RCAIAPIA

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION Sector of Communication, Information and Informatics

PACIFIC REGIONAL TELEVISION SURVEY PROJECT - 352lRASl21 (PAC TEL)

POLYNESIA REPORT

by: J.E. Bentley D. Hermanson V.V. Rao

UNESCO Office for the Pacific States Apia, Western Samoa September, 1993.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

PROJECT INFORMATION:

1. Introduction 2. Project Objectives 3. Mission Composition and Terms of Reference

COUNTRY REPORTS: 1. WESTERN SAMOA

(i) Country Information

(ii) Television (a) Background (b) Policy (c) Programming (d) Viewing Audience (e) Manpower (f) Training (g) Technical Facilities

(iii) Video Production Units (a) MYSCA (b) USP, Alafua

(iv) Summary (v) Recommendations (vi) Contacts

2. TONGA (i) Country Information

(ii) Television (a) Background (b) (c) Policy (d) Programming (e) Viewing Audience (f) Manpower (ASTL-TV3) (g) Training (h) Technical Facilities (i) A3M-TV CHANNEL 7

Background Programming

ASTL - TV Channel 3

1 2 - 3 3 - 4

4 - 6

6 - 8 8 9 - 10 10 10 - 11 11 11 - 12

13 - 14 15 - 16 16- 17 17 - 18 19

20 - 21

21 - 22 22 - 24 24

25 25 26

24 - 25

26 - 27 27- 28 28 - 30

Viewing Audience Manpower Training

U) Technical Facilities

(iii) Video Production Units (a) Ministry of Education (CDTC) (b) Ministry of Health (c) Tolua Brothers Photography

Studio

(iv) Summary (v) Recommendations (vi) Contacts

3. COOK ISLANDS (i) Country Information (ii) Television Background

Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) (a) Background (b) Policy (c) Programming (d) Viewing Audience (e) Manpower (f) Training (g) Revenue Earning Activities

Department of Public Health

Technical Facilities

(iii) Summary (iv) Recommendations (v) Contacts

4. NIUE

(i) Country Information (ii) Television

(a) Background (b) Policy (c) Programming (d) Viewing Audience (e) Manpower (f) Training

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31 30 - 31 31 - 33

33 - 34 35 - 36 36 - 37

37 38 - 39 40

41 - 43 43 - 44

44 - 45 45 - 46 46 - 48 48 - 49 49 - 50 50 51

51 - 52 52 - 61 61 - 62 62 - 64 64

65 - 67 67 - 68 68

69 68 - 69 69 - 70 70 - 71

(8) Future Development

(iii) Technical Facilities

(iv) Future Plans

(v) Summary (vi) Recommendations (vii) Contacts

5. A M E R I C A N SAMOA

(i) Country Information

(ii) Television (a) Background (b) Policy (c) Programming (d) Viewing Audience (e) Manpower (f) Training (g) Technical Facilities

(iii) Summary

(iv) Recommendations

(v) Contacts

6. O V E R V I E W OF TELEVISION IN P O L Y N E S I A

71 - 72 72 - 75 76

76 - 77 77 - 78 79

80 - 82

82 - 84 84 - 85 85 - 86 86 - 87 87 87- 88 88 - 94 95

96

97

98 - 108 7. MAPS

PACIFIC REGIONAL TELEVISION SURVEY PROJECT (PACTEL)

PROJECT INFORMATION

Introduction

The Pacific Regional Television Survey Project (PACTEL) is a UNESCO funded project formalised through the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) at the 12th session of the Intergovernmental Council held in Paris from 11-18 February, 1991.

PACTEL was formulated through cooperation between the Communication Division of UNESCO, the South Pacific Commission (SPC) and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). Under the project the three agencies will conduct television needs assessment surveys in the Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian sectors of the Pacific to provide country by country information to facilitate the planning of strategies for the setting up of projects for the development of television in the region.

The surveys of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia will be conducted by three major missions planned under PACTEL. The mission teams will consist of members from UNESCO, SPC and ABU or consultants nominated by each agency.

On completion of the television needs assessment reports on the Pacific region, UNESCO, SPC and ABU will hold a tripartite meeting to consider the planning of national and regional project proposals, for submission to funding agencies, to assist television development in the countries of the Pacific region.

This report contains the findings of the third PACTEL mission which visited the Polynesian Region during the month of March, 1993.

Pacte1 Project Objectives

Immediate Objectives

(1) To ascertain the television broadcasting and video production development needs of the most needy Pacific island countries in terms of:

(a) infrastructural development; (b) manpower resources and training; (c) production and programming; (d) feasible exchange mechanisms to promote regional

cooperation for television development.

(2) To provide the necessary consultants to carry out extensive interagency television broadcasting and video unit development surveys of the most needy Micronesian, Melanesia'n and Polynesian countries.

(3) To identify areas and elements for the preparation of development project proposals and possible areas of cooperation between the three participating agencies and other relevant international agencies.

(4) To provide the framework for a detailed interagency report on the overall findings of the survey missions.

Longterm Objectives

(1) To provide detailed development needs information on television broadcasting and video unit operations of the most needy Pacific island countries.

(2) To identify national and regional project areas for the longterm development of television broadcasting and video production units in the most possible areas of interagency of activities.

needy Pacific islands, as well as cooperation for the implementation

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(3) To provide information for the planning and preparation of a series of development project proposals relevant to the overall long-term development of television broadcasting in the Pacific region for submission to international funding sources.

Polynesia Mission Composition and Terms of Reference

The PACTEL Polynesia Mission survey team was composed of the following members.

South Pacific Commission (SPC) - Mr Dale Hermanson, SPC Video Officer in charge of television and video production training at the SPC Regional Media Centre, Suva, Fiji. Coordinator of the UNESCO/SPC Pacific Video Training Project (PACVIDEO).

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) - Mr V,V, Rao, consultant nominated by ABU, Chief Engineer of All India Radio and Doordarshan Staff Training Institute, New Delhi.

UNESCO - Mr Jim Bentley, UNESCO Regional Communication Adviser for the Pacific based in Apia, Western Samoa, member of the Communication Division. Mission team leader.

The PACTEL Polynesia Mission was conducted from 6 March, to 4 April, 1993, and operated under the following terms of reference.

(1) Travel to - Apia, Western Samoa - Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga - Rarotonga, Cook Islands - Alofi, Niue Island and Pago Pago, American Samoa, to survey television broadcasting and video production unit development needs in Polynesia under the Pacific Regional Television Survey Project (PACTEL);

(2) Meet with the relevant national authorities and media personnel to view television and video production facilities, and gather information on the established systems and their activities;

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(3) Make assessments of television infrastructural 'development needs, television manpower resources and training needs, and television production and programming needs;

(4) promote regional cooperation for television development;

Assess the feasibility of developing exchange mechanisms to

(5) Prepare a PACTEL Polynesia Report covering the findings of the mission.

WESTERN SAMOA

Country information

The independent island nation of Western Samoa is situated in the Polynesian sector of the Pacific to the north-east of the Republic of Fiji, north of the Kingdom of Tonga and south of the Tokelau islands. It is made up of two large islands, Upolu and Savaii in the east and west of the group, and two smaller islands, Manono and Apolima, in the centre. Western Samoa was the first Pacific island country to gain independence when it separated from New Zealand in 1962.

In 1987 the population was estimated to be 162,000 approximately 68% of whom reside on Upolu island where the capital and seat of government, Apia, is situated. In addition, considerably large numbers of Samoans reside in New Zealand, American Samoa and United States. Remittances from these expatriate Samoans to their families form an important part of the country's economy which includes the export of agricultural produce such as taro and coconuts. Roughly 40% of the population are under the age of 15 and approximately 56% between 15 and 64. Christianity has been embraced by the Samoan culture and religious denominations include the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Methodists, Catholics, Latter Day Saints and Seventh Day Adventists.

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Western Samoa has a Head of State, a Council of Deputies and a Legislative Assembly elected by the people and headed by a Prime Minister. Matai (chiefly) Councils in the villages perform administrative and local government functions and assist health, education and agriculture programmes.

There are government and church mission primary, intermediate and secondary schools as well as an llinternationalll school operated by a Board of Directors. In 1975 the regional agriculture campus of the University of the South Pacific was set up at Alafua on the outskirts of the capital and in 1984 the government established the National University of Samoa in Apia.

Western Samoa has traditionally had a proportionately large number of print publications and there were as many as 16 a decade and a half ago. Today the two main privately owned newspapers are the tri-weekly SAMOA OBSERVER and the twice weekly SAMOA TIMES. There are also three privately owned weeklies: the SOUTH SEA STAR, the SAMOA WEEKLY and the LA OS0 (Rising Sun). The government owned SAVALI, established in 1904, is published fortnightly in Samoan and English. In 1993 the SAVALI was llcommercialisedll and is now expected to cover publication costs through revenue earning activities.

Western Samoa's telecommunications system connects the capital Apia by telephone, telex and facsimile to international circuits. There is also an internal telecommunications network linking the larger island Savai'i and the international airport to Apia.

Radio broadcasting in Western Samoa was established by government in 1948 when Radio 2AP commenced AM medium wave transmissions. There is also a privately owned frequency modulated station known as FM98 which has limited coverage of the main island Upolu. Both stations earn revenue through commercial advertising.

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Television transmissions from Pago Pago in American Samoa to the east are receiveable in many parts of Western Samoa's main island, Upolu. However, the Western Samoa Government has plans to establish its own television broadcasting system by June, 1993.

