INTRODUCTION

This work is very narrow in scope. It serves to provide an historical account of the television medium landscape in the Caribbean and to answer a few troubling questions about local TV content production.

The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 is designed to help the reader understand how the media systems in the Caribbean evolved and operated. Part 2 comprises the research conducted to find out about the amount of local television produced in the region and the impact of foreign Cable TV content on the industry. The research method is clearly laid out in hopes that in the future the study can be replicated. Part 3 comprises the Case studies. These two case studies accomplish the rigor needed when samples are small.

The research employs the qualitative approach. Case Study 1 examines Marpin Telecoms, which engaged in Cable TV operation in addition to a well-outfitted local television production system. Case Study 2 explores the origins, work and influence of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union on local television production in the region. Both case studies help to answer the research questions posed in part two. The book ends with Part 4 that provides conclusions and recommendation on what the Caribbean can do to increase the local TV content inventory.