Karib Cable mandated to block all other Olympic feeds and programming

Following widespread complaints, viewers of the 2012 Olympic Games in the Caribbean should already be getting better coverage of the Games.{{more}}

The Olympic Games rights holder for the Caribbean Region, International Media Content (iMC), has promised better programming to stations around the region, a post on the Facebook page of CBC TV 8 in Barbados said.

“Virtually all the Caribbean stations … have complained to iMC on behalf of their viewers, about the programming so far for the Olympics.

“iMC says it has had to make tough decisions, as it tries to focus mainly on Caribbean athletes and their events … but it has heard the complaints and will seek to amend programming, in keeping with the preferences of the various stations, as soon as possible.

Local provider Karib Cable, addressing complaints that other channels showing the Games have been blocked out, said in a release on Tuesday that they have been mandated to block out all channels other than Channel 1 which carry feeds and programming for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The cable tv provider said in the release that they have acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights “for the only feed that was made available to St Vincent and the Caribbean,” and because of the exclusive broadcasting agreement, they are “mandated to block out all other Olympic feeds and programming.”

Those channels include NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo and NBC Sports.

Consumers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the coverage being provided on Karib Cable’s Channel 1 and the fact that other channels have been blocked out, in posts on Facebook, calls to radio programmes and in letters to the editor.