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Trinidad and Tobago - If all goes
according to plan, steelpan music lovers the
world over should be able to opt for the
Pay-per-view (PPV) option made available via CTNTWorld,
part of the state-owned CNMG
(Caribbean New Media Group) - this, according
to iMedia Caribbean marketing exec Ian John.
“From Monday (February 8) the Pay-Per-View
will go live where they can actually make
payments online,” John told When Steel Talks
(WST). This is part of an ongoing
initiative as “Pan Trinbago and the state
are trying to maximize revenue, to cover
some of the costs incurred,” John explained.
Opting for only the
Saturday February 13 Panorama finals event
PPV is a choice that is expected to cost USD
$9.95, though it can also be purchased as
part of a more comprehensive package
including shows such as Dimanche Gras,
International Soca Monarch finals and Parade
of the Bands. John also added that
DVDs of the 2010 Panorama will eventually be
made available for sale.
CNMG’s Danielle Pillai
noted that the Panorama semi-finals -
video segments of which were freely
available via CTNTWorld - were not
part of the newly-negotiated exclusive
rights to broadcast package now controlled
by CNMG. Local media houses including
WACK 90.1fm, Power 102, I95.5fm and CNMG’s
own 91.1 - also carried the internet audio
streams of that competition. For the
upcoming Panorama finals however, none will
be allowed to carry an internet feed - not
even CNMG’s 91.1. Competing local
media enterprises such as WACK 90.1fm are
extremely
disappointed with this turn of events.
Locals residing within
Trinidad and Tobago will be hearing and
seeing the Panorama, though. The
exclusive rights-to-broadcast leading to the
Pay-Per-View option affects only the
internet/international audience of steelpan
music lovers.
Steelpan music
aficionados - especially those who are not
able to make the trek back home to Trinidad
and Tobago to enjoy the Panorama directly at
the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain -
have become accustomed to freely ‘catching
it’ on the internet. Since the
existence of the ability to enjoy the event
internationally with available technology
via internet- this will be the first time
that there is a complete internet blackout
of “free” streams - audio/visual, in an
effort to capitalize fully on the PPV
option. Many are skeptical that CNMG
can deliver; however parties concerned have
expressed confidence in their capabilities.
Time will tell.
Those of the
international audience who do go the
Pay-Per-View way will be hoping that they
get their money’s worth this time around.
Many are still smarting from their
experience several years back when another
now-defunct local outfit called
HomeviewTnT.com advertised a Pay-Per-View
option for the premiere Panorama finals, but
left subscribers with blank screens, no
apology - and no reimbursement.
Stay tuned for further
developments.
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WST forum
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