PTV signs off its news & channels on Dec 31, promising to return

By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm 

Editorial Staff 

#TurksandCaicos, December 8, 2022 – Longtime Turks and Caicos local news broadcaster PTV and ‘over the air’ TV service provider has announced that it will be suspending operations in a matter of days.  In an email to customers late afternoon on Wednesday December 7, the company which was the only local TV news production still standing, cited a series of events which led to the decision.

“We were not without struggles and the hurricanes of 2017, the global economic changes, the COVID pandemic and changing customer needs due to technological advances, the increased cost of doing business – all have had a serious impact on our operations.”

The email said as it announced People’s Television (PTV) company would go off air come December 31, 2022.

The announcement was heartbreak and shock as the 15-year old company recently mourned the untimely passing of its founder, Peter Stubbs. Stubbs passed away at his home after a bout of illness on March 31, 2021 at the age of 58.

His wife and children continued the vision, headquartered in the Stubbs hometown of the Bight, Providenciales.

PTV8 had been the discussion hub for hundreds of islanders, ideas and ideals and raised up from virtual obscurity, dozens more who hosted talk shows and featured in the nightly news and week in review.

The PTV8 News Watch newscasts came at a time when Turks and Caicos needed exceptional coverage due to the exceptional situation created in the 2009 Commission of Inquiry and Constitutional suspension.

Before the crippling blow of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, PTV had partnered historically with indigenous broadcast companies established in North Caicos and South Caicos to bring its local news channel, PTV8 and its entertainment line up to islanders in further flung parts of the country.  For the first time, residents of Providenciales, Grand Turk, North Caicos, Middle Caicos and South Caicos were all able to simultaneously enjoy local news; the PTV experience.

While this indefinite pause feels more like a final act, the executives of Andrews Communications Ltd, which is the parent company of PTV vows: “This suspension is to allow us time to concentrate on modernizing, restructuring, rebranding and rebuilding our operations.”

Offering thanks to their supporters PTV said, “We look forward to the day when we announce the resumption of operations and again providing you with excellent service.”