On-air talent at Bermuda’s Channel 82 will go international from its Cemetery Road studios.

The channel streams live 24/7 and on the company website channel82.bm, as well as Channel 82 on One Comm’s Bermuda Cablevision.

A depository of 10 years of local shows can be found as a virtual archive on YouTube – Channel82 Bermuda.

But founder Lamone Woods said enlarged studio space will bring new talent to Bermuda television and even a unique Bermuda game show.

He told us: “We have all the equipment, but the show is still in development. The working title is Island Booty and could be pirate-themed. There is a market for this type of game show. Bermudians love this sort of thing.”

He said: “As we come out of this pandemic, we are focused on bringing new programming to television and social media.

“The goal is to increase the pool of local television talent and to find latent talent walking around the island, people who don't even realise they have the gift to be in front of the camera.”

Channel 82 has already started working on The Loud Lounge with Selecta Fray and featured co-hosts, aimed at an international audience through the YouTube channel.

It involves interviews with international artists and locals in the entertainment industry.

The show will launch this fall within a line-up based around parenting, seniors, sports, investing, real estate and relationships.

He said: “We are looking to create a hit video podcast show in Bermuda that is not necessarily targeted to Bermudians. Bermuda has a very limited population and viewership. With the ability to make money from YouTube, we're looking to put more energy on the platform.

“In Bermuda, we have the equipment and the talent but we need to evolve in terms of what we produce and who we target. There are billions of eyes on YouTube.”

Much of this will be possible because of infrastructure changes that he has coming.

He told us: “We are excited about our new studio which will be bigger than what we currently have. Our new space is being renovated and should be completed in the next few months.

“It will make filming more comfortable for production and clients. It will also make it easier for set changes and to be able to shoot on different sets back-to-back. It will also have its own equipment, removing set up time.”

It’s hard to believe it was not that long ago when he was a high school teacher with no knowledge of the TV or production world. He does have a B.Sc. in Electronics Engineering and a Master's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.

He recalled: “I could have never predicted that I would own a video production company and run a local TV channel.

“My first experience with video happened while teaching computer science and visual design at the Berkeley Institute between 2002-2007. The school had video equipment that wasn't being used, so I decided to use it with my students to create tutorial videos.

“I then had a vision that there should be more local entertainment on television, in sports, to be more specific.

“I approached my cousin, Kevin Mayes, with the idea and we decided that sports would be a great way to enter the market. We started the Bermuda Sports Network, the predecessor to Channel 82 on Cable.

“In Bermuda, it seemed to me that politicians were more popular than entertainers, athletes and artists, probably because they get more time in the press, and on camera.”

Having a video production company and a broadcast channel was a game changer, because it is not only about a client’s production, but also their distribution.

He says: “With our structure, we can produce and distribute programming across several mediums. This adds extra value for the clients, and helps them to make sense about investing in production.”

While Channel 82 helps him connect to Bermuda and local star power, his production company, Crimson Multimedia, has taken him on the road.

“Crimson Multimedia has provided opportunities to travel to places like Japan, South Korea, Europe, and United States. In Bermuda, it has meant work with America's Cup, Sail GP, the International Triathlon, CBS, Boulder Creek International as well as corporate, government, and charitable organisations.

“We have filmed more events over the last 10 years than any other video producer in Bermuda.”

Prior to the pandemic, the companies were on a path to create more content, including new TV shows to complement the existing ones. The new season begins mid October.

But the pandemic brought production to a halt, with a few shows in production and others stalled.

Visions with Desmond Crockwell and Millionaire Minds are new shows this fall. Back Stage with Mr Magic is in season seven.

Season two of Relationship Theory with Tina Laws and Grown Folk Talk with Patrice Frith Hayward are in production, as is Mandela Fubler on Investing.

Also expected back are Sovereign Life with Terresa Stewart, the edgy programme Ceola Wilson One on One and Mwalimu Dropping the Knowledge.