The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

CABLE Bahamas says it is still looking into breaking the "monopoly" on providing a cellular service but admits it will take "a couple of years" before it finally happens.

Speaking yesterday after the launch of the company's new Video On Demand service, Mark Cabrelli, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, said the company was interested in all communication opportunities.

"We'd like to move into all sorts of areas of communications," he said. "We're really trying to establish the company as being the communications provider of choice for The Bahamas."

Offering cell phone service was "absolutely" still an interest, Mr Cabrelli said.

"But of course right now, it's a monopoly situation. There is only one license in The Bahamas which the Bahamas Telecommunications Company has at the present time so that license goes on for another couple of years before another license will be issued.

"But at that time, of course, it is a business opportunity that the company would love to be a part of."

Cable Bahamas subscribers now have "unprecedented access" to hundreds of movies, television programmes, concerts and even karaoke with yesterday's official launch of 500 REVTV on Demand.

Dubbed a "new and exciting world of watching TV," 500 REVTV on Demand allows subscribers with digital set-top boxes to use their TV remotes to access Cable Bahamas' Video on Demand guide at no extra charge.

In an in-store demonstration, Marketing Director, David Burrows showed how subscribers are able to play, pause, rewind, and fast-forward their programme of choice.

Local content is also offered with Bahamian theatre pieces, movies, and documentaries - such as On The Wings Of Men, available to subscribers.

"Cable Bahamas is very excited about the inclusion of our local content," Mr Burrows said. "Now film makers like Marian Govan and Kareem Mortimer and other Bahamian film makers will have far greater reach into the Bahamian community with this innovation, on demand platform."

Also noted was 500 REVTV On Demand's comprehensive parental control which allows subscribers to hide the titles of adult movies, lock certain channels, certain ratings, as well as certain times of day.