Today’s blog is a two-in-one on my television viewing. I will try to be brief.
During my childhood when we had only one television station, which signed off between midday and three in the afternoon then signed off at midnight until (I think) eight in the morning, I would get excited whenever solar flares (I thought) caused interference and the neighbouring Venezuelan stations would infiltrate our airwaves. I would string wires left, right and centre onto the rabbit ears antennae and sometimes assume acrobatic positions to improve the signal from next door. Despite the grainy images on the tube, I relished at being “in touch” with another culture. Well, with the introduction of more local television stations, cable television, the internet and the disappearance of the rabbit ears, that television explorer spirit was left behind in my childhood…until now.
I came across this wonderful site WWITV (World Wide Internet Television) which allows you to view television programmes across the globe, for free (TnT is there too).
http://wwitv.com/portal.htm
I have a similar but greater sensation as in my boyhood years as I span territories that I would not normally be able to, even with cable at my disposal. I am looking at television in Romania, USA, Suriname, Jamaica, you name it. And guess what? I think this will come in handy when certain programmes are blocked locally (Wink! Wink!)
I was curious as to what was happening at the other side of the Caribbean so I tuned in to Jamaica’s station, TVJ. It was nice to see the similarities and the differences between us. I was actually enjoying their Digicel Rising Star show. Their local ads were of a different…energy, but not boring at all (at least those that I saw). As I love game shows, I tuned in to Claro Cash Car, a game show that happens in a taxi.
I thought it so innovative and wondered if this was an original idea of theirs. As usual, I also thought about Trinidad television who hardly innovate but generally follow. Sigh.
