Caribbean Broadcasting Network

Caribbean Broadcasting Network
Formerly called
LKK Group
Privately-held
Industry Broadcast television
Founded 2003
Founder Keith Bass
Headquarters Hollywood Center Studios
Hollywood, California
, United States
Key people
Keith Bass
(President)
Products Broadcasting equipment
Production output
Television programming
Services Broadcast television
Website caribbeanbroadcasting.com

The Caribbean Broadcasting Network (formerly LKK Group) is a broadcasting company, headquartered in the Hollywood Center Studios (HCS) in Hollywood, California. The company owns and operates four television stations, two in Puerto Rico and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The stations are affiliates of The CW, FOX, LATV, & NBC.

History

The company (as LKK Group) became involved in Caribbean broadcasting in 2003 when it learned that Puerto Rico lacked a National Public Radio (NPR) station, according to Keith Bass, the company’s President. It quickly established a radio station, WVGN, on the island, which was set up to receive NPR’s national feed; the company eventually sold WVGN to R.J. Watkins & his Virgin Islands Radio Entertainment Detroit, LLC on February 17, 2015, after which the station's call sign was changed to its current call sign. Upon noting that Puerto Rico and its neighbors also were not served by television stations affiliated with the major U.S. networks, it sensed a unique business opportunity.

Bass investigated a number of sites in looking for a place to locate his company's Hollywood headquarters. A traditional office location wouldn’t do, he says, due to the company’s special needs. The company had to have a place that would allow operations to continue 24/7 and would be able to accommodate a phalanx of large satellite dishes.

One day, Bass happened to drive by Hollywood Center Studios and he quickly realized he had found his home. “It’s the perfect situation for us,” he said. “The studio has excellent security and it understands our business. If we need assistance with an electrical problem or other issue, the studio’s staff is available around the clock. They understand the urgency of broadcast. They also have plenty of room on the rooftop for our satellite dishes.”[1]

Present

Today, the company takes network television feeds from New York and sends them via satellite to receiving sites on the two islands. Syndicated and local programming is also inserted in Hollywood. On the islands themselves, the company maintains relatively small operations with sales and service staffs. Everything else is done from Hollywood.

The company has ambitious plans for its continued growth. There are many other islands in the Caribbean that are under-served by broadcast television, Bass has observed.

It also plans to increase the amount of local programming that it produces. That “local” programming will likely be produced at HCS, explains Bass, where gear, crew and all the other production necessities are readily available. “Everyone here bends over backwards for us,” Bass says. “It’s unbelievable.”[1]

Caribbean Broadcasting Network-owned TV stations

Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

Former stations

Caribbean Broadcasting Network-owned radio stations

Former stations

References

  1. 1 2 "Keeping Islanders Tuned In". Hollywood Center Studios. As modified from a blog post for a blog for Hollywood Center Studios

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, January 13, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.