Flow celebrates children on Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela Day, celebrated on Thursday, July 18 this year, marks a day of celebration for the life and work of the humanitarian, child advocate and former president of South Africa.  To commemorate this special day, Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited, operators of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions joined many other private and public sector organizations to partner with the South African High Commission to celebrate the life of this world leader.

(l-r) Nicole Campbell, corporate social responsibility specialist at Columbus Communications, operators of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions brands and caretakers at the SOS Children’s Village admire the beautifully crafted art pieces created by the children at the home to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day on Thursday, July 18. 

Columbus and the South African High Commission hosted a very special treat for children at the SOS Childrens’ Village which included the feature movie ‘The Lion King’, sweet treats as well as a Nelson Mandela Art & Craft showcase put on by the children.  Mandela, who has been an advocate for the protection, safety and nurturing of children, was a prominent supporter of building an SOS Children's Village in Umtata, in the Eastern Cape Province. Since then, he has spoken openly, encouraging people across the world to support this charitable organization.  Columbus has also adopted the Home and has supported several initiatives to support the continued growth of the Home.

Mandela’s passion for children and a desire to end their suffering also led him to establish the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) in 1995, among a number of other institutions in his name dedicated to the development of youth and the advancement of education.

Columbus Communications also shares this passion for youth development. In honour of Nelson Mandela, Columbus is implementing efforts to build awareness of his life and work of this legendary icon, role model and for many, a hero.

"We are delighted to be able to play our part in spreading Mandela’s message," noted Nicole Campbell, corporate social responsibility specialist at Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited. "We are proud of our longstanding association with the SOS Children's Village and feel that this special initiative is very appropriate, especially because of what the charity represents in fostering a better living experience for the children there, which is what Nelson Mandela also fought for," she continued. 

The Lion King which took the world by storm in a ground breaking animated series in 1994 and is set against the majestic backdrop of Africa, tells a simple, powerful story of a young lion cub named Simba and his heroic journey to claim his destined role as king of the jungle. Showing this movie on Mandela Day sends an important message about the link between some of Nelson Mandela strongest attributes, unmovable willpower, self-discipline and determination and his rise to success.

Nicole Campbell, corporate social responsibility specialist at Columbus Communications, operators of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions brands, shares cupcakes with the children at the SOS Children’s Village on Thursday, July 18.

The theme for this year is ‘Take action, Inspire change and make everyday a Mandela day’. The SOS initiative will also see the children participating in creative activities such as poetry, music and arts and crafts to express their understanding of Nelson Mandela and what he means to them.

In a further effort to promote the celebration, the broadband service provider will broadcast Nelson Mandela Day messages on Flow’s Interactive Programming Guide for the period.  In addition, Columbus employees will be volunteering 67 minutes of their day on Thursday to serving others through charity involvement, service in the local community and other worthwhile causes.

The SOS children's Village offers orphaned and abandoned children a permanent home in a family oriented environment and prepares them for an independent life. Children at SOS are raised with caregivers who function as "The Mother and "The Father" within the "House" and "The Village".

Flow Introduces lowest phone rates in Jamaica

Columbus Communications, Jamaica Limited, Operators of Flow today announced further cuts to its phone rates making Flow the most affordable in the market.

Effective Thursday, July 18, calls to  any mobile phone from Flow landlines have been reduced from $6.99 to $2.99, billed per second representing a massive 57% reduction.

Donovan White, VP of Marketing and Sales for Columbus explained that the Company is able to offer these significant cost savings to customers because of the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) implementation of the reduced Mobile Termination Rate (MTR).

 “The cost previously charged by the mobile operators to terminate our customers calls on their networks was the single most significant  contributor to the higher call costs” explained White. “The new mobile termination rate”, he continued “provides the opportunity to pass on savings to our customers and continue to deliver on our promise of more value.”

In addition to the new retail rate ($2.99) to call any mobile number in Jamaica, White said that, "Flow is the only telephone service provider that has always offered 100% free on-network calls; that means, Flow to Flow calls are free. A little known fact is that Flow also offers the lowest rate to call Lime landlines ($0.95c) (this is lower than calls made from Lime to Lime). 

White also emphasized that customers on the Flow International call plan (Talk to the World) with 2,500 minutes monthly, pay an effective rate of ($0.74c) per minute to call more than 45 destinations around the world including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada."  Other mobile operators are charging as high as $17.70 to call international destinations.

