�roadcasting was not on Frederick Morton Jr .’ s mind when he left his native � . S . Virgin Islands for America . After earning his bachelor ’ sand law degrees from Rutgers �niversity and a master ’ sinpublic administration from Columbia , Morton became an associate with Simpson , Thatcher �Bartlett , alaw firm inNew York City serving Fortune 500 companies . Working with “ big media ” clients like Viacom and MTV Networks convinced Morton there was aneed for regional communication targeted to the islands of his youth , its expatriates living in the � . S ., and its tourists . Founded in 2005 , the Montclair resident ’ sTEMPO Networks now serves over 5million viewers from the � . S . and �0Caribbean countries oncable TV , digital and social media platforms . �ere are �things you should know about Frederick Morton Jr .
� MORTON�SPARENTSRAN A�ROCER�STORE IN ST . CROI�� U . S . VIR�IN ISLAN�S
“ Treetop �rocery was an institution ,” Morton recalls .“ It was asmall store , but it also had abar . Itwas known as the place to come for intellectual talk . All topics were discussed . Because of my parents ’ love of �od , the only rule was that no swearing was allowed inthe bar .” �is mother isan “ extraordinary cook ” whose fungee ( cornmeal polenta ) and salt fish are among the memorable dishes prepared under different names that unite the region . �is parents have retired and returned to their native island ofNevis , birthplace of Alexander �amilton .
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��IS CLOSEFAMILIARIT� �IT� T�E RE�ION LE� TO �IS FOUN�IN� TEMPO NET�OR�S “ Each island has its own television and radio stations , but they don ’ t reach other islands ,” Morton says . “ People knew more about the � . S . than they know about each other . They knew Trinidad has acarnival , but not St . �itts or St . Lucia .” Communication is further limited by the difficulty of travel between islands .“ Regional travel is very expensive ,” Morton says .“ Youcan spend $ 500 onaticket from Trinidad to New York , or $ 500 onaticket from Trinidad to Barbados . And it ’ snot
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direct . Youmight hop two or three islands to get to your destination .”
� TURNIN�
INSPIRATION INTO REALIT�TOO� LON�ER T�AN �E�� E�PECTE�
Morton took his idea for aCaribbean network to MTV founder TomFreston in 200� while serving as Senior Vice President and Deputy �eneral Counsel of MTV Networks .“ It took me two years , from presenting the idea to Tom to obtaining the approval for MTV to launch the network ,” hesays . “ In May 2005 , the network was announced at amajor event at the South Street Seaport in New York City , and officially launched in the Caribbean that October . TEMPO became anMTV Network property , and Ibecame the general manager .” Twoyears later , Morton bought TEMPO Networks from MTV inamanagement buy-out .
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�ELPE� CREATEA RE�IONAL I�ENTIT� �IT�OUT �OR�ERS
Morton ’ sgoal was to “ create a regional identity that transcended national borders ,” an opportunity he says has been “ neglected to some extent .” �is over-arching message is that “ the region shares acommonality in all aspects oflifestyle , culture , cuisine , music , art . Food , for example . We have different names for different dishes and ingredients , but it ’ sthe same dish , it ’ sthe same salsa , the same sensibility , the same music . Wedon ’ t broadcast full cricket orfootball matches , but we do lifestyle programming around Caribbean athletes , who are some of
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COUR�ES� OF FRE�ERIC� MOR�ON �R . |