Krem Television

Krem Television was the original name of a Belizean television station that now operates under the XTV brand. The station is part of Kremandala Ltd., a Belizean media group with activities spanning radio, newspapers and television. Its development grew out of Kremandala's attempt to expand beyond its established radio and print presence into television during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Kremandala's application for a television licence became controversial within Belize's media industry. Established media organizations objected to the prospect of the group gaining a stronger position across multiple media formats, while the licensing process remained unresolved for an extended period. A licence was eventually granted, allowing the company to begin experimental transmissions. Test broadcasts took place in 2002 and 2003 using CBC Channel 3 in Belize City. These early transmissions included audio relays of KREM FM programs, archived semi-professional basketball games involving the Kremandala Raiders, and documentary material. The station formally went on air in September 2004 as KREM Television. Its launch slogan, “Show weself, see weself, be weself,” expressed a locally rooted editorial identity centered on Belizean expression, community visibility and programming flexibility rather than adherence to a narrowly defined commercial format. Early audience development was gradual; a Christmas program broadcast in December of the launch year attracted only modest viewership. During 2005, the station built much of its schedule by transferring prominent KREM radio programs to television. The Kremandala Show, Women at Work and WUB Morning Vibes became important elements of the television lineup, supplemented by international documentaries, including material dealing with African and African-American subjects, and occasional sports coverage. This approach linked the television station closely to Kremandala's existing radio audience and allowed familiar presenters and formats to serve as the foundation for the new outlet. The schedule expanded in 2006 with additional locally produced programming. New content included the dramatic series Noh Matta Wat!, the youth-oriented program Teen Speakout and a program hosted by attorney and politician Wilfred Elrington. Other programming associated with the station has included Sunday Review, Bad Ting Mek Laugh and Evening News, which premiered in 2014. Together, these shows reflect a mix of news, discussion, entertainment, youth programming, cultural material and imported or documentary content. Before its rebranding, Krem Television was reported to broadcast for approximately 16 hours a day from Monday through Saturday, with a shorter Sunday schedule. Its terrestrial signal was available on UHF channel 15 in Belize City, and the station was also distributed through cable systems. In March 2024, the station adopted the name XTV, derived from the alias of Kremandala chairman Evan X Hyde. The rebrand marks a change in presentation and identity rather than a documented break from the Kremandala media group. The station's history remains closely associated with Belizean local production, the KREM radio network and the group's broader effort to build a multi-platform national media presence.

XTV is the current identity of a Belizean television station formerly known as Krem Television. The station belongs to Kremandala Ltd., a media company that had already developed a presence in Belizean newspapers and radio before pursuing television broadcasting. Its origins therefore lie in a broader media-expansion strategy rather than in the creation of an isolated television venture. Kremandala began seeking a television licence in the late 1990s. The application process became a point of contention in Belize's media sector. Competing or established media organizations expressed concern that Kremandala chairman Evan X Hyde might consolidate too much influence over the country's media market. The dispute lasted for months, but the company ultimately received authorization to proceed. Test transmissions followed in 2002 and 2003 from Belize City, using CBC Channel 3. These tests combined relayed audio from KREM FM with archived sports footage, including games involving the Kremandala Raiders, and documentary programming. The station launched publicly in September 2004 under the Krem Television name. Its launch slogan, “Show weself, see weself, be weself,” articulated a philosophy of local visibility and creative independence. Rather than presenting itself as a narrowly formatted channel, the station sought to adapt existing Krem programming and develop content that reflected Belizean audiences. The initial Christmas broadcast received modest viewership, indicating that the station still had to build recognition and a regular audience. In 2005, the station strengthened its relationship with KREM radio by televising several of the radio service's established programs. The Kremandala Show, Women at Work and WUB Morning Vibes formed much of the core schedule. International documentaries, particularly those addressing African and African-American subjects, were also shown, alongside occasional sports material. This combination allowed the new television service to use established personalities and programs while adding visual and documentary content. The schedule became more varied in 2006. Krem Television introduced the locally produced dramatic series Noh Matta Wat!, the youth program Teen Speakout and a program hosted by attorney and UDP politician Wilfred Elrington. Later programming included Sunday Review, Bad Ting Mek Laugh and Evening News, which debuted in 2014. The resulting lineup covered news, public affairs, entertainment, comedy, youth issues and local drama. The station operated primarily in and around Belize City. Its terrestrial service was identified with UHF channel 15, while cable distribution extended its reach beyond the immediate broadcast footprint. At one point, the station was described as maintaining a 16-hour schedule from Monday through Saturday and a reduced Sunday schedule. In March 2024, Krem Television was renamed XTV. The name was linked to Evan Hyde's alias and represented a rebranding of the existing service. Available reference material does not indicate that the change involved a sale, merger or change of corporate ownership. XTV therefore remains associated with Kremandala Ltd. and with the local-media tradition established under the Krem Television name.

• 2024

  Rebrand to XTV

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  Krem Television adopted the XTV name in March, using an identity associated with Evan Hyde.

• 2014

  Evening News premieres

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  Evening News was introduced as part of the station's local news and current-affairs output.

• 2006

  Local programming expands

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  The station added Noh Matta Wat!, Teen Speakout and a program hosted by Wilfred Elrington.

• 2005

  Radio programming moves to television

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  Several established KREM radio programs, including The Kremandala Show, Women at Work and WUB Morning Vibes, became part of the television schedule.

• 2004

  Krem Television launches

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  The station officially went on air in September under the Krem Television name.

• 2003

  Further test broadcasting

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  Additional pre-launch broadcasts were carried through CBC Channel 3 in Belize City as the television service prepared for formal operation.

• 2002

  Experimental broadcasts begin

  [1]XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org

  Kremandala began television test transmissions in Belize City, including radio simulcasts, archived basketball and documentary programming.

A Belizean, locally oriented television outlet rooted in Kremandala's radio and print operations, emphasizing local voices, community visibility, flexible programming and cultural self-representation.

• Broadcast station · 2004

  Television broadcasting

  The station provides a general-interest television service for Belize City and surrounding audiences. Its distribution has included UHF terrestrial broadcasting and cable carriage, with a schedule combining local productions, news, talk formats, entertainment, documentaries and sports.

• News program · 2014

  Evening News

  Evening News is a local news offering associated with the station. It premiered in 2014 and forms part of the broadcaster's current-affairs and public-information programming.

• Talk and current-affairs program

  The Kremandala Show

  A KREM radio program that was brought into the television schedule as part of the station's early strategy of adapting established radio formats for visual broadcasting.

• Morning program

  WUB Morning Vibes

  A morning program carried over from KREM's radio operations and used as one of the television station's foundational locally connected offerings.

• Drama series · 2006

  Noh Matta Wat!

  A locally produced dramatic series added to Krem Television's schedule during the station's 2006 programming expansion.

• Youth program · 2006

  Teen Speakout

  A youth-focused program introduced in 2006, reflecting the station's effort to broaden its locally produced programming beyond radio-derived shows.

• 2024

  Rebrand from Krem Television to XTVStrategy

  Background

  After operating under the Krem Television name since its 2004 launch, the station changed its public identity in March 2024.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster adopted XTV, a name associated with Evan Hyde's alias, while remaining linked to Kremandala Ltd.

  Aftermath

  The station is currently identified as XTV, with no documented change in ownership or corporate group in the available reference material.

  Source

1. 1XTV (Belize)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Krem Television official websitekrembz.com