Local Programming on Television
The life of many Jamaicans has been mesmerized by the quality of ‘local programming’ offered by CVM and TVJ television stations. The programmes aired by both media houses have offered nothing even to the dead. If the directors of programming at both institutions were half as witty like street boys, the level of artistry in local production would have created “Jamaica hood” appeal in movie consumption never seen in Hollywood. In addition, those local productions that are ventilated on television have no value to a wide cross section of the populace.
The high quality events on the local radar for viewers need to be reedited, revised, and rewritten and purity before allowed to make the grade of television viewer ship. The examples here are “Royal Palm” and “Zinc Fence”. Those programmes lack finesse in production output like a “Rambo” or the “Godfather”. Notwithstanding the latter programmes wide appeal, due to budgetary allocation from large corporations in First World countries, I am purporting that the sub-quality of events that are sold to the Jamaican publics cannot continue. Furthermore, the programmes are sold under the name “totally Jamaican”. “Are they purporting that the best quality from anything Jamaican is sub-standard?” Those programmes presently on Jamaican television need to be washed from the screens forever.
Although I have never held a camera in my hands for more than twenty-seconds in any one year since childhood, as a viewer of local programming because of my inability to afford the cable box, does that mean I am unable to critique what come through the television. The inferiority of local productions are highly distasteful and does not reflect Jamaican super creativity that I have come to love and respect. Presently, the local broadcast on television can be likened to clean water stored in a vase for a long period.
Furthermore, local non-artistry in programming is not family friendly. Generally, the characters are boring, lack style, and miss the essence of “Jamaicanness” that it is local with the finest flavour of Miss Lou and Oliver Samuel like flair. Continuing, the scripts are not written with an understanding that Jamaicans are not only highly sexed beings but also equally intellectual and moral souls. In an era when intelligence can be bought anywhere, why has the quality of local programming not risen to the degree of the billion-dollar industry to which it falls? If local productions continue in its present modus operandi, then the local market share to which CVM and TVJ are likely to have is approximately 0.05 per cent of the non-cable viewer ship.
As such, I am purporting that both television giants, dismiss the entire programming producers and hire a few street boys who understand the needs of the Jamaican publics within the context of high quality entertainment.