Television Background

Efforts to set up a television service in Western Samoa began ten years ago, according to Director of Broadcasting, Mr. Tupai Kuka. These efforts included numerous approaches from overseas organizations and governments to establish a TV service. In 1993, those efforts culminated in the signing of a contract with Television New Zeland (TVNZ) to set up a permanent television broadcasting service. The agreement reportedly stated that TVNZ will provide programming as well as set up the technical infrastructure for the new service. The TV service, to be known as IlTelevise Samoatt, was due to officially begin broadcasting on 28 May 1993 with regular programming due to commence on 1 June, Western Samoa's Independence Day. However, test transmissions were scheduled for April to enable broadcasting of the Ilsuper Tentt rugby tournament ln which Western Samoa had a team known as Manu Samoa. Because rugby is very popular in Western' Samoa, TVNZ set up a temporary service in 1991 to cover the World Cup Rugby championship. A permanent service was reported in the press in that year to be imminent until a devastating cyclone put the plans on hold.

Despite Western Samoa's plans to establish its own PAL standard television service, Apia and environs have, in effect, had access to NTSC standard television broadcasts for more than two decades. Transmissions from nearby American Samoa are received in Apia and viewers have been watching this tlfreett service for years (see section on American Samoa). There were reportedly attempts in both Western and American Samoa to formalize Western Samoa's reception of the television transmissions, but no agreement ever eventuated.

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According to Mr. Kuka, a ttjukebox*l TV service was what had been proposed for the last six to seven years. Such a service would simply have involved playing foreign prerecorded videotapes on air. This would have been a cheaper service but, Kuka added, less desirable as it would have excluded local content.

Local programmes would be the centerpiece of the new television service, Mr. Kuka said. Local productions would highlight educational areas such as the environment, health; agriculture and hygiene as well as sports. It was planned that the new TV service would eventually have the capability to uplink to satellite so that sports played in Samoa could be offered on satellite to other countries in the region and beyond. In this regard some individuals in Western Samoa were of the opinion that the popularity of rugby was an important factor in the Western Samoa decision to establish its own television service.

According to the Prime Minister, WST$800,000 had been approved by government to establish Television Samoa. This allocation was to cover equipment purchase, building renovations and initial programming costs. The PM admitted that this amount was probably insufficient and that he may well have to ask the Assembly to allocate an additional WST$500,000 to see the service through its first year.

Mr. Kuka revealed that Television Samoa was being set up under the Private Companies Act possibly as a corporation. This meant that, although government would be the sole shareholder in the initial stage, shares would be sold to other interested parties, but government would retain the majority of shares and the control of the service. For establishment purposes, however, the Western Samoa Broadcasting Service (WSBS) radio 2AP premises would house the Television Samoa production and on-air operations. The operation would eventually move to the new government buildings complex now under construction.

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Coinciding with the PACTEL mission's visit to Apia, 'an American cable TV company known as Nuanua TV Service was attempting to sell an eight channel cable service to the government. According to Mr. Kuka, the company is based in Pago Pago and owned by a wealthy American and his Samoan wife. The Prime Minister informed the PACTEL team that the cable company had been referred to the government committee set up to establish television. A Nuanua TV Service representative met with Mr. Kuka immediately following our own meeting with him. The PM believed that the cable company's plan to charge WST$75 per month for the service would be unacceptable to the majority of people in Western Samoa. The PACTEL team pointed out to Mr. Kuka that a cable service would quite likely kill Television Samoa's chances of ever being financially independent since it would attract the majority of viewers by offering eight channels of programming as opposed to TV Samoa's one.

Policy

Although formal policy pertaining to Television Samoa reportedly does not yet exist, Mr. Kuka says he is expected to prepare draft policy elements by the second week of May. The policy is expected to be in place before broadcasting commences, the PACTEL mission was told. It is likely that the policy will enshrine the programming goals outlined by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and Mr. Kuka as well as reflect the government equity in the corporation.

The government committee overseeing the introduction of television at the time of the PACTEL visit included the Attorney General, the Secretary of Finance and the Director of Broadcasting. The Attorney General was meant to review the legal considerations to introduce television while the Secretary of Finance was responsible for developing the financial structure for establishing the medium. The Director of Broadcasting was left with the responsibility of technical, personnel, production and programming considerations.

a

Programming

Since there was.not yet a written policy or a programme schedule for television, the question of programming was hypothetical at best. Both the Prime Minister and the Director of Broadcasting gave broad hints at what programming would include and it is based upon these discussions that the information below is provided.

Local news and Church services were said to be the primary programmes to be produced, although Mr Kuka highlighted other possible local programme areas including environment conservation, home hygiene, agricultural extension and women's affairs. Educational programmes for children were also being considered for both the morning and afternoon slots in the programme schedule.

Mr. Kuka planned to have at least ten minutes of local news from the very first official day of transmissions with equal proportions of in English and Samoan news stories. The idea of ttvoicing-overlt and ttlocally linkingt1 international news in Samoan was also being considered despite the fact that this idea had been discouraged by TVNZ as being impractical.

Two test programmes shown to the Prime Minister by TVNZ were reportedly returned with the comment that "this is not what Samoa wants." Asked if there was any fear that the Samoan culture would be threatened by the introduction of television, Mr. Kuka replied Itif it is run properly, TV will strengthen the culture.I1

When asked about the local desire for programmes made in or about other Pacific island countries, both the Prime Minister and Mr. Kuka sharedthe belief that such programmes were highly desirable. That type of programming was still considered as Itlocal programmingtt according to Mr. Kuka.

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Broadcasting hours would initially be five hours a day, seven days a week. The exact times for broadcast had not been decided at the time of the PACTEL mission.

According to the Prime Minister, the long term aim for Television Samoa was to have 50% local content, although he admitted that this might be too ambitious. Mr. Kuka suggested that this goal might be reached within two years. Although the PACTEL members agreed that a high percentage of local programming would by highly desirable, this expectation might have been unrealistic.

Viewing Audience

There were no accurate statistics available on the number of television sets in Western Samoa during the PACTEL mission. There was also the added difficulty that families possessed NTSC television receivers and some possessed multi-standard sets which included PAL. Mr. Kuka estimated that there were roughly 2,500 television sets capable of PAL reception at the time of the PACTEL mission. He further estimated that each receiver would have an average of seven extended family. These estimates suggest a total viewing audience of 17,500 people in the initial stages. Although not verified, this is a very small portion of Upolu’s population but Mr. Kuka hinted that government might reduce the duty on television sets during the first year of television transmissions. This would probably result in a large rise in the number of TV sets and viewers.

Manpower

According to Mr. Kuka, initially the television service would have ten full time staff and up to five presenters on a part time basis. Five of the full time staff would be cameramen/editors/transmission operators and five would be programme producer/reporters. The TV service was in the process of hiring staff at the time of the PACTEL mission. It appeared likely that a number of people from government departments with

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video production equipment could be employed as well as several 2AP radio broadcasting staff.

Training

Although Mr. Kuka indicated that two or three of the new staff members would already have had experience in video/TV production, the other staff would need to receive basic training in TV production. Mr. Kuka made an urgent request to UNESCO and the South Pacific Commission to assist Television Samoa by providing this basic television production training for two to three weeks in April or May, 1993, if possible.

Proposed TV Technical Facilities at Television Samoa

During the PACTEL mission's visit, four rooms in the present 2AP Radio Broadcasting complex were being modified to accommodate the following:

(a) a studio for shooting the newscaster/presenter complete Fnffi lights and 'cameras;

(b) a production control room cum transmission room; (c) an editing suite; and (d) a commercials production room.

The set-up in 2AP's building was only an interim arrangement, according to Mr. Kuka. Ultimately Television Samoa would move to its permanent home in the government complex which was under construction at the time of the PACTEL mission.

Production of programmes and transmission would be in the PAL colour standard, said Mr. Kuka. The power supply in Western Samoa was 240 volts/50 Hz.

Mr. Kuka mentioned that the contents of the agreement with TVNZ were confidential. However he outlined in general terms the technical facilities proposed for the new TV service. Mr. Kuka

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stated that S-VHS would be the format for production and broadcast but he added that they may decide to change to another, better quality format at a later date.

The proposed TV studio would have two CCD cameras. Two suites with S-VHS editing machines and edit controllers were planned. At this stage, A/B roll editing was not being contemplated. The proposal included three S-VHS ENG units. An NTSC/PAL standards converter was also proposed. Mr. Kuka indicated that the equipment supply would be completed by the third week of May, 1993.

When the PACTEL mission first visited the broadcasting complex, a 7.5 meter parabolic dish antenna had already arrived for installation. This dish would be a TVRO (Television Receive Only) to get satellite feeds for news and sports. This dish would subsequently be installed by 23 March, in time to receive the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament.

The first and establishing phase of Television Samoa would utilise five low power transmitters. One of these transmitters would act as a studio-to-main transmitter link. All of the transmitters would be in the VHF band. The power of the transmitters would be 5 watts, 50 watts and 100 watts. With a transmitting antennae gain of 4, the estimated effective radiated power of the transmitters would be 20 watts, 200 watts and 400 watts.

As the initial installation would not provide adequate coverage, Mr Kuka said that there are plans to mount a second phase to extend television transmissions. After a suitable technical survey is conducted, additional transmitters will be installed to complete coverage of the two main islands, Upolu and Savaii. At a later stage, he said, there is a proposal 'to set up a sattelite earth station with transmit and receive capability.

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VIDEO PRODUCTION UNITS

Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs (MYSCA)

The Video Unit at MYSCA was established in 1986 when the Ministry received assistance from the Government of Japan in the form of video equipment, a vehicle and a Japanese volunteer (J.O.C.V.) to effect equipment installation. With the addition of a second volunteer, local personnel were trained to opera.te the equipment and produce programmes.

According to Kapeneta Tupa'i, the head of the video unit, 90% of the unit's video work involved shooting activities organised by the ministry's officers. These video programmes, especially sports coaching and sports events, were used to improve the performances of coaches and players. Not all of the programmes were edited. Many simply documented youth, sports and cultural activities. However, one of the unit's programmes, a documentary on the catching of palolo a sea worm, won a special award at a video festival in Japan.

The Secretary of MYSCA, Mr. Seiuli Paul Wallwork, reiterated that most of the video unit's work was for in-house use. Programmes were not lent out or sold. Although Mr. Wallwork admitted that he had not had any discussions with the new TV service as to how they might work together. He was willing to provide some of his unit's video programmes for television transmission purposes. But this would require negotiations.