These are all significant savings to our customers said White. "With the lowest call rates in Jamaica, we now have the opportunity to be very competitive in delivering a superior digital landline product for Jamaicans and with it, massive savings, crystal clear connection, no dropped calls or having to worry about credit refills. Customers can leave the complicated mobile plans at work or on the road. When you’re home, relax and talk freely with the absolute lowest call rates in Jamaica on your Flow phone." White ended.

Flow Announces Exclusive 24 hour cricket channel - Free View For One Month

In a move designed to delight the cricket community, Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited operators of the Flow brand, announced the addition of a 24 hour cricket channel to its lineup.  This cricket channel is the result of a partnership between Flow and Ten Cricket, a 24/7 cricket channel operated by ZEE TV (Asia Television)

 Under a 3 year agreement, between the two organizations, Ten Cricket will be programmed exclusively on Flow in Jamaica, Trinidad, Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and St Vincent until 2016. The news coincides with the start of the Celkon Cup Tri-nation One Day International series featuring The West Indies, Sri Lanka and ICC Champions Trophy winners, India. 

 According to Donovan White, Vice President of Marketing and Sales the channel will be a cricket lovers dream!   “This is great news for the sport of cricket, for sports fan  in general and for subscriber television,” said White. He noted that the partnership will enable greater exposure for the sport as it allows cricket fans to see  a wide range of cricket action including the broadcast of all home and away cricket matches played by teams representing West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and South Africa on Flow’s digital cable television network.

Ten Cricket will be a 24 hour cricket channel and the programming  will include live and repeat broadcasts of the matches of major Tests, ODIs and T20 matches along with other cricket related programmes that viewers would not normally have access to.  In order to enable Caribbean cricket fans to cheer on the West Indies as they play India and Sri Lanka in the current one-day international series, White also announced a special introductory offer for cricket fans. “We are proud to extend a special free view period of 1 month that will expire on July 31, 2013 so they never miss a minute of the action in the Celkon Cup Tri-Nation One Day international series.”

Sameer Targe, General Manager of Zee Americas said, “We are very excited with the launch of Ten Cricket in the Caribbean islands. Columbus has always been very forward looking in its approach, when it comes to its subscribers”. Zee Americas’ Director of Content Distribution, Akhilesh Gupta adds, “There isa definite need fora quality 24/7 cricket channel in the Caribbean. This launch fills that void and extends our long term association with Columbus”.

Flow is a major enabler of sports in the Caribbean.  In Jamaica Flow is the title sponsor of football and basketball and works with other broadcast partners to host training initiatives, such as football and basketball clinics to strengthen coaching, administrative and player’ skills.  This is the first major cricket initiative where the Broadband Company is using its technology to enable greater exposure for cricket.

Columbus continues to be an innovator in delivery of digital cable TV services.  Under the Flow brand Columbus was the first to bring 3D television channels and Video OnDemand technology into consumers’ homes. 

Columbus also introduced personal video recording (PVR) technology in the markets in which it serves, enabling customers to record favorite programmes to watch at their convenience, after the scheduled broadcast times. 

Columbus’ latest innovations in broadcast television are the introduction of Flow ToGo, a multi-screen application which enables customers to watch their cable TV service on PC’s and Mac computers as well as mobile devices such as the iPAD and iPhones, and cloud-based pvr technology which eliminates the need for a separate PRV set top box and enables customers to store recordings of their programmes in the cloud.

Flow Promotes dream local vacation this summer

One lucky family will be treated to an all-expense-paid Jamaican vacation valued at $250,000 from Columbus Communications, Jamaica Limited operators of Flow and Columbus Business Solutions. This as Flow launches its summer promotion, 'All You need is Flow'.

The Jamaican 'staycation' grand prize is only one of several incentives and specials that Flow is extending to new and existing customers starting June 14 through to September 15. Each week 3 lucky customers will also win 1 year of triple play service - internet, cable and landline telephone - while the winner of the Grand Prize will be selected in September. In addition, Flow is giving consumers the chance to save up to $10,000 when they sign up for any new Flow service during the summer promotion period with special offers of free installation, free wireless upgrade, 50 free local calling minutes and 10 free channels for up 3 months.

Commenting on the focus on "staying local", as a promotion incentive, Evelyn Smith, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association welcomed the news that Flow's newest promotion will bring more awareness to the options available for a Jamaican vacation.  

"Jamaica's tourism product has received tremendous recognition across the world. Over the years the members of our association have encouraged Jamaicans to also experience the diverse range of options of accommodations and attractions that we have. We commend Flow for this initiative which will further encourage Jamaicans to vacation at home,” said Smith.

