Four new Portuguese TV channels are coming to Bermuda.

Bermuda CableVision has struck a deal to add the extra complement to its existing Portuguese channel RTP and will air Portuguese language versions of Turner Network Television, Turner Classic Movies, The Cartoon Channel and Boomerang, which are currently only available in English in Bermuda.

The expansion of the available programming for Bermuda's sizeable Portuguese community came about by a fortunate conversation between Bermuda CableVision general manager Terry Roberson and executives of the TimeWarner entertainment company Turner.

He told the Royal Gazette: "We have such a melting pot of people and communities here (in Bermuda) and we are always looking for opportunities to expand what we can offer them.

"Turner came along and by accident we heard they had these extra feeds. I realised the demography for such programmes would be high in Bermuda with our Portuguese community and it brought a little bit more value to everything."

The four new channels will be available to subscribers of the digital Variety Tier and, to add convenience, Bermuda CableVision has duplicated its current Portuguese channel 32 onto channel 164 so that Variety Tier subscribers will have all five channels next to each other for ease when switching between them.

Portuguese is not the only non-English language the cable provider looks to deliver. Mr. Roberson said: "We are also always looking to have Spanish, Italian, French programmes to provide a better service to all the people we represent. The world is getting smaller and smaller and there are greater opportunities."

Requests for programming to be made available on the Island often refer to sporting events beamed from Europe. While Bermuda CableVision works hard to access what it can, it is limited if a sporting event is being carried by a satellite with a 'beam-print' that does not stretch far enough to be picked up in Bermuda.

The company is currently rolling out its BroadBand Link system for faster Internet connectivity. The project started in St. George's and has gradually moved westwards, a parish at a time, and has now been completed in Paget. Ongoing work continues to link up Warwick now.

Mr. Roberson said the uptake and interest in the broadband internet option was good.

"We are very happy and pleased with how it is going," he said. And when asked if he thinks the Internet might one day supercede traditional television and video, replied: "The whole world will eventually be streaming videos and movies (via the Internet) and it will be important to be the person who can provide that. There are lots of opportunities to deliver to contact and at different speeds."

The new Portuguese channels will be on channels 160 - 163 from September 1. Channel 160 will be TNT with serial drama and movies such as The Closer, Saving Grace, Heartland, The Company, Without a Trace, Law & Order, and ER. It will also feature sports including NASCAR racing and the NBA.

Channel 161 will be 24-hour classic movies from the 1920 to the 1990s, all without commercials. It will also have original documentaries and specials relating to the movie industry.

Channel 162 is The Cartoon Network and Channel 163 will be Boomerang with classic animated entertainment.