Kingston Jamaica: Local content providers, television viewers and advertisers welcomed new option for local producers as Flow, Jamaica’s triple play service provider, unveiled the expansion of its repertoire with the launch of its revamped channel, FlowTV on Tuesday August 30 at the Terra Nova Hotel.

Judith Fallon Reid, producer of Gospel Rhythms, which airs on FlowTV sees the latest development as good news for the local industry.  “My team and I have been working with Flow for the past two years, we think FlowTV offers a very viable opportunity to producers to get local content on the air.”

Fallon Reid lauded Flow’s vision for industry development and acknowledged the benefit to young producers. “FlowTV provides an affordable option to local producers, without access to large funding, to get their programmes aired. Young producers with great ideas will be able to benefit from this alternative outlet. I love Flow, they have brought international standards to local cable television,. Flow has brought a visionary approach to local programming,” she said.

Directors, producers and other creative minds have already found FlowTV to be a real alternative for locally produced content, with the Network picking up shows such as “Pree Dis,” the immensely popular lifestyle current affairs show and the topical talk show “Lauren o Lauren,”.

Anieph Latchman, creator of the animated feature, Cabbie Chronicles which is available on Flow OnDemand sees this as a bold move that will boost the industry. “Flow’s continuous diversification of its services and opportunities is exceptional. The newest revamp of Channel 100, now FlowTV, is significant to local producers as it provides an outlet for their content, new opportunities for income and increased visibility in the Jamaican market. This can only increase opportunities available to producers that will ultimately boost the local industry, he said.”

The newly re-launched channel will now support an upgraded format focusing on business, entertainment and lifestyle related subject matter. This initiative reinforces Flow’s commitment to ensuring more local content reaches the Jamaican market and that viewers can continue to have a wide variety of choice when it comes to general programming.

Vice President of Marketing for Flow Sharon Roper

Vice President of Marketing for Flow Sharon Roper comments, “We are very excited to support the Jamaican film fraternity with this newly revamped platform to put out their creative talent.” Flow TV is part of our wider investment in local content.  With over 22 local channels already available on the Flow network, FlowTV, along with Flow OnDemand and our recently launched Public Access Community channels, provides a diverse range of broadcasting outlets offering everything from free community content, a library of popular Jamaican plays to Internationally acclaimed shows such as Cabbie Chronicles.

From their new offices, FlowTV, the broadcasting outlet of Flow, offers a sound platform for local content including footage of public events, concerts, and music videos,” Michael Look Tong, Head of Media Services for Flow comments, “With our new facilities, we have added some capacity and can therefore allot space for increased programming.  Local content providers have the option to lease “on air space” or choose from a variety of commercial options to air their production.

FlowTV will feature regularly scheduled broadcasts seven days a week with Daily News content from the Associated Press. The channel also features new as well as previously syndicated shows from 5:30am to 11:00pm nightly.

The event was attended by members of the Jamaican creative industry, as well as the who’s who in stage, film, and music, from directors and producers to actors and entertainers.