Caribbean Diaspora Television Show Launches Crowdfunding Effort to Support New South Florida Broadcast
PEMBROKE PINES – The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly, a television show about dynamic members of the Caribbean Diaspora and issues of interest to the group as a whole, is gearing up for South Florida debut in late 2014. On Friday, August 1st at a Pembroke Pines Launch event, the show’s producers announced the upcoming broadcast of The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly – South Florida Edition and the start of a crowdfunding campaign on website Indiegogo.
The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly is a hybrid of lifestyle and public affairs television genres which premiered internationally in April 2014. The show in its original version has been described as fun, thoughtful, well-produced and highly entertaining. The first complete season of the show is currently in its second run, broadcasting on cable in over 20 Caribbean countries and 9 North American regions via Caribvision and One Caribbean television networks. The South Florida Edition of the show is intended to incorporate the community from the show’s home base, including new on and off screen talent, major community events and local businesses making an impact for good.
Supporters of the show and of the Caribbean community in general have been invited to help jump start the show’s South Florida broadcast efforts by contributing financially to the project. They can learn more about how their contributions will be used and submit contributions at http://igg.me/at/caribbeandiasporaSFL in denominations from $5 – $2,000, in exchange for various perks and benefits including electronic gadgets, advertising across the multiple global media platforms available through the production team and sponsored segments in the show. Supporters are also encouraged to share ideas on what content might be of the most importance to South Florida’s Caribbean audience, new talent to include in the production on and off camera, and to become involved in engaging the community.
Interested sponsors and advertisers are invited to contact the show’s producers at [email protected].
At the event to launch the crowdfunding initiative, attendees were treated to a highlight reel of some of the most memorable moments from the show’s first season. Snippets from the show’s Exposé segment included interviews with diaspora influencers like Trinidadian champion sprinter Ato Boldon, White House Champion of Change Jamaican Felecia Hatcher and Haitian Freedom Fighter Marleine Bastien. From the most controversial and most popular segment of the show – The Diaspora Perspective, the audience was treated to some of the more feisty and powerful quotes from outspoken host / producer Calibe Thompson.
“The English-speaking Caribbean community makes up almost 10% of the South Florida population yet our diaspora community is not represented anywhere on mainstream television. We’d like to begin to change that with content that is intelligent but still reflects the fun side of our culture,” said Ms Thompson. “Our team is looking forward to growing quickly and to showing how great an impact we West Indians can make.”
The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly is produced by the joint effort of South Florida Caribbean media houses Caribcast, Jamaicans.com and Blondie Ras Productions. Interested persons can learn more about The Caribbean Diaspora Weekly at www.thecaribbeandiaspora.tv.
