Greater Belize Media

Greater Belize Media (GBM), formerly Great Belize Television and commonly known as Channel 5, is a Belizean television, news, production, and digital media company headquartered in Belize City. It operates through Great Belize Productions Ltd. (GBPL), a company established in 1982 by journalist and media entrepreneur Stewart Krohn. Before becoming a broadcaster, GBPL produced commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, and services for international film projects shot in Belize. The company also developed locally focused programming, including Belize All Over, during the years before it obtained a broadcast license. GBPL received a broadcasting license from the Government of Belize in 1991 after a lengthy licensing process conducted in a period when Belize lacked comprehensive broadcasting legislation. On 9 December 1991, it began broadcasting as Channel 5 and launched News 5 Live, described by the company and reference sources as Belize's first locally produced, independent national television newscast. The station initially operated from Regent Street in Belize City and became one of the country's most prominent media institutions. Its programming expanded beyond news to include talk shows, cultural features, entertainment, documentaries, cooking, competitions, and locally produced public-interest programs. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Channel 5 developed a strong local identity. It promoted its schedule in newspapers, introduced the annual Gimme 5 viewer promotion, and launched channel5belize.com in January 1998, among the early Belizean media websites. The company also earned regional recognition through the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), while Krohn held senior positions in Caribbean broadcasting organizations. In June 2008, GBPL was acquired by Belize Telemedia Ltd. Amalia Mai became chief executive and oversaw a period of expanded original programming, including Open Your Eyes, Great Belize Cooking, The Belize Apprentice, and Yes to I Do. The ownership situation changed during the 2009 nationalisation of Belize Telemedia. Before the nationalisation took effect, GBPL was separated from the Telemedia assets and transferred into the Ashcroft Group of Companies. It consequently operated independently of Telemedia. A later claim by Belize Telemedia seeking recovery of GBPL and the company's Coney Drive premises was struck out by Belize's Court of Appeal in March 2015. Channel 5 continued to develop its television and online operations under successive leadership. Amalia Mai left in February 2021, and Marleni Cuellar, a long-serving presenter, producer, correspondent, and manager, became chief executive. In 2023, the company created a dedicated digital news department, and in 2024 it combined the digital and television news teams under a converged, digital-first newsroom. The same year, it completed a transition from analogue to high-definition broadcasting. The company expanded its schedule and language reach with News 5 @ Noon, a short midday bulletin launched in December 2024, and Noticiero 5 Semanal, a national Spanish-language newscast launched in March 2025. On 26 May 2025, the company formally adopted the name Greater Belize Media, while retaining the Channel 5 identity in its broadcasting and public recognition. The rebrand used the tagline 'Growing Together.' GBM also operates across its website and major social and messaging platforms, distributing news, video, classifieds, obituaries, and community information. Its Facebook presence has been described as the largest among Belizean media organizations. The company remains focused on local journalism, original Belizean programming, and multiplatform distribution.

