TV news off-air as station moves to Camana Bay

| 17/10/2016 | 25 Comments
Cayman News Service

Cayman 27 News Director Tammi Sulliman on air

(CNS): The local television news was off-air Monday night as Hurley’s Entertainment and Cayman 27 made the move to new studios in Camana Bay. Officials said they expect the move will be completed in time for the Wednesday night’s news programme, which will be broadcast from the new studios. The local television channel was purchased by Hurley’s last year with some funding being provided by Dart Finance Ltd. A decision was also made to move the television headquarters as well as the rest of Hurley’s Entertainment to new studio premises in the Dart-owned Camana Bay at 18 Forum Lane.

While the move is underway the TV station will be posting stories online and at the TV website and on the Facebook pages.

“While the technical aspects of the move are being sorted out, the Cayman 27 news team remains dedicated to bringing our viewers the most up to date local news,” said Cayman 27 News Director Tammi Sulliman, as she explained that the news would be posted online.

Last year Randy Merren, the owner of Hurley’s Entertainment, explained that he had made a decision to buy the TV station as he was afraid local television could be lost. He said that Dart had helped with some of the financing but had not invested in the channel.

The previous owners, telecommunications firm Logic, had wanted to sell-off the television network when it bought the WestStar TV cable company, and Merren told CNS at the time that without a willing buyer, Cayman could have found itself without regular TV coverage of local news, sports and community events.

“As a 20-year veteran in broadcast media, I understand the importance of having regular production of original, local TV content and was invited to enter into negotiations with the new owners,” he said.

Merren added that Dart had also welcomed the media company coming to Camana Bay, and consolidating the TV and radio in a single new location was an attractive idea. But he was emphatic that Dart did not have a share or interest in the station.

“Dart is not a shareholder and does not have any operational involvement in either the radio or TV station,” he confirmed.

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Comments (25)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    “Dart is not a shareholder” but he will soon become one when your Company cannot make its mortgage payments to Dart Finance and/or the rent payments to Dart. Don’t confuse “kindness” with a “vulture capitalists”. Hurley’s Entertainment has been warned.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Go DART, better his future than the most recent past ….

  3. Anonymous says:

    If Dart ever gets his teeth into the DISH network, we’re toast. Otherwise, ……… meh.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Except that Winston Connolly is once again spouting C4C’s agenda of moving to Academies despite all the overwhelming evidence that the problems in the system will not be overcome by moving to this model. Try hiring good quality teachers, try sacking those teachers, whatever their nationality, that are inadequate, even try making your Performance Management relevent. While you are at it get rid of a lot of the senior managers in education.

  5. Cocomojoe says:

    It was a quiet week on the shores of Lake Wobegon …

  6. Anonymous says:

    I look forward to getting the local news back. I just hope they stop Kevin Morales (who is a good reporter btw) from flinging his papers toward the camera at the end of his sports report!
    Irritating.

  7. Annie says:

    Fine with me, I’d rather watch Judge Judy anyway.

  8. Crab Claw says:

    Grand Cayman Free TV Review based on a GT Location

    Channel 27 picture clarity is amazing these days.

    Channel 23 a new addition but the clarity is horrible at the moment.

    Channel 21 lots of static lines running across the screen.

    Channel 24 and 30 they have not been seen on the free TV spectrum in quite awhile.

    Can’t the ICTA get behind these companies to actually broadcast on the free spectrum an insure the signal is clear and consistent.

    It isn’t fair to hold a Free to Air license and not broadcast Free to the public.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I’ve been watching news here for years and can honestly say in the past year it’s become garbage.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Randy Merren will make this work. Cayman needs local media and you have to respect this guy for taking the risk. Merren is a man that loves his country. Support him.

  11. Anonymous says:

    This is news? I did not miss it I wonder how many people watch these programs? is their a way to tell? like can be done in other countries . just asking .

  12. P says:

    Really? Did not notice.

  13. Anonymous says:

    ha. they’ll be broke and acquired when their first 5 year lease is up. i mean really, what’s advertising going for these days that they can afford this?

  14. Anonymous says:

    It’ll be right there when Dart takes it…

  15. Anonymous says:

    And in other news, absolutely nothing worth noting happened in the Cayman Islands today.

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