Final Effort to Save the Bonaire WebCams

Final Effort to Save the Bonaire WebCams
First Posted: May 25, 2004
Last Updated: June 8, 2004

Update - June 8, 2004!!!

The Bonaire WebCams have been Saved!

See: http://www.bonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/626/167368.html

Because the building in which the Bonaire WebCams have operated out of the last 4+ plus year is no longer available for this purpose, we need to find a new home for the Bonaire WebCams which will allow us to be able to afford to continue operation.

The following is a description of what we are asking a Bonaire resort to commit to to help Save the Bonaire WebCams, and in the process, get a heck of a lot of publicity.

The Plan

For an annual co-op marketing fee of $5,100, with a fixed three (3) year commitment at that rate, a resort or independent dive operator could derive the full marketing benefit of having the Bonaire WebCams move on-site.

Under this arrangement:

The resort (or independent dive operator) would be liberally mentioned and its Web site linked to throughout the Bonaire WebCams site, and obviously be a physical draw for people looking to pose for the WebCams. For a point of reference, the Bonaire WebCams Web site sees around 90,000 visitors a month, and millions of page views. This makes it among the most popular Caribbean-oriented Web sites in the world.
The resort could further market itself as "The New Home for the Bonaire WebCams" (or something along those lines to be approved by Caribbean WebCams (CWC), the owners of the Bonaire WebCams). If desired, we would also integrate medium-sized live WebCam images into the resort's Web site, which, when clicked on, would link back to the Bonaire WebCams Web site.
CWC would give the resort an exclusive in terms of Web site promotion of Bonaire-based resorts/dive operators. In other words, CWC guarantees that no advertising on the Bonaire WebCams site would promote a competing Bonaire resort/dive operator, although non-Bonaire resorts/dive-operators would be able to purchase advertising space from our exclusive agent for selling advertising on the Web site.
The resort would have no ownership interest or other rights to the WebCams. All original equipment and equipment paid for by CWC would belong to CWC. That also means that cameras and hardware that wears out and needs replacement would be the responsibility of CWC, and covered by the annual fee paid. However, we would train key resort staff on how to keep the WebCams clean and well maintained.
The move of the existing WebCams would be performed at no charge to the resort, but the resort's facilities staff may need to provide assistance in laying and positioning cable and supporting physical infrastructure (including, possibly, some construction for cabinets to store equipment securely.
The resort would assist in providing a publicly accessible location for placing (and posing for) the StreetCam and ReefCam (including arranging with the Bonaire Marine Park to move the mooring the ReefCam is on), as well as placement of the current BeachCams in favorable locations for sunset viewing.
Any changes or upgrades which would require the addition of cameras, cable channel converters, televisions/monitors at bars to see ReefCam live video, etc. which the resort would want on-property would be at the resort's cost, unless otherwise agreed. Similar provisions apply to any reprogramming of code required by the resort on the Bonaire WebCams Web site.
The resort would provide security for the WebCams capture server and cameras, as well as access to CWC staff to its equipment. Included here would also be the requirement to provide power and 24-hour Internet access for the WebCams capture server to connect to the Internet. Cost of power and the Internet service would be borne by the resort. Daily air conditioning (an hour or two a day minimum) of the server equipment would be necessary too.
CWC may add other cameras around Bonaire (but not at any other competing resort or dive operation) to be viewed on the Bonaire WebCams Web site, under the understanding that this would be used to drive more traffic to the Web site, benefitting both CWC and the resort. CWC would be free to find other sponsors for such additional WebCams.
2.5 years into the three year term, the resort and CWC will each reevaluate the program to see how it has been working, and then determine if they want to continue the relationship in some form or fashion after the three year term expires.

Unless we find a resort willing with work with us, the WebCams go dark on Sunday, June 20th, 2004. The WebCams can certainly go "bright" again a few weeks later if someone is willing to partner with us to keep the WebCams going, but otherwise they go out permanently on Bonaire.

Please feel free to pass the link to this page on far and wide. Discussion about this topic is now occurring on BonaireTalk in the following threads:

Should we not find a partner by mid-June, we are contemplating offering the Bonaire WebCams Web site and the WebCams system separately on eBay. Perhaps some "angel" with deep pockets will be willing to absorb the costs of running the WebCams and keep them on Bonaire, or perhaps another resort at a different island destination will see the benefit of taking over a very popular Web site and the WebCams.

In any event, should the Bonaire WebCams go away permanently, we will contact all current Bonaire WebCams members to arrange for a pro-rated refund of the then outstanding portion of their membership fees.

If you have an interest in the WebCams under the terms mentioned above, please let us know by sending e-mail to info@caribbeanwebcams.com.

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