There were three full-time staff members of the video unit, a cameraman, a technician, and a producer-editor. All had received basic training. Two of them had received training in Japan as well as at the South Pacific Commission Regional Media Centre in Fiji.

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Mr. Wallwork expected to lose some of his staff to' the new TV service but did not seem overly concerned. He said that he would simply request .more Japanese volunteers and begin training new local staff. MYSCA's video unit uses semi-professional NTSC equipment, utilising both low band U-Matic and VHS recording and editing equipment. Because Western Samoa was intending to broadcast in the PAL standard MYSCA would need a standards converter to transfer their tapes to PAL if they were to be broadcast.

MYSCA's video unit had two JVC cameras, two VHS field recorders and one 3/4" U-Matic low band field VCR for outdoor or indoor shooting. In addition, they had two Low-band U-Matic VCRs, four VHS recorders, two editing control units (one VHS and one U-Matic), a video switcher, a character generator and a six channel audio mixer. They also had a small stand mounted captions and graphics camera.

Maintenance was a problem, especially with the outdated, low-band U-Matic machines. For any repair, the equipment had to be sent abroad. This would become a major handicap if they were required to consistently supply programmes to the new TV service.

Equipment JVC field cameras Low-band U-Matic field unit JVC U-Matic low band edit machines (CR 6650 and 8250L) Editing control units - RM-86U (can be used with U-Matic as well as VHS) VHS cassette recorder (2-JVC BR-8000, 1-JVC BR-6400 and 1-Sony SL-800) JVC Saticon camera mounted on a small stand Sony AV creator and home computer with Home Intelligence Terminal (HB-F900) JVC (MI-5000) Audio 6 channel master mixer Video Monitors JVC KM-2000 video switcher

University of the South Pacific - Alafua Campus The ltElectronic-Media Unit" was established at USP-Alafua in 1989 with a grant fromthe Holland-based C.T.A. organization (Rural and Technical Cooperation in Agriculture). The media unit produced video programmes primarily to promote the USP Institute for Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture (IRETA).

In more general terms, the Media Unit produced video programmes for use in agricultural extension work on crop production as well as programmes to supplement the agriculture research curriculum at the University.

The unit operates with only two staff members, a video producer/director and an audio visual technician. However, other staff can be acquired on an as-needed basis. But, according to Mr. Rudy Bartley, the video producer/director, only about 40% of their time was spent actually producing video programmes. The remainder of their time was split among several other audio-visual duties. A third full-time position, that of A/V Officer has been established, but funding to cover the post has not yet been found.

The programmes produced by the Media Unit would be available free-of-charge to the proposed television service, according to Mr. Bartley. A large library of agricultural video programmes (over 180) is maintained at the Media Unit. Their main concern was to have the programmes seen by as many people as possible. Not all of the programmes in the library were produced by the Media Unit, but they were available to be used by interested parties.

The Director of IRETA was in Holland during the PACTEL mission to negotiate upgrading and renewal of the video unit's aging VHS production and editing equipment. In line with this proposal Mr. Bartley had recommended, that S-VHS equipment be ordered.

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The Electronic Media Unit produces programmes in 'the PAL TV standard utilising two S-VHS camcorders which they use in the normal VHS mode.because the editing suite can only edit the normal VHS format. The edit suite comprises two VHS recorder, a video mixer with digital video effects, an edit controller, an 8-channel audio mixer and video monitors.

Servicing of equipment is a problem. For any major repairs, equipment is sent to Australia or New Zealand. The staff are only capable of minor maintenance.

Equipment

(2) S-VHS cameras with recorders (2) Panasonic AG-6500 VHS recorders (1) Panasonic edit controller (1) Panasonic WJ-MX video mixer with effects (1) 8-channel audio mixer (4) Sony Video monitors

Summary

The establishment of television in Western Samoa is being compressed into a few short months. Local news is programmed from the first broadcast. A high percentage of local productions is expected thereafter.

Training in a variety of production areas is very clearly a pressing need for the newly hired staff and will continue to be a need for several years as the television service develops. Technical maintenance/television engineering expertise is not available locally and, unless appropriate personnel are acquired from overseas, the service will undoubtedly experience considerable difficulty because of locally irrepairable equipment faults.

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As the the Itnew boytt, Television Samoa is in a posit'ion to learn a considerable amount from its Pacific neighbours. But it would need to actively pursue this line to obtain benefits.

In addition, Television Samoa is commencing its service with competition from nearby KVZK-TV, Pago Pago, American Samoa, transmissions from which Western Samoans have .enjoyed for many years. If the viewers do not find Television Samoa's programmes interesting, they can simply switch back to Pago Pago transmissions. This is a challenge for a new television organisation which will ultimately be run as a corporation.

Recommendations

(1) To meet the urgent training needs required by the TV service a training course needs to be convened urgently to teach staff the basic skills required in TV news production. (Already being negotiated with SPC/UNESCO)

(2) Further training sources need to be identified to further develop the skills of the new TV staff in areas such as sports coverage, multiple camera shoots, and studio lighting.

(3) It is recommended that a study visit be arranged for the manager of the new TV service to see how the TV services in Cook Islands, Niue Island and Tonga operate.

(4) It is recommended that the new TV service establish formal understandings with government departments and organisations in Samoa which produce video programmes. These programmes could assist the TV service in meeting its ambitious goal for achieving a high percentage of local productions.

(5) It is recommended that discussions be held between the new TV service and KVZK in Pago Pago towards establishing links which might lead to programme exchange, Co-productions, etc. Since both services will be producing Samoan-language programmes, programme

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exchanges would assist both reach high percentages ' of ttloca18t production.

(6) Even though the video unit of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs (MYSCA) was set up mainly to cater to the needs of sports coaching, the unit could be used (with suitable conversion equipment) to cover sports events for telecast by the Western Samoa Broadcast Service (WSBS).

(7) The equipment at the video unit of MYSCA is already old and needs to be replaced. In such a case they could go in for PAL equipment to suit the requirement of WSBS.

(8) The USP Electronic Media Unit is producing Agricultural programmes in the PAL standard. These programmes can be utilised by WSBS. There is a need though for the unit to augment facilities by acquiring additional camera/recorder units and to increase the number of staff.

(9) Since WSBS has reportedly included a standards converter in the equipment to be supplied by TVNZ they could obtain NTSC tapes from other Broadcasting organisations. However, they will need an NTSC playback machines for this. Because the MYSCA already has an NTSC machine, WSBS could possibly coordinate the use of the machine with them.

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contacts :

Hon. Tofilau Eti Alesana Prime Minister Minister of Broadcasting

Mr Tupai Kuka Director of Broadcasting

Mr Seiuli P. Wallwork Secretary Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs

Mr Kapeneta Tupai Head of the Video Unit Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs

Mr Sapau Ruperake Petaia Director Posts and Telecommunication

Mr Rudy Bartley Officer-in-Charge Audio Visual Centre USP

Mr Corey Keil Radio Manager Radio Polynesia

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TONGA

country information

The Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga is situated just east of the 180th meridian between the Republic of Fiji and Niue Island and to the south of Western Samoa. The country is composed of 150 islands with a total land area of 697 square kilometres dispersed over 259,000 square kilometres of ocean. The population in 1986 was 94,535 of which about 50% were under the age of 20 years. The capital, Nuku'alofa, situated on the southernmost island, Tongatapu, is the seat of government as well as the country's commercial, telecommunication and mass media centre. The national language is Tongan alongside which English is widely spoken. Tonga's economy has an agricultural base but tourism has been strongly promoted in recent years. In addition the economy is significantly assisted by remittances to relatives from Tongans who have emigrated to the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand.

Tonga has a constitutional monarchy with government consisting of the King, the Privy Council, Cabinet, the Legislative Assembly and the Judiciary. The legislative assembly is composed of 12 representatives appointed by the King, 9 nobles elected by the 33 existing nobles and 9 representatives of the people elected by the population at large. This 30 seat parliamentary structure was set in place through Tonga's 1875 constitution.

Constitutionally all the land in Tonga belongs to the King who divides large estates among the nobles from whose allocations each Tongan male upon attaining the age of 16 years is entitled to a bush allotment of 3 hectares and a town allotment of 0.16 hectares. In return the tenant pays a rental for the lifelong allotment. With population increases over the years, however, this traditional system has run into land scarcity problems.

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AM broadcasting mainly in Tongan and FM broadcasting mainly in English are conducted by the Tonga Broadcasting Commission a statutory body-currently under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

The print media in Tonga have recently undergone'rapid growth. In addition tothe government owned weekly TONGA CHRONICLE, there are three private weeklies the TIMES OF TONGA, the KELE'A and the TONGA INTERNATIONAL, church periodicals TAUMU'A LELEI, TOHI FANONGONONGO and 'OFA KI TONGA, and the fortnightly news magazine MATANGI TONGA.

Telecommunication systems include a 2,000 line automatic telephone system on Tongatapu, VHF abd HF internal inter-island telegraph and telephone facilities, as well as international telex, facsimile and telephone services, including ISD, through an INTELSAT earth station located at Nuku'alofa.

There are two privately owned television broadcasting organisations in Tonga both operating from the capital Nuku'alofa - Channel 3 established in 1984, and Channel 7 which commenced transmissions in 1991.

Television Background

According to the manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (T.B.C.) , Mr. Tavake Fusimalohi, the government of Tonga considered introducing a television service to the kingdom for many years. In the early 1980's, the mandate for introducing TV was given to the T.B.C. Many overseas broadcasters and governments were interested in setting up a TV service, including Kerry Packer and his Channel 9 network. Channel 9 carried out a detailed feasibility study of the Tonga group and designed a transmission plan. This possibility was reportedly never actively pursued by government.

