CARIBBEAN-BASED PROGRAMS HIT PRIMETIME-TV IN SOUTH FLORIDA, DECEMBER 7!

Starting Monday, December 7th, a block of family-friendly Caribbean lifestyle programming will begin primetime broadcast on South Florida’s BECON-TV (Channel 63 / Comcast 19). Two English-speaking series called Island Stylee and Island Origins will be aired on Mondays from 9:30 – 10:30PM with repeats on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:30 – 9:30PM. Viewers can watch throughout the tri-county area from as far south as the Keys to as far north as Vero Beach.

There are over 600,000 English-speaking West Indians in South Florida along with large numbers of their families, friends and associates. Island Origins and Island Stylee, popular 30-minute shows that reflect the Caribbean community’s vibrant spirit, achievements and heritage, are making a targeted connection to this prominent yet underrepresented community. Both programs will be available through December 2016.

Island Origins is a Caribbean diaspora-centric lifestyle TV magazine that includes light interviews, opinions, event coverage, cooking and more, and which previously aired locally on South Florida’s CW Network. The series has continually aired in over 20 Caribbean countries and 9 North American regions since April 2014. It is hosted by popular opinionated South Florida personality and columnist Calibe Thompson and will be re-branded from its previous title The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly.

For many years the iconic travel magazine Island Stylee was the exclusive in-flight programming of Air Jamaica, showcasing the warmth and beauty of the Caribbean and all its colorful locations and characters. The award-winning series’ most popular host was model Rachel Stuart.

Island Origins and Island Stylee will follow BECON-produced local ethnic series The New Haitian Generation, which shines a spotlight on successful Haitian Americans in our community.  The series explores the people, history and culture of the Haitian community and invites viewers to learn about the contributions of Haitian Americans.

The presenters of Island Origins and Island Stylee are Blondie Ras Productions, producers of national PBS and Create TV Caribbean cooking series Taste the Islands, and Frame by Frame Productions, 40 year veterans of the Caribbean broadcast industry. Media partners include behemoth diaspora website Jamaicans.com and international content distributor Caribcast. Corporate underwriting is being accepted through mid-November.

BECON­-TV (WBEC­TV) is an FCC licensed station broadcasting educational and instructional programs on channel 19 on Comcast, and channel 63 on AT&T, DirecTV, Dish Network, Atlantic Broadband and over ­the ­air.

About Blondie Ras Productions

Blondie Ras Productions is a South Florida video production company that creates Caribbean-inspired lifestyle content for a sophisticated and educated mainstream viewing audience. The company seeks to become the preeminent source for Caribbean-related television content. Blondie Ras Productions has created nationally, internationally and regionally distributed programs including Taste the Islands, Island Origins, The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly and Miami Fitness TV. Learn more at www.blondieras.com.

About Frame by Frame Productions

Frame by Frame Film and Video Productions offers the best film and video production in South Florida and the Caribbean, offering a full range of in house services to the individual who demands the greatest level of creativity, with the least amount of compromise.

About BECON-TV

BECON broadcasts educational and instructional programs on BECON-TV (WBEC-TV), an FCC licensed station, owned and operated by the School Board of Broward County, Florida, to air noncommercial, educational programming throughout South Florida. WBEC-TV broadcasts on channels 63 on AT&T U-verse, DirecTV, Dish Network, and channel 19 on Comcast. BECON’s mission is to use broadcast television and the most current technologies to develop and deliver quality multi-media instructional, educational and community programming to enhance student achievement and lifelong learning.

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