TVJ, CNN sign deal

JAMAICA'S NO. 1 television station, Television Jamaica Limited (TVJ), signed a historic agreement yesterday with CNN to be its exclusive broadcast partner in Jamaica. The agreement covers radio and television.

This partnership will give TVJ and RJR direct access to CNN's comprehensive and authoritative news reports and footage. TVJ and RJR will be able to join CNN for daily news and breaking stories, features programming and investigative reporting. TVJ will also supply news material and assist the network when major stories break on the island.

Tony Maddox, executive vice-president and managing director of CNN International, remarked: "Jamaica represents one of the largest and most important markets in the Caribbean, and we are delighted to count TVJ and the RJR Group as a new affiliate and news partner. This deal demonstrates our commitment to grow our presence in this part of the region."

Group Head of News and Sports, Milton Walker, commenting on the alliance said, "We are delighted with this exciting development; CNN offers credible, wide-ranging and well-timed news reports that truly go beyond borders, thereby enhancing our current news prowess."

In three decades, CNN has emerged as an iconic global brand. The network makes extensive use of affiliated television stations tapping into the unique and important local knowledge that only local reporters have. The effect is a more immediate, less detached style of on-the-ground coverage.

The partnership also offers the RJR Group the opportunity for educational collaboration with CNN in training TVJ and RJR's journalists in critical areas.