Great Belize Media traces its origins to Great Belize Productions Ltd., founded in 1982 by Stewart Krohn. The company began as a production house rather than a television station, creating commercials, documentaries, and corporate films. It also provided production support for international projects filmed in Belize, including The Mosquito Coast, Caribe, and Heart of Darkness. Emory King, a Belizean historian, author, journalist, and film commissioner, was among the company's co-founders. In its pre-broadcast period, the company produced Belize All Over, a locally oriented series presented by Silvaana Udz. Krohn applied for a broadcast license in the early 1980s, but approval took roughly eight years because Belize did not yet have a mature broadcasting-law framework. GBPL received its license in 1991 and launched Channel 5 from Regent Street in Belize City on 9 December of that year. Its first major broadcast was News 5 Live, an independent, locally produced national newscast. The program helped distinguish Channel 5 from television services that relied heavily on imported news or politically aligned coverage. Channel 5 became one of Belize's best-known broadcasters and gradually built a broad catalogue of locally produced programs. In the 1990s, the station advertised its weekly schedule in Belizean newspapers and introduced Gimme 5, an annual viewer promotion tied to its December anniversary. In January 1998, it launched channel5belize.com, providing text versions and streamed video associated with News 5 Live. Other productions from the period included The Andy Palacio Show, Lauren Da Mawnin, One on One with Stuart Leslie and Dickie Bradley, Spotlight, and Karaoke Television. The company received repeated recognition from the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, while Krohn served as CBU president from 1999 to 2011 and participated in the Caribbean Media Corporation. In June 2008, Belize Telemedia Ltd. acquired GBPL. Amalia Mai, a journalist and former diplomat, became chief executive. During her tenure, Channel 5 introduced or expanded programs such as Open Your Eyes, Great Belize Cooking, The Belize Apprentice, and Yes to I Do. In 2009, the station moved from Regent Street to Coney Drive in Belize City. The ownership arrangement was disrupted by the nationalisation of Belize Telemedia in August 2009. Before the nationalisation, GBPL was detached from Telemedia and transferred to the Ashcroft Group of Companies, leaving the production and broadcasting company independent of Telemedia. A later Telemedia legal claim concerning GBPL and the Coney Drive premises was struck out by the Court of Appeal in March 2015. The company encountered a notable press-freedom dispute in December 2010, when the Government of Belize announced that it was suspending normal relations with Channel 5 and barring government representatives from interviews and official appearances. The stated reason concerned alleged violations of license conditions relating to news and editorial commentary. The suspension lasted approximately two weeks and was discussed in contemporary press-freedom reporting. Mai left the company in February 2021 for a government foreign-affairs leadership role and was succeeded by Marleni Cuellar. Cuellar had joined Channel 5 in 2006 as a part-time News 5 Live anchor and subsequently worked as a host, feature writer, correspondent, producer, and member of management. Under the newer leadership, GBM expanded its digital capabilities. A dedicated digital news department was established in 2023, followed by the integration of digital and television news operations into a single newsroom in 2024. The company also upgraded from analogue to high-definition broadcasting. Recent development has included new formats and a formal corporate rebrand. News 5 @ Noon launched in December 2024, while Noticiero 5 Semanal began in March 2025 as a national Spanish-language bulletin. On 26 May 2025, Great Belize Television officially became Greater Belize Media, with the tagline 'Growing Together.' The renamed company combines television, web publishing, social distribution, messaging channels, and its archive of local programming. Its stated direction is to increase local content, preserve Belizean audiovisual history, and make journalism available across platforms and languages.

• 2025

  Rebrand to Greater Belize Media

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  On 26 May, the company formally changed its name from Great Belize Television to Greater Belize Media.

• 2024

  Newsroom convergence and HD upgrade

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company integrated television and digital editorial teams and completed a transition from analogue to high-definition broadcasting.

• 2023

  Dedicated digital news department is created

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  GBM established a digital news unit, described as the first dedicated department of its kind at a Belizean television station.

• 2021

  Marleni Cuellar becomes chief executive

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Cuellar succeeded Amalia Mai after a long career as a Channel 5 presenter, producer, correspondent, and manager.

• 2009

  Headquarters move to Coney Drive

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 5 relocated its Belize City headquarters from Regent Street to Coney Drive.

• 2008

  GBPL is acquired by Belize Telemedia

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Belize Telemedia Ltd. acquired Great Belize Productions Ltd., and Amalia Mai became chief executive.

• 1998

  channel5belize.com launches

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster established an early online presence featuring news transcripts and video streaming.

• 1991

  Channel 5 begins broadcasting

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  After receiving a national broadcasting license, the company went on air on 9 December and premiered News 5 Live.

• 1982

  Great Belize Productions Ltd. is established

  [1]Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Stewart Krohn founded the production company that later became the corporate basis of Channel 5 and Greater Belize Media.

A Belize-focused independent broadcaster and multiplatform news organization emphasizing locally produced journalism, national coverage, cultural programming, and digital accessibility.

• National television news · 1991

  News 5 Live

  The flagship evening newscast premiered on 9 December 1991 and is described as Belize's first locally produced, independent national television newscast. It covers national affairs, politics, communities, culture, and sport, and is distributed through television and the company's digital channels. Recurring segments have included Sports Monday, Bright Side, Kolcha Tuesday, Belize On-Reel, and 5 Point Breakdown.

