Established in 1963 as Radio Barbados, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is the state-owned public broadcaster of Barbados. It operates TV8, the sole legally licensed over-the-air television channel in the country, along with three radio stations: CBC 94.7 FM, The One 98.1 FM, and Q100.7 FM. Additionally, CBC manages Multi-Choice TV (MCTV), a wireless cable television service offering a variety of international channels.
Media assets
Television: TV8
Radio: CBC Radio, The One, Q-100.7
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
CBC is a statutory corporation established under the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Act of 1963 and functions under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office. Despite discussions over the past two decades about transforming CBC into a publicly listed company or privatizing it, these plans have not materialized. The most recent legislative amendment occurred in 2019, converting the role of General Manager into that of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
As of the latest available information, the General Manager is Sherwood McCaskie, with Mark Seale serving as the Head of News and Current Affairs. The corporation’s headquarters are located in The Pine, St. Michael.
Source of funding and budget
CBC continues to face significant financial challenges. As of March 2025, the corporation’s debt had escalated to over BBD 125 million, prompting a government-initiated restructuring process aimed at financial recovery. This restructuring includes transitioning to a fully digital platform and offering severance packages to staff as of April 1, 2025.
In March 2023, the Barbados government provided a cash injection of approximately BBD 6.9 million to assist CBC in covering debts, including salary payments. Despite these efforts, the corporation has historically struggled with cash flow issues, leading to delays in salary payments and accumulating arrears.
Furthermore, the 2024 Fiscal Risk Statement from the Ministry of Finance highlighted CBC as one of several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) with high-risk financial profiles, indicating the potential need for additional government subventions in the fiscal year 2024/25.
Editorial independence
Concerns regarding CBC’s editorial independence persist. Interviews with local journalists in March 2024 and May 2025 revealed perceptions of the broadcaster functioning as a government propaganda outlet, often prioritizing the views of government officials while minimizing critical reporting. The nightly news program on TV8 has been colloquially referred to as a “ministerial parade.”
While the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Act mandates the provision of “high-quality” broadcasting services, there is no specific statute ensuring editorial independence. Moreover, no independent assessment or oversight mechanism has been identified to validate the editorial independence of CBC’s channels.
May 2025