to rebuilding stronger communities and a stronger Jamaica,” Matalon told shareholders.