• Morning talk and current-affairs program · 2008

  Open Your Eyes

  A weekday morning program launched in 2008 that combines news, interviews, entertainment, lifestyle features, and community stories. It was originally hosted by Marleni Cuellar and William Neal, with other presenters joining over time. Cuellar later handed the principal hosting role to Sabreena Daly, and the program received regional broadcasting recognition.

• Midday news bulletin · 2024

  News 5 @ Noon

  A short midday bulletin launched in December 2024 to provide national and regional updates between the company's main morning and evening news offerings. It is distributed through Channel 5's television and online platforms, including YouTube and Facebook.

• Spanish-language national news · 2025

  Noticiero 5 Semanal

  A weekly Spanish-language television newscast launched in March 2025. The program was created to serve Belize's Spanish-speaking audience and includes national, regional, and international coverage, with later additions such as an audience poll and the Pulso Internacional segment.

• Video and television production · 1982

  Great Belize Productions

  The production operation underlying the broadcaster began with commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, and production services for international film projects. It remains associated with GBM's locally produced television, documentary, advertising, and digital content.

• 2010

  Government suspension of relations with Channel 5

  The Government of Belize temporarily prohibited government representatives from giving interviews or appearing officially on Channel 5 and GBPL. Officials alleged that the station had breached broadcast-license requirements concerning the distinction between news and editorial commentary. The measure lasted about two weeks and was cited in press-freedom reporting.

  Source

Read more

• 2025Growing Together

  Belize

  The corporate rebrand campaign introduced Greater Belize Media as the company's name and positioned its development as connected to the growth of Belize and its communities.

  Outcome. The company adopted Greater Belize Media on 26 May 2025.

  Source
• 2025All Belizean, All Day, Every Day

  Belize

  A local-content initiative associated with GBM Classics used the company's archive of more than three decades of programming to create an all-local broadcast schedule and preserve Belizean audiovisual material.

  Outcome. The initiative expanded the role of archived local programs while creating a platform for contemporary Belizean creators.

  Source
• 1992Gimme 5

  Belize

  An annual week-long viewer promotion held each December around the station's anniversary. It helped build audience participation and reinforce the Channel 5 identity.

  Outcome. The promotion became a recurring part of the station's annual public profile.

  Source

• 2025

  Corporate rebrand to Greater Belize MediaStrategy

  Background

  The former Great Belize Television name increasingly represented a broader organization combining television, digital news, social distribution, and archival content.

  Action taken

  The company changed its official name to Greater Belize Media on 26 May 2025 and introduced the tagline 'Growing Together.'

  Aftermath

  The Channel 5 identity remained central to the broadcaster while the new name signaled a wider multiplatform scope.

  Source

• 2024

  Newsroom convergence and high-definition transitionStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to coordinate television and online reporting and modernize its broadcast technology.

  Action taken

  GBM merged its digital and television news teams into one newsroom and upgraded from analogue to high-definition broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  The operating model enabled simultaneous production for broadcast, web, social, and messaging platforms.

  Source

• 2023

  Creation of a dedicated digital news departmentStrategy

  Background

  Audience consumption was increasingly distributed across websites, social networks, and messaging services as well as linear television.

  Action taken

  GBM established a dedicated digital news department under Digital Editor Hipolito Novelo.

  Aftermath

  The department was integrated with television news in 2024 as part of a converged, digital-first newsroom.

  Source

• 2008

  Acquisition by Belize TelemediaM&A

  Background

  Great Belize Productions had operated as a production and broadcasting business for decades before becoming part of Belize Telemedia Ltd.

  Action taken

  Belize Telemedia acquired GBPL in June 2008 and installed Amalia Mai as chief executive.

  Aftermath

  The company later became independent of Telemedia after GBPL was separated from the assets affected by the 2009 nationalisation.

  Source

1. 1Greater Belize Mediaen.wikipedia.org