New digital radio, and multi channel TV launches for Tonga and Pacific [1]
Friday, November 18, 2005 - 17:03. Updated on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 17:24.
The introduction of a new digital short wave service by Radio New Zealand International and the launching of new Sky Pacific channels in Tonga is a highlight of the trade exhibition of the 2005 Pacific Islands News Association Conference currently underway in Nuku...alofa.
The trade exhibition, opened on November 16 by Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa, President of the Tonga Chamber of Commerce, at the Janfull International Hotel, is the first to be held by Tonga under the umbrella of the PINA conference.
RZNI
In February of 2006 Radio New Zealand International RZNI will begin airing in Tonga its new digital short wave service, which will produce a very high quality sound signal similar to FM and better than the quality of sound currently being received now through the traditional short wave service.
Linden Clark, the Manager for RZNI, said that what they have got is a digital short wave receiver so that one can listen to their news bulletin on a PC computer once a receiver box and some software programs are installed into the PC.
Linden said there are also going to be ordinary radio receiver or portable receivers that are currently being made with AM/FM and digital short wave that will be on sale in mid 2006.
"Because 80% of our audience listens to us through local stations we want to provide both, and provide these digital receivers for all radio stations in the Pacific region starting with Tonga," she said.
The Tonga Broadcasting Commission is the first in the Pacific to be installed with RNZI's new PC receiver which will be done in the next few days but it would not be broadcasting until February next year as RNZI...s transmitter is currently being installed in New Zealand, she said.
Linden added the advantage of the new digital short wave is that it has fantastic sound better than the traditional short wave currently being used now and hopefully the new signal will encourage local stations to use a bit more of their news.
RNZI will continue to use both the traditional short wave used now by local stations as well as the new added digital version to be introduced. And other Pacific island countries to follow this new era in digital short wave are Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands etc.
Sky Pacific
On Monday November 21 Fiji...s Sky Pacific will be launched in Tonga in a partnership with Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Sky Pacific is a pay per view TV offering 12 channels that features a Super channel of live sports of rugby, soccer, tennis together with blockbuster English movies, CNN, Discovery Channel, Entertainment, MTV, Cartoon Network and many more.
Lauren Robinson, Fiji TV Pacific Services Coordinator is in Tonga together with Tamarisi Digitaki, the Communications and Business Research officer and two others to display their service to the Tongan public, and to help train TBC staff and promote the 12 channels Sky Pacific will soon be airing in Tonga.
Reuters
Reuters, the world...s largest news agency, is also in the trade show to showcase their services to the Tongan people.
Susan Breen, the Media Manager for Reuters Australia said they have recently done a deal with Fiji TV to provide news for their television news bulletin and they are here in Tonga to let people know their business involves TV, radio broadcasting, print and online.
Susan said they are also looking at doing a distribution deal with Fiji TV to bring Reuters news to the rest of the Pacific especially now with most countries in the Pacific having access to the internet and she hopes Reuter...s services can be used.
She added the advantage is a two-way street, one is that Reuters has another client Fiji, the other is that they give are real footages, soundtrack and scripts to use in return they take Fiji TV news and distribute to the rest of the world.
This is good for people living in the Pacific because they get information out the rest of the world and they in return heightened the awareness of Pacific news to the world.
The tradeshow also has displays from Tonga...s two telecommunications companies, Tonga Communication Corporation TCC and Tonfön, the PINA secretariat, as well as the University of the South Pacific and local handicrafts.