"We are always looking for ways to deliver more value and great savings for our customers. Our offers this summer ensure that everyone has a chance to take advantage of Jamaica's best telecommunications technology in order to stay connected and enjoy the best quality entertainment," said Donovan White, VP, Sales and Marketing at Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited. "In addition to more value and savings, we are saying thank you to our customers for choosing Flow by giving them a chance to win these great prizes. We are particularly excited about enabling a customer to create their dream Jamaican vacation and enjoy some of the best resorts, attractions and activities that are available on our beautiful island. All new customers will benefit from free installation on all services. 

White also added, "All our customers, new and existing will have a chance to win once you pay your bill early each month. There is no catch and no gimmick. This is our way of rewarding our loyal customers and inviting others to be a part of the Flow family and enjoy the leading telecommunications services that will transform the way they work, play and learn."

 Customers who sign up for any new Flow service during the promotion period or pay their bill before the 21st of the month are automatically entered for the weekly and Grand Prize draws.

Kingstoon to Animate Jamaican Creativity for employment and income generation

Jamaica stands to gain a share of the billion dollar global animation industry as a result of a multi-lateral public private partnership between the government of Jamaica, the World Bank, the Canadian High Commission, Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited and ToonBoom, a leading animation software provider. The aim of this partnership will be realised via “Kingstoon – Animating Jamaican Creativity” – a two day conference to be held June 20 and 21 at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, UWI Campus.

The Kingstoon conference, an initiative led by the World Bank, will highlight opportunities in the global animation industry; facilitate interactions between young Jamaicans with professionals and entrepreneurs operating in the local and international animation industry to enable them to explore the animation industry for employment and career development, and showcase Jamaican talent in the animation sector and visual arts to national and international companies.

“Working with our domestic and international partners we continue to look for outside-the-box solutions to Jamaica’s youth unemployment” stated Giorgio Valentini, Country Manager for the World Bank in Jamaica, adding that “KingstOOn will demonstrate to young Jamaicans how to fulfil their creative potential, while also helping Jamaican Government, educational institutions, and the private sector understand how to create the right conditions to develop the animation industry in Jamaica and rip its benefits.” 

Julian Robinson, Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining also shared the rationale behind this initiative. “As a government we believe we have to shift our economy from a physically based economy exporting goods and services, to a knowledge based economy. In trying to shift that we have identified services which we believe we can produce here in Jamaica and which can enable us to have a market globally,” said Minister Robinson. “What we are trying to do with this conference is to inform you on what the industry is about, what the potential is in this industry for you, and the kind of skills and expertise you will need if you want to get into this industry. The Minister emphasised that there is a huge market for animation with great potential for job creation for talented persons.

As the largest distributor of animation content in Jamaica and the first broadcaster to include a locally produced animated series on its network, Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited plays a significant role in the development of the industry in Jamaica.  “This partnership for the staging of Kingstoon is very important to us at Columbus as it provides another opportunity to leverage our technology to enable the development of the local production sector and the talents and skills Jamaican youth. We see this conference as an important part of the process of enabling Jamaicans to take advantage of 21st century career opportunities,” said Denise Williams, director of corporate communications of Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited, operators of the Flow and Columbus Business Solution brands. “Columbus provides the technology that makes it possible for our talented youth to participate in the global animation industry as producers as well as consumers.”

This is the second year that Columbus is partnering with the Government and the World Bank on an initiative to promote innovative and advanced industries to leverage the technology available in Jamaica.

Students from high schools and tertiary institutions, animation and visual arts hobbyists and freelancers and professional graphic artistes and film producers are expected among the participants to attend Kingstoon. The conference will feature panel discussions with experts and local and international industry leaders exploring areas such as the business of animation, production partnerships, monetizing online content and the production pipeline. Workshops will provide practical insights into the work of an animator including storyboarding and character development.

The original logo that has been created for Kingstoon showcases the depth of talent that already exists in Jamaica, as well as the readiness to. The logo was created by Diandra Johnson, a graphic artiste who works on the Media Services team at Flow. “We are very proud of the work that Diandra has done to create great brand identity for Kingstoon. She is a great ambassador representing the talented team that we have here at Columbus, as well as the wider community of artistes who are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities available in the animation industry,” Williams said.  

The best work of Jamaican animators will be highlighted via a Film Festival and competition with awards to be presented for best final animation product or advertisement, best experimental animation, best character and best storyboard or script. Prizes for winners of the Kingstoon competition include a scholarship for the Summer Animation Programme at Sheridan College in Canada, an internships at Columbus Communications and other organisations and ToonBoom Software licenses.