Tropical Vision Limited
 | |
| Belize City, Belize | |
|---|---|
| Branding | "Channel 7" |
| Slogan |
News Comes First (news) The Nation's Station (general) |
| Channels | Analog: 7 (VHF) |
| Affiliations | CBS, NBC, BBC World News, CNN, ESPN, NGC |
| Owner | Tropical Vision Limited |
| Founded | 1981 |
Tropical Vision Limited, or as it is locally known, Channel 7, is a Belize City based television station operating since 1981.
Its Managing Director is Nestor Vasquez.
Programming
Channel 7 airs a mix of American and Belizean programmes.
Schedule
Weekdays (Monday to Friday)
- 6:00 AM: NBC News (national or local programming) (Monday/holidays)/7 News (repeat) (Tues. - Fri.)
- 7:00 AM: KREM Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes (not aired on holidays)
- 9:00 AM: MORE FM Morning Matters
- 10:00 AM: SportsCenter
- 11:00 AM: The Price Is Right
- 12:00 NN: 7 News (repeat)
- 1:00 PM: CNN News en Espanol
- 2:00 PM: The Young and the Restless
- 3:00 PM: Days of Our Lives
- 4:00 PM: Various programming
- 5:30 PM: Dr. Oz
- 6:30 PM: 7 News (live)
Primetime
- 7:30 PM: NBC Nightly News or BBC World News America (frequently pre-empted by long-running newscast)
- Mon-Fri 8:00 - 10:00 PM: Movies or dramas; talk shows Lik Road (Wednesdays)
- 10:00 PM: 7 News (repeat)
- 11:00 PM: movies/television programming to signoff, usually 12:30 A.M.
Weekends: Saturdays:
- 6:00 AM 7 News repeat from Friday
- 7:00 AM Sports Center
- 8:00 AM Cartoons
- 9:00 AM Saturday Morning Movie
- 11:00 AM National Geographic
- 12:00 NN 7 News repeat from Friday
- 1:00 PM Movies/various programming
- 6:30 PM NBC Nightly News
- 7:00 PM Movies until signoff (preceded by HBO/Showtime Boxing or sports programming when available)
Sundays:
- 6:00 AM CNN programming/Al-Jazeera programming/PBS programming
- 8:00 AM Cartoons
- 9:00 AM Movies/Various programming
- 12:00 NN International News (usually Al-Jazeera)
- 1:00 PM Various programming (usually sports or movies)
- 7:00 PM Various primetime programming (including 60 Minutes and movies)
7 News
Prior to 1994, Channel 7 got its news from local radio powerhouse Radio Belize. Beginning on February 14, 1994, 7 News began producing its own newscast, running opposite Great Belize Television's News 5 Live at 6:30 PM Central. There are no regular weekend newscasts other than Friday repeats; 7 News has aired two one-time only Saturday evening newscasts, the latest coming in April 2005 in the midst of the protests in Belize.
Criticism
Channel 7 is usually more critical of Government foibles than rival Channel 5, and Government officials have pointedly criticized 7 for its hard-hitting analysis of national issues.
Employees of Channel 7
- Nestor Vasquez (Managing Director)
- Hazel Vasquez (General Manager)
- Jules Vasquez (News Director/chief reporter)
- Derek Vasquez (Manager, Belmopan Cable Operations)
- Indira Craig (Newscaster)
- Courtney Weatherburne (Substitute newscaster)
- Daniel Ortiz (Reporter)
- Monica Bodden (Reporter)
- Luis Munoz (Camera)
- Cody Noralez (Camera)
- James Ayala (Camera)
- Melissa Ramsey (Secretary)
Trivia
In the late 1990s, poet Leroy "Grandmaster" Young got his start on Channel 7 reciting poems at the end of the newscast. Other former employees of Seven include Rodel Beltran Perera, Dennis Peyrefitte, Carla Ayres, Dawn Sampson, Deadra Isaacs (now Haylock), Alfonso and Fortunato Noble and Jim McFadzean.