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TVNZ made an approach to the government in 1986 but again, the offer was not pursued. T.B.C. then decided to Iigo it alonef1 and sought funding. to set up its own TV service. This never eventuated. During the PACTEL visit, Mr. Fusimalohi stated that there were no immediate plans to develop a government TV service. Personally, Mr. Fusimalohi stated that he was "not really keen to run TV alone." He went on to say that he was not against TV but that he was concerned about the negative effects a TV service might have on the budget of his radio station. He preferred a privately owned teleivision service.

l'The wish to have a national broadcasting service is there, but the capacity to support and maintain such a service is the constraining factor,Il said Mrs. 'Eseta Fusitu'a, the Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet. According to Mrs. Fusitu'a, one reason that government has hesitated in setting up a national television service is the question of whose satellite will be used to provide programming. The choice of satellite would align Tonga with a metropolitan country for many years, so the decision was being considered carefully.

Despite the fact that Tonga does not possess anational government service, two private TV services were operating at the time of the PACTEL mission's visit. Although the two services were not government run, Mrs. Fusitu'a believed that the services should be utilised for development communication as well as cultural preservation. IlIf government sets up television,11 said Mrs. Fusitu'a, "the main goal should be community education -- providing the people with development skills. U Information on the two existing privately owned Tongan television channels follows.

ASTL - TV CHANNEL 3, TONGA Backgrounâ

Established in 1984, this was the first television broadcasting service to set up operations in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Owned by Mr.

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Latu Tupouniua and his family, ASTL TV-3 originally’operated as a subscription service, charging viewers T$15 per month. The signal was scrambled, requiring a decoder at the front end of the subscribers TV set to receive the signal clearly.

Mr. Latu Tupouniua‘s son Sione estimated that there were only 300-400 television sets in Nuku‘alofa in 1984. Mr. Latu Tupouniua had worked as a contractor for a cable TV company in Hawaii and made the contacts which later led to his setting up the TV service in Tonga. He was assisted by Mr. Len Lohmann, an American with television experience in various technical areas.

It was difficult to get a licence at first to broadcast television in Tonga, but one was finally granted by Tonga Telecommunications Commission. Permission to operate was also granted by the King. In the last few years, the licensing fee had been T$300 annually. According to Mr. Sione Tupouniua, who is now in charge of programming, the TV service was not a big money-earner due to the small number of subscribers and the difficulty in collecting the monthly subscription.

In 1989, the Tonga Broadcasting Act was passed, requiring any broadcasting service, other than Tonga Broadcasting Commission, to pay an annual licensing fee of T$500 and to adhere to certain regulations. Channel 3, having paid licence fees for several years to the Telecommunications department did not understand why they suddenly had to pay a new licensing fee. They were given two weeks to comply with this order which seemed to coincide with the PACTEL mission’s visit.

In 1991, after the new Channel 7 service began broadcasting, TV-3 abandoned its subscription service and began broadcasting a normal signal without charge to viewers and earning revenue by selling commercial advertising. This change resulted ih an increase in revenue, according to Mr. Tupouniua, but required the addition of extra staff, mainly in the sales and marketing area. Although he had been away for a number of years after assisting in the

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station's set up, Mr. Len Lohmann returned to Tonga with his Samoan wife Lupe, and they both joined TV-3, Lupe as the advertising and marketing officer, and Len as the Production Manager.

Policy

Although there is no comprehensive government television policy in Tonga, the Tonga Broadcasting Act of 1989 primarily established licensing procedures relating to privately owned television services. Concerning programming, the Act states that: licensee shall not broadcast any matter which is indecent or obscene; displays excessive violence; is blasphemous; is treasonous or seditious; is defamatory." The Act also requires any TV service to tlbroadcast Divine Worship or other matters of a religious nature during such periods as the King in Council determines and, if SO directed, shall do so without charge."

With regard to political matters the Act states that "The King in Council may determine to what extent and in what manner a licensee may broadcast political or controversial matter. If The Act further states that any person who operates a broadcasting station without a licence issued under this Act "is liable to a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or to both."

Programming

TV-3 currently broadcasts from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-11 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Sunday broadcast hours are from 7-10 p.m. Nearly all programmes are recorded off-air in Hawaii and re-broadcast from videotape. These programmes include feature movies, TV series and American network news programmes broadcast with commercials intact.

TV-3 is involved in a limited amount of local production. They videotape record local sporting events, pageants, church services, cultural performances and a number of commercials for local

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business firms. The PACTEL mission was informed.that'they wished to produce a local news bulletin but since they did not have authorisation from government and their current licence to broadcast was under review, they were hesitant, at this time, to begin local news operations. Since TV-3 is profit-oriented, their local programming is usually sponsored by a local company, church or agency.

According to all of the local people that the PACTEL mission encountered TV-3 is the more popular of the two television services because of the American feture films and television series that they broadcast. Although scenes involving sex are edited out of programming, there seems to be less sensitivity to the broadcasting of violent scenes.

Viewing Audience

A survey was reportedly conducted by TV-3 in 1991 which led Mr. Tupouniua to estimate the number of TV sets receiving their signal to be between 5-6,000 in Nuku'alofa. Because of the extended family situation in Tonga where many people would gather at one home, an average of seven people per household would put the estimated viewing audience at between 35-42,000 people. Although no official statistics were available at the time of the PACTEL mission, this estimate matches closely the views of others interviewed that at least one in three families in Nuku'alofa had a television set. Channel 7's signal, being stronger than Channel 3, would be expected to reach an even larger number.

Manpower ASTL-TV3

ASTL-TV3 has 10 full-time staff members - three on-air operators, three tape operators, three production people and three who produce programmes and run the administration of the service. The owner of the company is the tenth staff member responsible for arranging for pre-recorded videotapes which come from Hawaii.

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Training

Except for Len Lohmann none of the staff of TV-3 have received any formal training in television production or operations. All of the staff have learned their skills on-the-job primarily under the tutorship of Mr. Lohmann.

Technical Facilities

TV-3 has video playback, editing and transmitter facilities but no TV studio. Outside events are shot on VHS cassettes and edited. Most of the transmission material comes from Hawaii on 3/4" U-Matic or half-inch VHS cassettes. In addition to selling commercial advertising, TV-3 also covers local events such as sports, cultural functions etc. on a chargeable basis to earn revenue. In this way TV3 is able to provide 9 hours of NTSC color TV transmissions per day. Prior to 1991, TV-3 encrypted their signal and rented decoders to subscribers. However, after the establishment of TV7, they opted to broadcast free-to-air.

The total staff of 10 work on a multi-functional basis for covering outside events, editing and transmission. They have only one outside field production unit with a single camera and a VHS recorder.

For editing and transmission they have (2) VHS players, (2) VHS recorders, (1) 3/4" U-Matic Low Band Video Cassette Recorder and (1) small audio mixer. At present there is no editing control unit.

TV-3's technical infrastructure, in comparison with TV-7, is very modest. But since TV-3 broadcasts more modern movies and series their viewing audience is reputed to be larger than TV-7's.

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Equipment

All the technical facilities including transmitter are housed in a single room. (1) JVC VHS Recorder (1) Sony VHS Recorder (2) JVC VHS Player (1) Realistic portable audio mixer (1) National 3/4" Low-Band VCR (1) TTC Television Transmitter.

The 40 watt TV transmitter operates on American Channel 3 and is said to be radiating 25 watts of power. It is an old transmitter manufactured by Television Technology Corporation, U.S.A.

Four 6-element Yagi aerials in a two stack configuration are the radiating elements mounted on a 35 meter guyed mast. The station is approximately 10 meters higher than most areas of the town. The coverage is inferior to TV-7 but is able to reach the densely populated areas of Nuku'alofa town. The PACTEL mission was told

that TV-3 was planning to add two more yagi antenna stacks to extend and enhance their service area.

TONGA

A3M-TV CHANNEL 7

Background

Oceania Broadcasting Network began broadcasting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, in September 1991 with a TV service registered as A3M-TV Channel 7. The network was established by an American, Mr Chris Resene, who also reportedly operates two services in Hawaii, Channel 26 - Oahu and Channel 6 - Kona. According to A3M-TVfs General Manager, Mr. Ray Wick, Mr Resene also has a permit to

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operate an AM Radio station in Pago Pago and permission to set up a TV service in Western Samoa.

Oceania is a Christian evangelical organisation with the aim of spreading the gospel throughout the Pacific. Reportedly an inter-denominational group, Oceania operates as a non-profit organisation. It recently, however, received a new license from the government of Tonga to operate as a commercial service. It has also acquired a satellite receiving dish and plans to offer CNN (Cable News Network) on its service. Since its inception, A3M-TV7 has offered its service without charge to viewers and without commercials. Because of this, it has operated at a financial loss. It has generated some income by charging organizations and government departments for producing short programmes. However, A3M-TV7 did not charge for airing the productions.

According to the editor of the Tonga Chronicle, Mr. Tuisoso Paua Manawatu, TV-7 is jointly owned by Oceania Broadcasting, Trinity Broadcasting (an American evangelical TV network), and the King of Tonga. Despite its history of operating as a money-losing venture, Mr. Wick said the idea was to make the service self-supporting within a few years. He said this would be accomplished by selling commercial advertising.

TV-7's future plans include extending their coverage to the Ha'apai and Vava'u island groups lying to the north of Tongatapu. Mr. Wick also stated that if Oceania's long-term plans came to fruition in other island countries, the station in Tonga would become the ithublt of a Christian broadcasting service in the South Pacific.

Programming

TV-7 broadcasts for 7.5 hours each day, three hours in the morning and 4.5 in the evening. Because it was set up as a Christian television service, it would be expected that much of their

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programming is religious. Currently, Manager Ray Wick estimated that 70% of their programming is of a religious nature. He said they plan to reduce that to 60% in the near future. It is this large percentage of religious programming which, according to those interviewed, has made Channel 3 the more popular of the two TV stations.

