Financial crunch affects CMC

And tonight there are some disturbing reports that affect our regional programming. In a release late this evening, the C.M.C., which produces Caribbean Newsline that airs immediately following our daily newscast, announced that their news packages are being suspended effective immediately. The reason: the financial crunch. The news packages formed part of the programming offered by C.M.C.’s regional and North American channel, Caribivsion. The Caribvision Channel, which will remain on air, has been transmitting since August 2006 and is seen in over twenty Caribbean territories as well as in North America. The Barbados based C.M.C. board took the painful step because of economic difficulties, and to cut back production costs, the newscast which is the most expensive programme to be produced, was the first to go. And According to C.E.O. Errol Clarke, C.M.C. is looking at alternative ways in which the Caribbean can still benefit from regional news. With the move to restructure the channel, the board and management also announced the laying off of seventeen employees. The release concludes that Caribvision will remain the primary content source supporting regional integration.