Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Host Denise Hunt pose with the contestants on Digicel's Rising Stars competition held at the TVJ studios on July 30. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Jamaica is not the only country producing a rising star each year, Digicel is also exploring the talent to be found on other islands. The local success of Rising Stars has inspired the launching of the show in other countries in the Eastern Caribbean.
The introductory show will be aired this Sunday August 20 via satellite to a number of countries across the Caribbean.
Paula Pinnock-MacLeod, Marketing Project Manager states "we definitely expanded the show because of Jamaica's success. When people heard about it and wanted to be a part of it. Jamaica works and we have been very successful," she said.
"Jamaica was the launch for Digicel so it was natural to start here. There is no negative impact in regards to the Jamaican version, it just becomes a regional program not limited to Jamaica," she said.
Jerry George, Public Relations Manager for the Eastern Caribbean division of Digicel says "the show expands along the Digicel route which has expanded as a company. Because the company has expanded their network, so too has the show expanded to incorporate that."
According to Paula Pinnock-MacLeod after other countries watched the Jamaican version of Rising Stars, the show was requested to expand to other islands. "They have seen the model, you have to watch the Jamaican version to see what it would be like. We have set a standard, we are the background for the different regions. However they have their own talent and flair".
In keeping with the format of the Jamaican version, auditions take place on each participating island from which ten persons are chosen by local judges. It is these ten persons who are then presented to the viewing audience for them to decide.
Jerry George says "the show will be broadcast in Barbados, we go to each island and audition live where ten finalists, of which two are selected. Those two travel to Barbados for the rest of the show unless they are eliminated".
All shows will be delivered via satellite services of the Caribbean Media Corporation based in Barbados to all participating islands.
Jerry George says eight countries are being represented in the competition: Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis. Grenada and St Lucia". According to Mr George "judging from last year's reactions, we are expecting to create a frenzy".
Mike Hogan, Executive Producer of Digicel's Rising Stars, is also enthused about the talent being seen. "The quality of the contenders this year has been simply outstanding so far and if this is anything to judge by we anticipate a very competitive and entertaining second edition of Rising Stars", he said.
Yet that does not mean the other regions have better talent. Pinnock-MacLeod assures "the same way Jamaica has reggae which is what it is known for, every region has a reason that their talent is uniquely good. Just like there is a Sean Paul and a Rihanna, neither is better, they're both good. Jamaica is a larger territory and one of the most developed, population size is larger. So percentage wise the numbers are the same in terms of contestants but Jamaica has larger numbers".
