Kimani Robinson

Kimani Robinson, co-founder of Imex Technologies and RE TV, yesterday confirmed his plans to set up a 24-hour all-news cable TV channel.

Robinson was tight-lipped on the details when contacted yesterday by the Business Observer for confirmation, and declined to give a specific start-up date, saying only that it would be "soon".

But sources au fait with the plans told this newspaper that Robinson wants it introduced to the Jamaican market, live telecast of talk shows.

The station is also planning to have a significant news component, and is reportedly putting together a full-fledged news department headed by the former editor of a tabloid newspaper.

The station will be located on Knutsford Boulevard, close to Dominica Drive in New Kingston.

Details on the investor's business partners, and whether the cable channel plans to generate revenue via advertising sales, or through contractual arrangements with Jamaica's 51 subscriber television operators, were not available.

The Broadcasting Commission is apparently paving the way for local cable television owners to generate revenue from advertising. A source at the commission yesterday told the Business Observer that "drafting procedures are underway to reflect the shift in policy to allow advertising on subscriber television services".

This television cable channel is one of two new investments in the media currently being contemplated.

The other is through the acquisition of an existing FM radio station. The host of a well-known evening radio show, and the former CEO of a hotel chain are believed to be preparing separate bids to take over the radio station.

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS

Pepper Pot