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
- WSJP-LD 18 (The CW/FOX/Comet/This TV) - Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
- WSJX-LP 24 (LATV) - Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
- WVXF 17 (This TV/FOX) - Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- WVGN-LD 19 (NBC) - Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Former stations
- WPRU-LP 20 (ABC) - Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (silent/call sign deleted from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website)
- WEON-LP 60 (FOX) - Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (silent/license cancelled by FCC)
Caribbean Broadcasting Network-owned radio stations
Former stations
- WVGN 107.3 (National Public Radio) - U.S. Virgin Islands (sold to R.J. Watkins in 2015; now WVIE)
References
- 1 2 "Keeping Islanders Tuned In". Hollywood Center Studios.
As modified from a blog post for a blog for Hollywood Center Studios