TELEVISION Jamaica’s Smile Jamaica and NBC’s Today Show will collaborate to produce a special, unique episode that combines both programmes on March 4, TVJ announced yesterday.

“Today Show’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, along with Smile Jamaica’s Simon Crosskill, Neville Bell, Simone Clarke-Cooper and Carlette DeLeon will co-host the show which will be broadcast live on TVJ from a picturesque Jamaican location,” the station said in a news release.

Segments of the show will be broadcast on the Today Show in May 2011, and the entire show will be posted on the Today Show website.

“This is the first such co-production in the history of Jamaican television,” TVJ said. “It demonstrates the high standards which Television Jamaica’s highly acclaimed, award-winning morning variety show consistently achieves. In the most recent public opinion survey, Smile Jamaica has 84 per cent audience share of the fiercely competitive morning television market in the greatest period of dominance for Television Jamaica.

“The Today Show dominates the ratings in America’s morning news and entertainment arena, serving as the overwhelming favourite for more than 15 years.,” the news release added. “Each day, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb bring the Today Show tradition to millions of viewers across the USA and around the world.”

Commenting on the Smile/Today collaboration, Television Jamaica’s General Manager Kay Osborne, said, “TVJ’s team members are justifiably proud of this special endorsement that’s generating lots of excitement throughout the company. It’s a tremendous opportunity to showcase our on-air talent and technical teams as we join forces with the Today Show to entertain and inform the world from right here in Jamaica.”

Osborne revealed that the programme will be a positive for Brand Jamaica as it will thrust Jamaican culture and vibes onto the world stage, feature local brands and show off Jamaica’s astonishing beauty.

“At TVJ, we promote aspects of Brand Jamaica every day, and the collaboration gives us a chance to share this with a much wider audience,” the news release quoted Osborne. “The show will help build equity in Brand Jamaica and benefit culture and tourism interests and the manufacturing sector.”

Speaking on Smile Jamaica on Monday, senior producer of the Today Show, Jennifer Long said “Kathie Lee and Hoda are excited about the show; we’re all thrilled about it. This is going to be great for us.”

Smile Jamaica is broadcast each weekday between 6:00 am and 8:30 am on Television Jamaica and is streamed live online at televisionjamaica.com.