Two new television stations and one new FM stations operated by two family businesses in Nuku'alofa are expected to start operation soon after receiving their broadcast licenses from Government on February 1.Two new television and one FM stations operated by two local business family in Nuku'alofa are expected to start operation soon after receiving their broadcast licenses from Government today.

Tonga's Ministry of Information and Communications issued individual licenses to Uata Media Ltd. of the Uata family, run by Tu'i Uata, to broadcast a TV and FM station. While Nuku'alofa TV Ltd. run by the Ramanlal family will operate a new television station.

Both of the broadcasting companies have not set a date to go on air but they expect it would be sometime soon after their set-up is completed.

Ramanlal Vallabh said this afternoon, they will offer free to air, providing entertainment from television series, movies to rugby. The Ramanlal family currently operates a 24-hrs FM station 88.6 Radio Nuku'alofa. 

"We are still discussing our programs and schedules but we would probably be on air in the evening. We are a family business that has a radio station and now we want to get into television entertainment," said Vallabh.

Meanwhile Tu'i Uata, a son of businessman and parliamentarian 'Uliti Uata, said today that their TV and FM stations would start operation soon once their stations are established.

He said they would run free to air, local programs on TV, and their FM radio station educate the public on the spirit of cooperation, and raising awareness on Tonga's new system of government.

Government

The Ministry of Information and Communications stated the license applications were carefully processed since last year, according to the requirements of the Communications Act, and also vetted against the national policy objectives of the communications sector.

Uata Media Ltd. was issued with a new TV Broadcasting license and a FM Radio license while Nuku'alofa Ltd. received a new TV broadcasting license. The duration of the licenses is five years but they can be renewed.

Each application must meet the necessary requirements, including compliance with consumer standards, pass the inspected technical and program standards, and to provide quality of service.

'Alifeleti Tu'ihalamaka, the Head of the Communications Department of the Ministry of Information and Communications said that once applications met the necessary requirements according to the law and policy, they processed them for approval, which may include proof of financial viability as a business, technical capability and ethical standards as a broadcaster.

Uata Media Ltd's FM Radio Station will be the eighth FM station in Tonga. The new TV stations would cover Tongatapu and the western part of 'Eua. Other free to air in Tonga are Television Tonga, and the Christian TV Network. Paid subscriber TV is also provided by DigiTV and Sky TV.

The Ministry of Information and Communications also renewed the Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) license of the Office Equipment Ltd.