Mr. Wick told the PACTEL team that the Oceania Network felt that they needed to broaden their service to the people of Tonga. They plan to offer sports, news, cultural and educational programmes as well as the familiar religious programmes. TV-7 had broadcast some short news stories and other local productions but these were not done on a consistent basis, according to Mr. Wick. A local newscast was on the planning boards though, as was an increase in the number of broadcast hours. At the time of the PACTEL visit, the station produced a voice-over weather forecast complete with a graphic image of the island of Tongatapu and symbols for rain and lettering for temperatures. TV-7's future plans for local productions also include simple educational programmes featuring a teacher in front of a blackboard. Mr. Wick said that his organisation was also holding discussions with TVNZ with a view to utilising material off TVNZ's Pacific Service satellite.

Much of Oceania's programming comes from the Trinity network in the U.S., a larger Christian-message TV network. TV-7 broadcasts a selection of TV evangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart and others as well as Christian-message serials and Christian music programmes. In addition, TV-7 broadcasts movies which they feel reflect Christian values. In effect, these movies tend to be vintage American movies from the post-war era, some of them in Black and White. When TV-7 shows more modern movies, a certain amount of censorship is usually required. This is done by a Tongan staff member who simply cuts to black for the duration of the censored section.

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Because the building which TV-7 is using was formerly a Mormon church, there is a room large enough to accommodate a congregation. .TV-7 regularly videotape records church services in this room for broadcast purposes. Often these are shot with a single camera.

Viewing Audience

Because TV-7 is broadcasting with a 500 watt transmitter, it is able to reach virtually all of the island of Tongatapu where the majority of the Tongan population live. Once TV-7 began broadcasting in 1991, the availability of this tgfreegg programming caused the proliferation of TV sets. For example, the editor of the Tonga Chronicle described how in 1990 there were only six TV sets in his village outside Nuku’alofa. Now, after only three years, he said there were over 200 sets in his village.

There are no statistics regarding the number of homes with TV sets, but based upon estimates provided to the PACTEL team, approximately 30 -40,000 people are able to view the TV7 service. These estimates are not based on statistical evidence but on personal views. Utilising 1986 figures, however, 40,000

respresents 42% of the total population of Tonga or 62% of the population of the main island Tongatapu.

Manpower

The TV-7 staff are unique in that they are, all volunteers. Currently, TV7 has a total of nine staff members, five full-time staff and four part time. Three of the full-time staff are Americans, six are Tongans. The staff members receive support from their church or other church organizations for their financial needs. The Manager, Mr Ray Wick, said that he lived in a back room at the station which reduced his own need for money.

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One of the American staff members is a technician whose specialty is production equipment. Mr Ray Wick is a transmission specialist. None of those on staff were really producers so Mr Wick assumes the role for local productions. He recognizes the need for outside assistance to provide training in programme production for his staff.

Training

The three American staff members of TV7 provide most of the training for the Tongan staff. One of the Tongan staff however has attended a short course in video production in New Zealand. Mr. Wick admitted that none of the staff were well trained in production techniques. He indicated that training in this area was a strong need, especially since TV7 planned to increase the number of local productions.

The Prime'Minister's office representatives made it clear to the PACTEL team that government would assist TV7 by endorsing their participation in television training offers to the government. This included nominating staff to SPC and UNESCOtraining courses.

Technical Facilities

TV-7 broadcasts via a 500 watt TV transmitter in the NTSC colour standard. The power supply in Tonga is 240 volts, 50 Hertz.

A large hall adjacent to the TV Production/transmission room is used to telecast church services. It is not air-conditioned and not a proper TV studio. About a dozen light fittings, a combination of floods and spots with barn doors mounted on a pipe attached to the ceiling, provide adequate illumination for the three video cameras utilised.

The Master Control Room contains equipment utilised for on-air continuity switching as well as for production. There is a graphics computer system based on an I.B.M. compatible personal

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computer, a character generator a video mixing unit, an audio mixing unit, video distribution amplifiers, camera control units for the three video cameras, audio distribution amplifiers, patch panels, and four U-Matic VCR's two of which are part of the editing unit with two utilised for on-air playback and dubbing.

In addition, there are four VHS recorders used to playback outside recordings such as cultural events, sports, and educational programmes shot on a portable VHS recorder.

As TV-7 has insufficient studio equipment maintenance expertise and as there is no local technical servicing facility available, defective equipment is sent abroad for time consuming expensive repairs. The PACTEL Mission was informed that this factor coupled with aging U-Matic video cassette recorders may prompt the changeover to the standard VHS format.

The General Manager also informed the mission that TV-7 has purchased the rights to re-broadcast CNN programs As a result, they are setting up a T.V.R.O. (Television Receive Only) equipment with a 9 meter diameter parabolic dish antenna. They also plan to obtain programmes from TVNZ via satellite.

A 500 watt TV transmitter is located in a small room adjacent to the production/transmission control room. To provide adequate cooling, the side panels of the transmitter cubicle were removed. In addition a muffin fan was installed inside the cubicle to provide forced air cooling. Eight yagi antennas in a two stack configuration pointing in four different directions are mounted on a 35 meter transmission mast attached to the side of the building.

Although a field strength survey has not been conducted, the PACTEL mission was informed that TV-7's coverage extends beyond 25 kms from the station. The terrain is flat without obstructions such as hills or high buildings.

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Production and Transmission Equipment at TV-7

video cameras - 2-Hitachi FP-31 1-Hitachi FP-21 (for both outdoor and indoor shooting) Camera Control Units (rack mounted) for all three video cameras. Vision mixer - Grass Valley Audio/video Switcher - Grass Valley 3/4" U-Matic VCRs - Sony VO-5850 RM 44 Edit Controller Graphics Generator (IBM Compatible PC) Character Generator Waveform Monitors - Hitachi Video Monitors - Sony and Panasonic VHS Video Cassette Recorders Video Distribution Amplifiers (rack mounted) Audio Distribution Amplifier (rack mounted)

Transmitting Equipment

- 500 watt TV transmitter on Channel 7 - 35 mtr Guyed mast with a galvanised iron pipe mounted over

- 8 Element Yagi aerials for radiation - (8) it.

VIDEO PRODUCTION UNITS

Ministry of Education - Community Development Traininu Centre ( CDTC )

Background

At the time of the PACTEL mission's visit, plans were in place to set up a video production unit under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. The video unit will be established through a UNESCO project entitled Tonga Video Production Development Project

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(TONGAVID) which will provide an S-VHS format production at the Ministry of Education's Community Development and Training Centre (CDTC). Mr Laki Tupou Pifeleti, an Education Officer recently returned from Monash University, Australia, with a Master's degree in communication, will be in charge of the new video production unit. He will be assisted by four other Ministry of Education staff members who will be transferred from their present teaching positions to the unit.

The purpose of the video unit will be to provide video production services in support of the national education programmes of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. After it is fully established and staffed, the unit hopes to also produce programmes for other areas of community development such as culture, agriculture, health, women's interest groups and tourism. It is further expected that the unit could provide educational material for broadcast by the two local television services.

In relation to the establishment of the video production unit at CDTC, the PACTEL mission noted the need for a short-term consultant to carry out technical installation and testing of the production equipment when it arrives. The consultant could also possibly conduct basic equipment operation training.

The PACTEL mission also noted that there is a large need in Tonga for video and television equipment maintenance expertise. This factor will have an effect on the future well being of the Ministry of Education's video production unit which will be equipped with NTSC standard, S-VHS format production facilities. The decision to acquire NTSC standard equipment is in line with the standard utilised by the two local television broadcasting organisations.

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Ministry of Health - Health Education Unit Background

The Ministry of Health's video unit was also in the process of establishment at the time of the PACTEL mission's visit. But equipment was reportedly expected by the middle of the year from World Health Organisation's (WHO) Global Project on AIDS. The unit's priority therefore will be in the production of materials to increase public awareness of AIDS. However, the production of other health topics is also planned.

The Health Education Unit has been active in the production of health messages on television but had to contract TV-7 to shoot and edit the programmes. TV-7 charged the Unit T$100 per hour for the production time but broadcast the programmes free of charge.

The Health Department's Audio-Visual Unit currently has a staff of four, all of whom will reportedly be involved to some extent in the production of video programmes. Extra help can be called in on an as-needed basis since there are four more staff members in the Health Education Unit. Only one of the staff , Mr. Lotu Havea, has had any training in video production. It is imperative therefore, that additional staff training be arranged.

The unit's equipment list was developed in association with the South Pacific Commission's Regional Media Centre and utilises the S-VHS format. However, the health education unit has decided to purchase PAL standard equipment, despite the fact that both TV services use NTSC. Mr. Havea explained that part of their reason for choosing PAL was the ability for PAL equipment to be repaired locally. The PACTEL members asked Mr. Havea if it was too late to change the equipment standard to NTSC. It would obviously be preferable to produce programmes in the same format as the TV stations in order to give them better quality copies for broadcast. Mr. Havea was going to check into the matter. The

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mission noted its doubt about the availability of local expertise to service PAL standard equipment.

The health education department's equipmentwould include an S-VHS camcorder and other ENG accessories as well as a cuts-only S-VHS editing system including monitors.

Tolua Brothers Photosraphy Studio

Background

The older of the two Tolua Brothers, Lupeti, set up a photography business nearly 30 years ago. He had become the unofficial ttRoyal photographervv because of his frequent work for the Tongan royal family. In 1988, the company purchased its first video camera (VHS-PAL) and moved into a new field. Most of their video business involves recording weddings, funerals and other family events. They average two to four programmes a month.

The video vvdepartmentvv is comprised of two young men, one of whom has a bachelor's degree in telecommunications from a university in the United States. The PACTEL team viewed some of their productions and determined that this young man's skill level was much higher than the limited equipment would allow. The video department is apparently not doing well financially. Business was described as Ivshakytt by one of the staff. He said they were just barely making ends meet.

Technical Facilities

Even though TV-7 and TV-3 are using the NTSC standard, Tolua Brothers purchased a PAL standard TV camera and recorders in addition to their one NTSC camcorder. Some editing is possible using two domestics VCRs as they do not have an edit controller. They also have a basic character generator which connects to their National video camera.

