TVJ celebrates 50 seasons of Schools' Challenge Quiz

The buzzer sounds, a team is acknowledged, and out comes an answer from a symphony of four voices filtering into your living room. The host, Marline Stephenson-Dalley, says: "Correct."

If you are Jamaican, you know this is from a segment in the country's first and most enduring local television product, Schools' Challenge Quiz (SCQ).

The quiz was launched 49 years ago and has never missed a season. Tomorrow, the 50th season of TVJ's Schools' Challenge Quiz kicks off with number-one seed Titchfield High School meeting Enid Bennett High (formerly Bog Walk) at 6:30 p.m. on Television Jamaica.

On a global scale, 50 years of continuous television broadcast of a locally produced TV programme is a remarkable feat. "This is the longest-running programme in the Caribbean and, we believe, the Latin American region," said Claire Grant, general manager of Television Jamaica.

She added: "It is humbling to be working at a station that owns such a legacy, and it is a source of great pride for Jamaica to have this achievement."

EARLY BEGINNINGS

Having started in 1969 on the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), SCQ was inspired by the English-based University Challenge (UC). Today, SCQ, with its current milestone of 50 continuous years of broadcast, has surpassed UC, which still airs in the UK but went on a hiatus for seven years.

TVJ, which emerged from the acquisition of the JBC by the RJR Communications Group [now the RJRGLEANER Communications Group] in 1997, has preserved and sustained the legacy of SCQ.

From the start of the 2019 season on January 14 to the airing of the final on April 2, 2019, TVJ will stage celebratory events, launch new products, and air programmes to highlight and underscore this landmark.

The desire to be the 50th champion and have their school's name etched on the coveted SCQ trophy is a driving force for schools in this golden anniversary season.

"We know that schools are putting out extra effort this year, recalling top coaching resources and putting in the extra work to get to the winners' circle. This is a big year to be the victor," said Michael Gonzales, producer for the quiz since the late 1980s and a quiz alumnus himself, having captained Calabar High to the semi-finals in 1984.

The Competition

Starting from a pool of 64 schools, it only takes six victories, over six rounds, to win this competition, but the records show that it is a uniquely tough proposition. Only 17 schools have made the final, of which only 14 have won in the history of the competition.

In the last three years, two new champions have been crowned - Titchfield High and Campion College - who are the defending champions.

TVJ's SCQ is a staple television experience for all Jamaicans at home and abroad via 1spotmedia, and it has provided captive audiences for a number of committed and dedicated advertisers over the decades.

"It is a fantastic platform for clients to engage with all market segments because of the broad appeal of this programme," said Natonia Sylva, marketing and sales manager for Television Jamaica.

Sponsors in this 2019 season are Digicel, Lasco, CranWata, NCB, Kingston Bookshop, Tru Juice, and Yummy.

Matches will air on TVJ at 6:30 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, and on Fridays, there will be double-headers at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. There is also the SCQ preview show on Mondays, SCQ Access, and a review show on Sundays. Reports on the matches will be published in The Gleaner and the YouthLink.

Schools' Challenge Quiz winners

St Hugh's,

Wolmer's Boys,

York Castle High,

Ardenne High,

Kingston College,

Manchester High,

Munro College,

St George's College,

Jamaica College,

St Jago High,

Glenmuir High,

Calabar High,

Titchfield High and,

Campion College