Broadcasting and Advertising Services for the Caribbean Market

In this world of growing technological advances, a new era in Broadcasting and Advertising has been introduced to the St. Lucia.

Imagine being able to enjoy your favourite Television program or live event on your Computer, Mobile Phone and Television from anywhere in the world via the Internet.

THE PLAN
The Carpet Media Plan is based on a vision to operate a fully-fledged Television Station via the Internet. Therefore viewers would be able to log on the website www.scruffytv.com and watch programming from anywhere in the world at any time.

Also, viewers would have the benefit to also watch on-demand, any programme or event they wish just by clicking the required programme. What this means is that apart from the regular 24/7 non-stop programming persons have a choice to go to a specific folder and search for a programme (which they had missed previously) and watch it without having to wait for its scheduled time. This creates a unique product and/or service, which has not been developed at all in the Caribbean.

This is happening right now through financing and hard work of Carpet Media SLU over the past 3 years.

The next step of this project is to now create a regular flow of programmes to keep viewers interested in Scruffy TV. But, that's not enough! What if most of these programmes were hosted and/or created by young persons of the same age groups that we are looking to target with our programming? No one else has attempted this.

But why stop there! Carpet Media SLU has acquired a Television Broadcast Licence from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in St. Lucia to operate a Cable TV Channel on three (3) local Cable TV Networks. The plan is also to network the Caribbean by launching a channel in five (5) other Caribbean Islands within a 12-month period.

Therefore, the Carpet Media SLU Plan will see a fully-fledged Television Station being manned by young persons, supervised and trained by older professionals in the industry, broadcasting simultaneously via Cable TV Networks and the Internet.

Unique Features of this TV Station would be;
• Real-time Networking via various Social Networks and Texting Platforms
• Use of IPTV Technology and Broadband for feeds
• Live broadcasts and Interviews from any where in the world
• Integration of communication software such as Skype and ooVoo
• Access to Scruffy TV programming via Television, PC or Mobile Device

RATIONALE
On a monthly basis we receive a number of requests from young persons who are un-employed and/or just left school seeking for part-time or full time employment within our company. For most of them their interest in Carpet Media SLU is an Online Media Company using the very services that these young people use for hours on a daily basis. They are fascinated by the fact that the use of Social Networks, Websites, Digital Cameras and Mobile Phones can not only be used to communicate but also create a business on the Internet.

They are hungry to get into this type of media to expound on their interest in creating for media. And, where better to do so than on the fastest growing medium today the Internet. The Caribbean is a gold mine for this type of industry and we want to capture it now.

It is in this light that we have decided to create the platform where a selected number of young persons will be given the chance to develop and/or learn certain skills in producing for media. The Carpet Media SLU Project will be another area where idle young persons can look forward to showcasing their skills, learning a trade whilst earning a small salary during the project period.
Having theses young persons working and expressing themselves in our company will create a great interest from their peers not only in St. Lucia but the wider Caribbean where we also plan to expand our programming.

GOAL
The goal is to create a profitable Entertainment Network of which a Television Station will be its main feature and which will Network throughout the Caribbean via the use of broadband Technology and Cable Network's programming Entertainment. Also to empower young persons to develop themselves in the media industry and create a full complement of qualified young person's through on the job training and actual work experience. The hope is also that they would be able to encourage their peers to want to tune in thus creating a larger Network of viewers for Scruffy TV.

Cash Payback is estimated at 10 years.

The Direct competitors to Carpet Media SLU services would be all of the O.E.C.S Member Island TV Stations.
Strengths
• All of these Stations are already established on the market and have been in operation for many years
• They can boast a full line of competent staff
• Some air a variety of music videos and programming which includes News and Current affairs from their locations
• Some have a large established client listing
• They can be judged by a longer track record
• Some are available on the internet with select programs

Weaknesses
• None of these TV Station offer live Broadcasting of events online.
• Online TV Player is always offline.
• Their price structure is based on their current locations and offers no flexibility to clients.
• None of these TV stations offer our type of programming or combined services.
• Their target market is locally based in their respective islands and therefore does not offer their clients a further reach to sell their products.

All of these Stations would also be considered as indirect competitors of Carpet Media SLU. They do not specialize in Internet broadcasting but mention it any way as an offered service. Their main focus would be on Traditional type of broadcast Television, which is limited by geography.

Their viewer ship via the Internet is not consistent. Carpet Media SLU believes this to be the greatest weakness of its competitors and plans to capitalize on this immensely.

The following is a SWOT analysis of Carpet Media SLU

Strengths
• We are able to respond to our clients requests very quickly as we have no red tape, no need for higher management approval
• We have little overhead, so we can offer good value to customers
• We have access to the most up to date technology
• Our advertising rates are the more affordable
• Our online broadcasting is available at SD and HD video quality
• We are the only ones to broadcast to mobile devices
• Our visits per day is growing at a fast rate
• Every business with interest in the Caribbean is our target market

Weaknesses
• Our company’s market presence needs a further boost
• Our cash flow will be unreliable in the early stages
• We do not have a full complement of staff
• Some clients are sceptical about advertising on the Internet

Opportunities
• Our competitors are slow to adapt to new technologies
• Caribbean islands promotion of the CSME and Caribbean events
• Increased use of computers and the Internet for Information and Entertainment.
• Increased developments in Information Technology
• Cheap and free services available on the Internet for marketing our services
• The increased use of the internet for advertising and promotion
• There is no limit to our potential clientele; the world is our market place

Threats
• A small change in focus of a large competitor might wipe out any market position we achieve
• Our competition is already established in their respective countries
• Operating licenses and procedures are getting stricter every day
• Belief in traditional methods of communication may be hard to change
• Funding is difficult to acquire

On a monthly basis we receive a number of requests from young persons who are un-employed and/or just left school seeking for part-time or full time employment within our company. For most of them their interest in Carpet Media SLU is an Online Media Company using the very services that these young people use for hours on a daily basis.

They are fascinated by the fact that the use of Social Networks, Websites, Digital Cameras and Mobile Phones can not only be used to communicate but also create a business on the Internet.

They are hungry to get into this type of media to expound on their interest in creating for media. And, where better to do so than on the fastest growing medium today the Internet. The Caribbean is a gold mine for this type of industry and we want to capture it now.

It is in this light that we have decided to create the platform where a selected number of young persons will be given the chance to develop and/or learn certain skills in producing for media. The Carpet Media SLU Project will be another area where idle young persons can look forward to showcasing their skills, learning a trade whilst earning a small salary during the project period.

Having theses young persons working and expressing themselves in our company will create a great interest from their peers not only in St. Lucia but the wider Caribbean where we also plan to expand our programming.

To achieve these results the company needs to seek funding for its upgrades. In all about $2,000,000.00 will be required to purchase equipment and acquire a studio.

Carpet Media SLU has been able to acquire fixed assets valued at $621,574.00 to date. The company has been soliciting assistance in the form of a grant or loan from a suitable institution to move its operations to the next level.

Total Funding Required: EC$2,000,000.00

This investment needs to be made at the outset to ensure the business creates the right impression. We only get one chance to make a first impression.