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Equipment

(2) National Video Camera (PAL) (1) National VHS field recorder (1) General Electric VHS camcorder (NTSC) (6) Panasonic VHS VCRs (1) Realistic Audio Mixer (1) Realistic Audio Cassette Recorder (2) Video monitors

Summary

Both of Tonga's privately owned television services require production equipment upgrading and staff training in all areas of production to enhance local capacity to produce programmes. Although it may not be possible for government to provide direct financial assistance to the television organisations it can assist by nominating local television station staff for participation in training courses offered by international and regional agencies.

Although there is a Broadcasting Act which sets out licensing and basic programme guidelines for the TV services,. there is a need for government to formalize its desire that health, education and other development themes should be included in the programming of the private TV services. This would entail the formulation of a more substantial government policy.

The two government video production units which are in the process of establishment could eventually provide the local TV services with the educational and community service programmes which government claims it wants. But considerable training and other assistance is required before these video units can begin to produce programmes.

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Recommendations

(1) As it appears that Tonga currently has no inclination to develop a government TV broadcasting service, it is recommended that government support the two private servlces as much as possible in exchange for access to television broadcasting by government-produced programmes.

(2) It is recommended that in-country training courses be convened as soon as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health receive their expected video equipment.

(3) It is also recommended that the Ministries of Education and Health make use of other regional and overseas training opporunities to enable their staff to develop as rapidly as possible.

(4) It is recommended that television training opportunities offered to Tonga by international, regional or other agencies, be made available also to the staff of the television broadcasting organisations TV-3 and TV-7.

(5) A young man currently working at Tolua Brothers Photography Studio is already highly trained in video production. Consideration could be given to the utilisation of his skills by one or both of the television broadcasting organisations.

(6) It is recommended that any regional or sub-regional television programme exchange include the two TV services despite their private status.

(7) If in the future, the Government of Tonga decides to reconsider a government owned National Television service the option to consider satellite linkages with the other 33 inhabited islands is available. In addition, it may also be useful to reconsider the transmission standard - NTSC or PAL -in relation to development in other Pacific island countries.

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(8) To enhance its service area, TV-3 could consider increasing the power of its transmitter and installing additional transmitting antennae. Instead of converting to the standard VHS format, TV-7 could consider adopting the S-VHS format which would offer enhanced video quality.

(9) TV-7 could conisder developing the large hall, used for recording church services into a fully-fledged multipurpose production studio.

(10) Both TV-7 and TV-3 need more staff to increase the local content of programming.

(il) Both TV-7 and TV-3 need to augment their ENG/EFP equipment.

(12) It is recommended that priority government consideration be given to the development of adequate television equipment maintenance and repair expertise for the Kingdom of Tonga in consultation with the local television organisations and video production units.

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Contacts :

Lupe Lohmann - Advertising ASTL-TV3

Len Lohmann Production Manager ASTL-TV3

Sione Tupouniua Programming ASTL-TV3

Le'omolutu Havea Health Education Technician Ministry of Health

'Eseta Fusitu'a Acting Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet

Mana Latu Principal Education

Sitiveni Finau Senior Lecturer Educational Technology

Ray Wick General Manager TV-7

Sione Tapi Panuve Deputy General Manager Tonga Telecom. Commission

Semisi Taumoepeau Director of Tourism Tonga. Tourist Off ice

Tuisoso Paua Manawatu Editor Tonga Chronicle

Lu'isa Kefu Prime Minister's Office

Dr. 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki Deputy Director of CDTC

for Policy and Planning

Laki Tupou Pifeleti Assistant Lecturer Educational Technology

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COOK ISLANDS

country Information

The Cook Islands occupy a central position in the Polynesian sector of the Pacific and consist of a group of 15 islands widely dispersed over 2.2 million square kilometres of ocean between Niue Island and French Polynesia. The distance between the northern-most island (Penrhyn) and southern-most island (Mangaia) is 2,133 kilometres, total land area is 240 square kilometres and the population in 1991 was 18,552.

Parliament and central government administration are located on the capital island, Rarotonga, which, with 10,918 residents, is the most populous of the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is also the largest land mass in the country with an area of 67 square kilometres.

The Cook Islands attained internal self government in free association with New Zealand in 1965 after being administered directly by New Zealand from 1901. The legislature consists of a 24 member parliament of which six members (appointed by the PM) and the Prime Minister form the Cabinet of Ministers. National general elections, by universal sufferage, are held every five years. The House of Ariki (Council of Chiefs), representing the fifteen islands of the group, advise government on traditional Cook Island Maori matters. The High Court of the Cook Islands has Civil, Criminal and Land divisions leading to an Appeal Court.

The national language, Cook Islands Maori, is related to New Zealand Maori and Tahitian, but English is widely spoken and a majority of people are bi-lingual. Considerable numbers of Cook Islanders have emigrated to New Zealand in search of education and employment. Estimates of the number resident there vary from 30,000 to 38,000. A smaller number, estimated at around 10,000, have moved to Australia.

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The national newspaper and radio broadcasting systems were established in 1944 and 1945 respectively and in 1963 were combined under the Cook Islands Broadcasting and Newspaper Corporation (CIBNC). With the establishment of television broadcasting in 1989, major changes to national mass media policy were legislated by government. The newspaper was privatised, by sale to local residents, and a new corporation responsible for radio and television broadcasting, the Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC), was formed. The COOK ISLANDS NEWS newspaper is now a dynamic independent daily (Monday-Saturday) publication and the two divisions of CIBC, Cook Islands Radio and Cook Islands Television are under the policy control of the a Board of Directors composed of representatives from the local business community, government departments and the Minister responsible for broadcasting. The board has biennial tenure and the current Chairman is a prominent businessman. A Programme Advisory Committee, representing the various sectors of the community, was also put in place.

From its Rarotonga headquarters CIBC provides medium wave and high frequency, AM radio broadcasting services from 0600-2400 hours daily. Since 1989 they have also provided a daily PAL standard television broadcasting service from 1700 to 2200 hours covering rugged Rarotonga island through 8 lowpower repeater stations. In 1990 television coverage was extended to the 18 square kilometre Aitutaki island through videotape rebroadcasts via 2 repeater transmitters. In a third extension phase, due for implementation by the end of 1993, the corporation has plans to further extend television coverage to 7 other outer islands. At the time of the PACTEL Mission visit rebroadcast installations had been completed on Mauke and Manihiki bringing the total number of islands with television broadcasting to 4. When the television transmission systems at Atiu, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Mangaia and Mitiaro islands are completed, television broadcasts will be available to 9 of the

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13 inhabited islands and the population serviced by '

transmissions will be raised from the present 78% to 97%.

Television Background

The first proposal to set up a broadcast television service in Rarotonga was submitted by Channel 9 (Australia) in 1987, according to Stuart Davies, Chief Executive for Cook Islands Telecom. Mr. Davies believed that the proposal was a good one because it was to involve a private company and would be set up at no cost to government. Unfortunately, the offer was contingent upon the success of Channel 9's service in Fiji.

Government was ready to sign the deal with Channel 9 when activities to establish a Fiji service were abandoned following two military coups. This apparently did not make the Rarotonga service viable and the proposal was scrapped by Channel 9. This was not the only offer Cook Islands received however. Mr. Davies remembered at least ten proposals which had been received and evaluated but not considered acceptable. The Democratic Party which was in power in 1987 did not have television high on its priority list so it did not pursue any offers after Channel 9's withdrawal. But when a new political party came into power in 1988, television rated higher on their list.

TV New Zealand made a strong approach in 1988 to the new government, but did not offer a "freeff service as Channel 9 had done. TV New Zealand's involvement was purely commercial. With Cook Islands Government funding, they would purchase and set up the production equipment as well as provide initial basic training for staff under contract to government. Thereafter they would provide programming, mainly on videotape, at periodically agreed cost to government, under exclusive confidential contract to TV New Zealand. Telecom would set up and administer the transmission system. All day-to-day operations and production would be handled by government or by

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a'corporation government would set up. accepted by Government early in 1989. In 1990, the Apostolic Church also reportedly investigated the possibility of beginning a television service. This has not yet eventuated and, in fact, is perhaps impossible given the wording of the Broadcasting Act of 1989 (see Policy).

This proposal was

Cook IslanUs Broaâcastinq CorDoration (CIBC)

Background

Television was tlgivenlt to the people of the Cook Islands as a Christmas gift by their new government in 1989. The government led by Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry honoured a campaign promise to set up television broadcasting by the end of the year and it was on the air by Christmas Day, 1989. To pay for this new service a 2% increase in personal income tax was levied on.all citizens. Originally, the entire 2% was to be given to the combined radio/TV service to finance their operating expenses and programme purchases. This idea was later revised when it was decided to use 1% of the tax revenue to develop the new Ministry of Culture to prepare for the 1992 Pacific Festival of the Arts. That left Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) with only half of what had originally been planned for its development.

Due to the fact that all citizens of the Cook Islands were levied with this increase in their income tax, government had to assure that nearly all citizens would eventually receive the television service, including those on the outer islands. This was to be done in phases. Phase one involved only Rarotonga, the capital island. The second phase was implemented in 1990 when Aitutaki, the second most populated island, received the service. The next phase occurred in 1992 when Mauke and Manihiki were linked with the television service. The final phase will see the TV service extended to the islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, Mangaia, Penrhyn and Pukapuka. This is scheduled to

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be completed by the end of 1993. The outer islands Service is based on videotape replay of programmes recorded in Rarotonga and flown out to each broadcast point for the purpose.

Although the people of the outer islands pay the 1% increase in income tax for the TV service, the actual expenditures to bring the service to the outer islands has been paid for by the island's local government budget, not from CIBC's operating budget, according to Mr. Pa .Epi Mana, CIBC's General Manager.

The annual budget for the Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) is approximately NZ$1,200,000. Of that amount government provides approximately NZ$620,000. Approximately NZ$400,000 is budgeted to be earned by the station through advertising and other income earning activities. Any shortfall requires CIBC to apply back to government for further subsidies or to increase income through advertising sales.

