Tele Radio Monte Kronio

Tele Radio Monte Kronio, commonly abbreviated as RMK, is a local Italian radio and television broadcaster based in Sciacca, Sicily. The radio station was founded on 16 July 1976 by a group of nine local entrepreneurs and enthusiasts — Gino Ciaccio, Aurelio Curreri, Enzo Gruppuso, Gaspare Gulino, Fino Montalbano, Carmelo Murmura, Gianni Piro, Giovanni Pocchi and Mario Raineri — broadcasting from a self-built transmitter at 102.62 MHz. The name derives from Monte San Calogero, also known as Monte Kronio, the hill near the station's original premises on Via Boccone del Povero. The television channel, Tele Radio Monte Kronio, was launched on 4 February 1980, making it the first television network in Sciacca; its local competitor Tele Radio Sciacca followed on 6 September of the same year. Early television equipment included a black-and-white Philips video camera and a character generator made from a metal board with magnetic letters. Programming included singing shows, quizzes, TV series, cartoons and a local newscast then called Telesera. In the late 1980s the company moved to its current headquarters in the Perriera district at Via delle Dalie, 23. Over the decades RMK has carried programming from the Italian pay-TV network Italian Network and the Christian-inspired Sat 2000 circuit, as well as Magic TV music videos. Today the broadcaster operates the television channel RMK TV HD on LCN 80 and produces local news and talk shows such as L'Ospite and Vesper, alongside syndicated health and environment programmes Salus Tv and TG Ambiente. The station's transmission equipment was destroyed in the flood that struck the Sciacca area on the night of 10–11 November 2021, forcing a suspension of RMK and RMK 24H NEWS schedules from 11 to 14 November, with the daily newscast temporarily distributed via social networks. RMK remains a significant local media voice, particularly for its live coverage of the Sciacca Carnival.

Tele Radio Monte Kronio traces its origins to the radio station Radio Monte Kronio, founded on 16 July 1976 in Sciacca, Sicily, by nine partners: Gino Ciaccio, Aurelio Curreri, Enzo Gruppuso, Gaspare Gulino, Fino Montalbano, Carmelo Murmura, Gianni Piro, Giovanni Pocchi and Mario Raineri. The station broadcast at 102.62 MHz using a self-built transmitter. In 1979 the first premises were confirmed at Via Boccone del Povero, 10, on the outskirts of the city near the hill of Monte San Calogero, also known as Monte Kronio. The hill gave the radio channel its name, Radio Monte Kronio (RMK), which was later extended to the television service. On 4 February 1980, Tele Radio Monte Kronio was launched, becoming the first television network in Sciacca; its competitor Tele Radio Sciacca would not appear until 6 September of that year. Early equipment included a black-and-white Philips video camera and a character generator consisting of a metal board and magnetic letters. Programming began with singing shows, television quizzes, TV series, cartoons and above all the local newscast, then called Telesera. In the late 1980s the company moved to its current headquarters in the Perriera district at Via delle Dalie, 23. During the 1990s and 2000s the television channel was affiliated with the Sat 2000 circuit (a Christian-inspired broadcaster) and Magic TV (music videos). It also carried pay-TV programming from Italian Network. A short history of the station, with visual archive material, is available on its YouTube channel, specifically in the newscast of 4 February 2020, when RMK TV celebrated its 40th anniversary. On the night of 10–11 November 2021, a flood struck the Sciacca area and destroyed the broadcaster's transmission devices. From 11 to 14 November, the schedules of RMK and RMK 24H NEWS were suspended, and the daily newscast was transmitted through the official social networks. Before 2 May 2022, the television offering consisted of two channels: RMK TV on LCN 115 and RMK 24h NEWS on LCN 645, the latter carrying repeats of the first channel and a newscast delayed by one hour. After that date, the television service is centred on RMK TV HD, registered on LCN 80. Currently the station also airs Salus Tv, a scientific and health information programme produced by Adnkronos Salute, and TG Ambiente, an eco-environmental news programme produced by the DIRE agency. Self-produced programming focuses mainly on the afternoon newscast and its repeats, and on mostly self-produced programmes. Notable talk shows and in-depth segments include L'Ospite, in which host Maria Genuardi interviews personalities from Sciacca life, occasionally from the interviewee's home, and Vesper, an in-depth talk show hosted by journalist Massimo D'Antoni, which features debates with guests on current issues of concern to citizens; a variant, Vesper al Cinema, is held at the Badia Grande cinema in Sciacca. The station's live coverage of the city's Carnival editions is also significant in terms of audience.

• Radio Monte Kronio founded in Sciacca by nine partners; begins broadcasting at 102.62 MHz with a self-built transmitter.

• First premises confirmed at Via Boccone del Povero, 10, near Monte San Calogero (Monte Kronio).

• Tele Radio Monte Kronio television channel launched, becoming the first TV network in Sciacca.

• Competitor Tele Radio Sciacca begins broadcasting.

• Company moves to current headquarters in the Perriera district, Via delle Dalie, 23.

• Television channel affiliated with Sat 2000 and Magic TV circuits.

• RMK TV celebrates its 40th anniversary; newscast includes a short history with archive footage.

• Flood hits Sciacca area, destroying transmission equipment; schedules suspended until 14 November.

• Television offering consolidated on RMK TV HD on LCN 80; RMK 24h NEWS discontinued.

Local community broadcaster serving Sciacca and its province with news, talk shows and live event coverage.

• Radio Monte Kronio (RMK)

  Radio station broadcasting at 102.62 MHz, founded in 1976.

• RMK TV HD

  Television channel registered on LCN 80, the station's main TV offering after 2 May 2022.

• RMK 24h NEWS

  Former second TV channel on LCN 645, carrying repeats and a one-hour delayed newscast; discontinued before 2 May 2022.

• Telesera

  The station's early local newscast, launched with the television service in 1980.

• L'Ospite

  Talk show hosted by Maria Genuardi, interviewing personalities from Sciacca life.

• Vesper

  In-depth talk show hosted by journalist Massimo D'Antoni, debating current issues; variant Vesper al Cinema held at Badia Grande cinema.

• Salus Tv

  Scientific and health information programme produced by Adnkronos Salute, aired by the station.

• TG Ambiente

  Eco-environmental news programme produced by the DIRE agency, aired by the station.

1. 1Tele Radio Monte Kronio - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Tele Radio Monte Kronio - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websitetelemontekronio.it