Prepared for
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts)
Prepared by
Craig Fyffe
Contact
cfyffe@barz.live
Your World. Your Culture. Your Barz.
1. Executive Summary
Barz Live proposes a strategic partnership with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the island’s creative industries (film, television, radio, and live events) to produce, distribute, and monetize world-class entertainment that showcases Trinidad and Tobago’s culture, music, cuisine, and talent.
By combining local production capacity with Barz Live’s global distribution and engagement tools, the initiative is designed to position Trinidad and Tobago as a year-round cultural destination, expand export earnings for the creative sector, and create measurable tourism lift.
What this partnership unlocks
- Global distribution into 655M+ connected TV households plus mobile and social reach.
- Quarterly tentpole productions that double as tourism marketing campaigns.
- Skills development and apprenticeship pathways (UWI, UTT, youth programs).
- Recurring revenue via subscriptions, advertising, PPV, merchandise, ticketing, and digital tipping.
2. About Barz Live
Barz Live is an interactive streaming and social ecosystem that merges live video, on-demand channels, and creator monetization. Unlike traditional OTT platforms (e.g., Netflix, Disney+) or standalone social platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), Barz Live integrates content, community, and commerce in a single experience—built to help creators earn and audiences engage.
Mission: elevate creative expression, generate income for artists, and deliver high-quality interactive Caribbean-centered programming to global audiences.
3. Distribution Reach and Channels
Channel
Examples
Reach (as provided)
Connected TV Apps
Roku; Fire TV; Apple TV; Android TV / Google TV; (Samsung Smart TV coming soon)
655M+ households
(+100M Samsung expected)
Mobile Apps
iOS; Android
5B+ devices
Social Distribution
Facebook; YouTube; Instagram; TikTok; X/Twitter
10.7B+ users (combined)
Web
Barz.Live
3.6M visits (past 12 months)
Featured channel formats include:
- Movies and TV shows
- Live concerts and virtual events
- Radio stations and podcasts
- Music video channels with live DJ sets
- Linear live TV and sports
- Arcade and gaming
- Creator going-live capabilities
Barz Lounge: interactive chat spaces with live content screens (public/private rooms; voice, video, and text)
4. Partnership Vision
The Trinidad & Tobago x Barz partnership will be a dedicated hub for producing and exporting authentic Caribbean stories. Through quarterly Barz Live Original productions and continuous channel programming, the partnership will showcase Trinidad and Tobago on the global stage, strengthen tourism campaigns, and create new pathways for creative employment.
The partnership will also work with local production companies (e.g., CreativeTT, FilmTT, RadioTT) and independent creators to distribute, promote, and monetize existing films, TV programs, and online productions within a dedicated Trinidad & Tobago channel on Barz Live
5. Core Objectives
Objective
Outcome
Showcase Trinidad and Tobago
Produce year-round cultural and entertainment programming that highlights the nation’s artistry, destinations, and lifestyle.
Develop local skills and employment
Launch a production apprenticeship program (filmmaking, lighting, editing, broadcasting) with on-set practical experience.
Expand global reach and export earnings
Distribute locally produced content internationally through Barz Live and third-party partners.
Enhance tourism and cultural branding
Support national tourism strategies through consistent destination-driven programming.
6. Proposed Programming Slate
Each quarter, the partnership will release at least one major event or show designed to generate international attention and sustained online engagement.
The partnership will also work with local production companies (e.g., CreativeTT, FilmTT, RadioTT) and independent creators to distribute, promote, and monetize existing films, TV programs, and online productions within a dedicated Trinidad & Tobago channel on Barz Live
Flagship production
Concept
World Series of Dominoes |
World Series of Spades |
Ah Who Mek Dat? |
Carnival Specials |
Music Fusion Concerts |
Mz. Gahdamn! (Season 1) |
Competitive showcase of Caribbean fun and camaraderie. |
Cross-cultural card competition uniting players worldwide. |
Culinary competition highlighting regional flavors and chefs. |
Exclusive streaming of Carnival celebrations, design showcases, and live performances. |
Collaborative performances between local and international artists. |
Interactive beauty and fashion competition fusing creativity, heritage, and empowerment (produced in Trinidad and Tobago). |
Production Principle
- Every tentpole production is designed to be both (1) premium entertainment and (2) a tourism marketing asset that features destinations, cuisine, music, and local partners.
7. Training and Apprenticeship
To ensure sustainable industry growth, the partnership includes targeted career training in collaboration with institutions such as UWI, UTT, and youth development programs.