Policy

The Broadcasting Act of 1989 is the only form of llpolicylt now in effect for television. It was enacted the week prior to the commencement of the TV service. The Act states that CIBC:

(a) services as far as practicable, all the people of the Cook Islands;

(b) contributes to the development of national unity; (c) preserves and stimulates pride in the indigenous and

traditional cultural heritage of the Cook Islands; and (d) broadcasts a variety of programmes which inform, educate

and entertain.

The Act further states that one of CIBC's objectives will be to operate as a self-funding operation. It further adds that the Corporation shall have "regard to the general policy of the Government in relation to broadcasting as communicated from time to time in writing by the Minister, and shall comply with

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any directions given by the Minister to the Corporation in writing pursuant to any such policy. Nothing in sub-section (1) shall authorise the Minister to give direction in respect of - (a) a particular programme; (b) the gathering or presentation of news or the preparation

or presentation of current affairs programmes;

the staffing of the corporation. (c) contracts for the provision of programmes;

(d)

The Act goes on to say that a Board of Directors shall govern CIBC and will ensure its impartiality, independence and efficiency. According to CIBC's manager, this system has operated fairly well. The Act also stipulates that Ilno person other than the corporation shall operate a transmission installation for the purpose of providing (a) a television service, or (b) a radio service...11 This should prevent other private services from developing but there is in fact a private FM radio service on Rarotonga which we understand was in operation before the 1989 Act was formulated.

During the PACTEL team's visit, further legislation was being considered which would control the use of television for political campaigning. With an election coming up, this legislation was felt to be necessary to protect CIBC from criticism of being partial to either side during the campaign. Other than that change, there were no plans to expand or change the existing Broadcasting Act, according to Minister of Broadcasting, Mr. Tiki Matapo. He felt that the 1989 Act was satisfactory for the current needs of the country.

Programming

Most of CIBC's programming is provided by TVNZ as part of their ItPacific Service1'. This programming is recorded off air in New Zealand but has the commercials and station I.D.'s edited out

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before being flown to the Cook Islands. Programmes from TVNZ consist of feature movies, TV series, sports and documentaries.

Currently CIBC boasts one of the highest percentages of locally produced programming in the Pacific islands. 14% of its programming has local content or is completely locally produced. According to Mr. Mana, by 1994, CIBC's goal is to achieve 20% local content.

The CIBC news programme, entitled IlTe Ronge Veka," is 30 minutes in length. The news is first presented in Cook Island Maori with Maori language news segments and then in English with English language news segments. Two presenters link the pre-produced segments and read shorter news briefs. One reads in Maori and one in English. The news programme, except for the pre-produced segments which are edited on tape, is done live- to-air at 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Although fairly basic by overseas standards, the news show is one of the most sophisticated in the Pacific islands. The news segments involve interviews, on-location stand-ups by reporters, field footage, basic graphics, etc. Since there is no tele-prompter (autocue) the presenters must memorize much of their links with occasional glances at written text.

Concerning programme selection, Mr. Mana stated that he makes the initial choice from TVNZ's offerings. The Programme Advisory Council, which was essentially a public censorship board, also viewed the list of programmes to be ordered as did CIBC's Board of Directors.

The Aitutaki TV service broadcasts the previous day's programming from Rarotonga. air and flown to Aitutaki for the next day's transmission. For the outer islands other than Aitutaki, a news compilation tape is prepared. The main news stories of the week (both local and international) are pieced together with links the by news

The programmes were recorded off

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presenters in Maori. Other than the links, the stories are aired in English.

Government departments who wished to use television to promote their services or broadcast messages had to pay for them. Unless it was a news story, CIBC charged the Ministries of Health, Education and other departments, agencies and community groups for broadcasting messages, programmes, or spots. The Chairman of CIBC‘s board, Mr. Ewan Smith, believed that local productions were going to be even more important in the future. One of the more practical reasons for this was the high cost of purchasing overseas programmes. Mr. Smith expressed keen interest in identifying alternative sources of programmes so that more cost effective programming could be purchased. Currently Mr. Smith said that CIBC paid NZ$200 per hour for 36 hours of programming each week to TVNZ. He said these costs were the biggest burden on the TV service. Mr. Smith and Mr. Mana supported the idea of a collective bargaining association, for the Pacific island TV services, which would identify and negotiate with alternative sources of programming. Mr. Smith believed TVNZ’s virtual monopoly on the Pacific services was not conducive to competitive pricing.

One of CIBC’s goals to increase local production was to have more coverage of the outer islands. There were also discussions to revive a quiz show that was once produced, as well as a current events programme which had been called I* Insight .

Viewing Audience

A survey was conducted in 1991 by Duane Varan, an American Ph.D. candidate as research for his doctoral thesis. By measuring the number of households on Rarotonga which had electricity, he determined that 85.5% of the homes in Rarotonga had television sets (1,730 households). 22.37% had more than one TV set. After estimating that the average number of people

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per household was 5.3, it was calculated that Rarotonga had approximately 9,169 television viewers. Since it could be expected that more people would have television sets and electricity in 1993 than had it two years before, the estimated viewing audience would likely be slightly larger at the time of the PACTEL mission.

In Aitutaki, it was estimated that there were over 300 TV households in 1991. Using the same average per household (5.3 people), this gave Aitutaki a viewing audience of 1,590

people. No figures were available for the other two islands currently covered by the TV service (Mauke and Manihiki).

Manpower

There are 24 staff members at CIBC of which four are part time news presenters. The number of staff are broken down as:

(1) General Manager (8) Production staff (2) Producers (cultural programmes) (5) News Producer/reporters (4) News Presenters (part time) (4) Administration Staff

In addition, each of the outer island services has two full time staff members who act as tape operators. Although these outer island services could get by with one person, according to Mr. Mana, having two people removes the risk of service interruptions due to sickness, leave, etc.

Mr. Mana believed that there was a need for a trained technician at CIBC. Such a position had already been established and CIBC was merely waiting for the return of a Cook Islander currently studying overseas to take up this position. CIBC was also considering the possibility of adding

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a staff member to edit promos and commercials for local companies. Mr. Mana believed that more training was required before his current staff could work to their fullest potential.

Training

A two week in-house training course for CIBC was conducted in January-February by the South Pacific Commission. This was an activity conducted under the UNESCO project, PACVIDEO, which began in mid-1989. Apart from that course, five staff had alternately attended specialised regional training courses conducted by SPC at its Regional Media Centre in Suva, Fiji (again under the UNESCO PACVIDEO Project). These were the only television training courses which CIBC staff had attended. In addition two CIBC staff (both producer/reporters) were attending university studies overseas in journalism during the time of the PACTEL visit.

Mr. Mana felt that further training was still needed by many of his staff especially in technical and production areas, news gathering, news presentation and documentary production. Mr. Mana said that SPC was virtually their only option for staff training. An attempt had been made to send a staff member to Carrington Polytechnic's video production course in Auckland, but funding could not be obtained. Mr. Mana suggested that he may request SPC to conduct an in-house camera/lighting/sound course in the near future.

When asked about training options from TVNZ, Mr. Mana said that TVNZ in fact wanted to send a trainer but the cost to CIBC for a two week workshop would be approximately NZ$10,000. commencing their TV service, Mr. Mana said that TVNZ had provided no training to his staff other than instruction in operating the on-air control equipment when the service was first set up.

Since

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Revenue Earning Activities

Since CIBC had a.mandate to at least attempt financial self-sufficiency, a number of revenue earning activities have been undertaken. CIBC's Sales and Marketing office oversees these efforts with a staff of four. Commercials are produced and commercial space is sold. There are also short on air community announcements relating to birthdays, anniversaries, classified sales, etc. According to Mr. Mana, 95% of the commercials broadcast by CIBC are locally produced.

Commercials are produced primarily by one man who oversees all the production aspects, sometimes utilising another cameraman but doing all the editing himself. An outside 'agent' is sometimes used as a writer/producer as well as a liaison link between the client and CIBC.

Department of Public Health

Background

The Department of Public Health does not have a video department per se and one staff member with training in its use. The equipment consists of a single camcorder, two VHS video decks and two monitors. between the two VHS video decks but this is usually unsuitable for broadcast because of edit point instability.

but does have some domestic video equipment

A few programmes have been made by "crash editing"

A staff member who received training from the SPC (again through the UNESCO PACVIDEO Project) occasionally works with CIBC in the production of programmes and spots for health promotion. producer and is in charge of production content.

On these occasions he acts as the programme

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According to Dr. Roro Daniel, the Director of Public'Health, the department has done some basic field research on their health messages. According to their findings, health messages are best communicated to the public of Rarotonga via television. In second place is radio followed by health professionals, friends and finally newspapers. Based on this research, the Health Department plans to increase the number of health programmes they produce for TV. The problem is cost. CIBC charges the health department for all of its spots and other programmes. However, Dr Daniel is often interviewed during news bulletins concerning important matters pertaining to public health.

Two or more years ago, the health department, with the assistance of SPC, drafted a list of video equipment which was submitted to the World Health Organization for funding. Although Dr. Daniel said they were informed it was approved, over two years have gone by without provision of the equipment which included simple cuts-only S-VHS editing equipment and S- VHS field production equipment.

Technical Facilities at Cook Islands Broadcastins Corporation, Rarotonsa:

The CIBC studio complex consists of a small television studio, a production control room, three edit suites, a videotape library, a satellite receiving system (TVRO with a 7.5 metre dish) and office accommodation. A one-watt television transmitter under the control of Telecom-Cook Islands (TCI) is also located in one of the editing rooms. This transmitter acts as a linking transmitter to the chain of seven transmitters delivering the programme to Rarotonga.

