A new Pasifika TV and Radio service provided by the Tongan Community in Brisbane, Australia, is gaining popularity after its launch on 27 June, following months of isolation due to CoViD-19.

The service is sharing music, news, culture, language and stories of Tongan people through YouTube and Facebook with plans for a mobile app and website underway.

Pasifika Media Director, and broadcaster, Sulieni Layt told Matangi Tonga that through its flagship program ‘Friday Night Live’, which started as a test broadcast, it attracts 200-400 live viewers and within 12 hours of broadcast has over 17,000 views, 2,000 comments, with a reach of 30,000.

Tongans living in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, North America, the Pacific Islands including Tonga are following the new program every Friday night from 8pm to 11pm AEST (Brisbane Time).

Fellow broadcaster Simi Mataitonga (DJ Simz) said the show is designed to create a newer and more engaging experience for the Tongan diaspora. 

“By having both an audio and visual stream, ensures we remain relevant and authentic as the audience want to both hear and see the Tongan Community abroad.”

Tongan artists, kava clubs, live dedications, and prize-giving competitions feature on the show’s program.

The Pasifika TV and Radio is also working with a Nuku’alofa based radio, Broadcom 87.5FM, while building a local team to add more local Tongan content from Brisbane.

“We also want to showcase our local and overseas Tongan businesses and create a platform for our young and rising Tongan talent with an aim for excellence, whilst doing something a little bit different,” said Sulieni.

“CoViD-19 restrictions have hampered some of the new programs, but the next program is a Kava Hour due to launch in August together with our interactive mobile app and website.”

“The Kava Hour will be a mixture of live kava groups in studio (Brisbane) combined with others viz zoom from around Australia and overseas intertwined with the popular audio tracks of our popular kava songs of yesteryear.”

The goal is to bring our kava clubs together around the 'kumete' live on TV and Radio, whilst showcasing the musical talent in voice and song of our Tongan men globally, he added.