Core course areas:
- Cinematography and camera operation
- Lighting and stage production
- Sound recording and editing
- Post-production and digital workflows
- Event production and live streaming management
Participants gain practical apprenticeships on Barz Live productions and graduate into professional roles within the local creative economy.
8. Revenue Generation Model
The Trinidad & Tobago x Barz partnership leverages multiple revenue streams with transparent, performance-based sharing for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and local partners/creators.
- Subscriptions: Barz subscription fee is $5.95 USD/month. Trinidad & Tobago receives $2 USD per subscriber who signs up through the Trinidad & Tobago channel link.
- Example: 100,000 subscribers via the Trinidad & Tobago link yields $200,000 in that month. An additional 50,000 in the following month increases monthly income to $300,000. Subscription volume directly determines residual revenue.
- Additional subscription share: Trinidad & Tobago receives 20% of Barz’s revenue share from subscriptions attributable to producers/artists/creators exclusively signed to the Trinidad & Tobago channel.
- Advertising: Trinidad & Tobago receives 50% of net advertising revenue from ads brought to Barz by Trinidad & Tobago that run on Trinidad & Tobago content (direct, agency, or programmatic).
- ViewShare program: Eligible to participate in Barz’s ad revenue pool. Payout is proportional to the Trinidad & Tobago channel’s share of total platform views in the month.
- Sponsorships: For sponsorships obtained by or through Trinidad & Tobago for their Barz content, Trinidad & Tobago receives 50% of sponsorship revenues after agreed direct costs.
- Virtual bonus: If a piece of content reaches 500,000+ views within 30 days, creators may be eligible for a discretionary bonus (amount/timing determined by Barz).
- Pay-Per-View (PPV): For PPV events approved by Barz, Trinidad & Tobago receives 60% of net proceeds (gross receipts received less taxes, chargebacks, processing fees, and agreed direct marketing/production costs).
- Merchandise: For Trinidad & Tobago-branded merchandise sold through Barz commerce tools, Trinidad & Tobago receives 80% of net merchandise proceeds (gross receipts less taxes, returns, chargebacks, processing fees, and agreed fulfillment costs).
- Ticketing & tipping: Event tickets and direct fan support during live broadcasts provide additional upside (structures to be defined per event).
9. Economic, Social & Tourism Impact
Economic impact
- Creation of direct and indirect jobs across film, events, logistics, catering, and hospitality.
- Growth in ancillary services (transport, equipment rentals, venues, post-production).
- Attraction of external productions through proven local expertise and infrastructure.
Tourism and branding impact
- Continuous content promoting Trinidad and Tobago as a global cultural destination.
- Year-round exposure beyond Carnival season.
- Increased partnerships with hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.
Social and cultural impact
- Youth empowerment through creative training and apprenticeship.
- Preservation and digital archiving of culture and heritage.
- Strengthened community pride and international recognition.
10. Strategic Partnership Structure
Proposed stakeholders
- Government of Trinidad and Tobago – Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
- CreativeTT and FilmTT – creative sector facilitation and funding support
- Local broadcasters and production houses – co-productions and talent collaboration
- Hospitality partners – hotels, restaurants, venues aligned with tourism promotions
- Barz Live – production management, global distribution, platform operations, and monetization
Operating model (high level)
- Barz Live leads production management, distribution, and monetization for Barz Live Original productions.
- Local partners provide cultural authenticity, local execution, and contribution of existing content for the Trinidad & Tobago channel.
- Governance, budgets, and release calendars are jointly planned and reviewed each quarter.
11. Investment and Use of Funds
Barz Live seeks an investment of USD $10 million to launch the Trinidad & Tobago x Barz partnership. Funds will be allocated to:
- Production (crew, equipment, sets, locations, post-production)
- Training and apprenticeship program delivery
- Marketing, PR, and distribution growth campaigns
- Local operations setup (incorporated entity, staffing, compliance, administration)
Projected returns include subscription growth, advertising and sponsorship revenue, PPV events, and multiplier effects through tourism and hospitality.
12. Next Steps
- Confirm primary government counterparts and designate a working group.
- Align on partnership structure, governance, and legal framework (MOU -> definitive agreements).
- Identify initial content slate (existing catalog + first tentpole production) and production calendar.
- Finalize budget and investment milestones; set KPIs (subscriber targets, view targets, tourism tie-ins).
- Launch the Trinidad & Tobago channel pilot and announce the partnership