The television studio is approximately 6m x 6m in size with a ceiling height of 3 metres. It is used mainly for News telecasts and presentation of cultural programmes. There are different locations and backdrops for the news presenters and

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the cultural programme presenter. Spot lights and flood lights provide key, fill and back lights to the presenters and are hung from a grid of galvanized pipe attached to the ceiling. The lights can be connected to a dimmer which controls the intensity of each light. operate 12 lights and is located in the production control room. Two CCD video cameras are mounted on tripod/dollies in, the studio. The same cameras are also used for outdoor shooting with portable S-VHS VCRs in camcorder configuration. An ultra portable character generator can also be used with the camera during outdoor shootings. Microphone sockets and a video monitor are also provided in the studio. Camera control units are built into the cameras.

The dimmer has the capacity to

If studio based programmes such as dramas and musical items are to be produced, another larger television studio would be needed. However, the plan is to increase outdoor productions by procuring additional electronic field production equipment.

The television studio and the technical areas are centrally airconditioned.

The production control room (PCR) is attached to the studio with an observation window. The PCR has a vision mixer (Panasonic WJ-MXlO), 8-channel audio mixer (TASCAM, M30), 12- channel light dimmer panel, a graphics generator based on IBM compatible PC 286 computer, five video monitors (Panasonic), an S-VHS recorder and an audio monitoring system. small room and hence vision mixing, light dimming and audio mixing units are all on the same table close to each other. larger work area could relieve congestion. format is S-VHS.

The PCR is a

A The recording

The transmission room is adjacent to the PCR. video mixer (Panasonic WJ-50), four Audio-video switchers (Panasonic SW 100) for distribution of audio/video signals to the transmitter and to the VCRs, two video edit recorders

This room has a

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(Panasonic AG7500), two S-VHS recorders (Panasonic NV FSlOO), 4 channel audio mixer (Shure), audio limiter (Boss PRO CL50) and two video monitors. The entire transmission (off-air from studio link transmitter) is recorded every day.

Adjacent to the presentation and transmission room are two video editing rooms. A third editing room for commercials is located in another building. The first and second edit suite facilities are the same. Each has two S-VHS Edit machines (Panasonic AG7500) with an Edit controller, a 4 channel audio mixer (Shure), a video monitor (Panasonic) and an audio monitoring system.

The link transmitter and TVRO Electronics are located in the second editing room.

The TVRO provides the satellite news feed from TVNZ.

The third edit suite is meant for commercials and is located in an adjacent building which houses the advertising, marketing and sales offices and the video library. This setup has two edit machines (AG 7500) with an Edit controller unit, a video mixer (Panasonic WJ-MXSO), a 4 channel audio mixer (Shure), two Audio cassette recorders, a dual channel graphic equaliser, and three video monitors.

The video tape library is air conditioned continuously. Previewing of tapes and making copies for the outer islands is done in this room with one AG 7500 Video Editing,machine and three NV-FS100 video recorders.

At present the field production facilities do not include portable lights or sunguns and the crew must take studio lights with stands whenever lighting is needed at remote locations.

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CIBC is about to receive a large grant of additional' equipment including S-VHS Edit machines with built in TBCs, three chip CCD cameras, video recorders, audio mixers, portable lighting gear and portable power packs. With this package the staff will require operations and maintenance training.

The absence of a trained television maintenance and repair technician at CIBC is a serious deficiency problem which will worsen as equipment ages. A solution is urgently needed.

List of Equipment at CIBC:

CCD Cameras - Panasonic W7OE. S-VHS Field Recorders - Panasonic AG7450 dockable with above cameras. Video switcher - Panasonic WJ-MX50. Video production switcher - Panasonic WJ-MX50. 4 channel Shure Audio Mixer. 8 channel TASCAM Audio Mixer - M30. CL50, BOSS PRO - Audio compressor/limiter. 12 channel Theatre light dimmer panel. National WKB12N, character generator. Graphics Generator based on one IBM PC286. S-VHS Edit machines - Panasonic 10-AG7500.. S-VHS Recorders - Panasonic NVFS100. Edit controllers for AG 7500 S-VHS Recorders. Satellite Television Receiver - Scientific Atlanta SAE9700. 7.5 metre paralite dish antenna - Andrew. Dual channel graphic equaliser. Audio cassette recorders. Spot light fittings. Floor light fittings. Video monitors.

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Television Transmitters at Rarotonga:

Installation and operation of the broadcast transmitters in the Cook Islands is the responsibility of Telecom - Cook Islands (TCI). CIBC and TCI work in close cooperation.

Because of the rugged terrain of the 67 square k'ilometre island area of Rarotonga a series of low power television transmitters carrying the same signal and acting transposers (repeaters) is utilised. In total there are nine transmitters including one at the CIBC television studio site which enables a 5 kilometre link to a series of eight transmitters carrying the signal around the island. The link transmitter at the studio end is operating in Band I NZ channel 2. Seven of the eight relay transmitters, have a power output of 50-watts and operate on channels four, five, six, seven, nine, ten and eleven in Band III. The eighth repeater has one-watt of power and operates on NZ channel 11.

In the relay system four Yagi antennae are used in stacks for transmission and one or two Yagi for reception. The antenna support heights vary from place to place and are around 30 metres in height. Horizontal polarisation is used. There is neither adjacent channel interference nor Co-channel interference as the locales for the transmitters, their power, channel of operation, mast height, directivity of transmitting antennas were well planned and executed. In view of occasional ignition interference, TCI plans to replace the transmiter at the studio site with a 5 watts, band III, NZ channel 5 transmitter.

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Locale of Transmitter Channel Transmitter Power

Television. studio Airport Tu Papa Matavera Ngatangiia Titikaveka Rarotonga Works Depot Hospital

NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel NZ Channel

2 1 Watt 4 50 Watts 10 50 Watts 6 50 Watts

11 50 Watts 7 50 Watts 9 50 Watts 5 50 Watts

11 1 Watt

With the above transmitters television transmissions are available to 100% of the population of Rarotonga or 58% of the total Cook Islands population.

Extension of Television Coverage to Outer Islands:

As a part of Government’s overall policy to introduce television to all the islands of the Cook Islands a transmitter of 50 watts power operating on NZ Channel 9 and a transposer relaying it on NZ Channel 5 with a power of 5 watts are already functioning on the island of Aitutaki. Also commissioned are one 10 watt transmitter operating on NZ Channel 5 on the island of Mauke and one 10 watt transmitter operating on NZ Channel 9 on the island of Manihiki. The installation of transmitters on the other islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, Mangaia, Penryhn and Pukapuka has been taken up by TCI and is expected to be completed by the end of 1993.

The option of satellite transmission to the outer islands from Rarotonga was examined and ruled out in view of the high costs. The option to establish outer island transmission facilities programmed by pre-recorded videotapes airfreighted from Rarotonga was accepted. This means of providing television transmissions is being set up in conjunction with outer island telecommunications facilities in TCI premises.

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Planning and installation of the outer islands television service was in accordance with the following criteria:

(1) Lowest reasonable cost. (2) Maximising the use of existing facilities. (3) Use of common equipment types wherever possible. (4) Simplicity of installations and operation.

IlThe outer islands programmes will be taped by CIBC and will be flown to the outer islands for re-broadcast. Because some of the islands do not have daily flights, particularly the northern group islands, the tapes will have to be flown to some outer islands at least one week in advance". As per the present transmission hours in the evenings at least two tapes per island per day are required to be sent by CIBC in advance.

To reduce complexity of maintenance problems and capital costs, repeaters in the outer islands are avoided as much as possible. Two islands however, Aitutaki and Mangaia, have required repeaters/translators.

CIBC equipment in each of the outer islands centres includes:

(il Two S-VHS recorders - FS88, Panasonic. (ii) Two 14" television monitors.

(iii) One audio mixer. (iv) one time base corrector (TBC). (VI one tuner.

According to the TCI proposal, I1TCI will have a technician permanently in each of the outer islands to be able to carry out first line maintenance as required on all of the television equipment. This includes both the studio equipment and the transmission equipment.

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Some of the details of the transmission facilities in the outer islands are as follows:

a) Existing outer island transmitter. (il Mauke Island:

Transmitter power: 10 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 5 - vertical polarisation Height of mast: 31.5 metres.

(ii) Aitutaki Island: Main transmitter power: 50 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 9 Transposer power: 5 Watts Transposer channel: NZ Channel 5.

(iii) Manihiki Island: Transmitter power: 10 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 9 - vertical polarisation Height of Mast: 31.5 metres Antennas: 4 Yagis.

(b) Proposed transmitters for installation by the end of 1993. (il Atiu Island:

Transmitter power: 5 Watts Channel: NZ Channel 11 Antenna support: 40 Metres Antennas: 2 Yagis Polarisation: Vertical.

(ii) Penrhyn Island: Transmitter power: 10 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 10 Antenna support: More than 30 metres Antenna system: 4 Yagis Polarisation: Vertical.

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(iii) Pukarsuka Island: Transmitter power: 1 Watt Channel of operation: NZ Channel 8 Antenna support: 31.5 metres Antenna system: 2 Yagis.

( iv) Mitiaro Island: Transmitter power: 5 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 4 Antenna support: 40 metres Transmitting Antenna system: 2 Yagis Polarisation: Vertical.

(VI Manqaia Island: The topography of this island calls for installation of a transmitter with three translators.

Main transmitter at Oneroa: Transmitter power: 10 Watts Channel: NZ Channel 9 Antenna support: 31.5 metres (guyed mast) Antenna system: 2 Dipoles Polarisation: Vertical.

Translator at Rangimotia: This picks up signal from Channel 9 transmitter. Transmitter power: 1 Watt Antenna support: 20 metres (Existing mast of TCI) Channel of operation: NZ Channel 4 Transmitting Antenna system: 4 Yagis Receiving antenna system for Channel 9 operation: 2 Yagis.

It is proposed to solar-power the Rangimotia translator.

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Translator at Tamarua: This picks up signal from the Channel 4 translator at Rangimotia. Transmitter power: 5 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 7 Transmitting Antenna: 2 Yagis Receiving (Channel 4) antenna: 2 Yagis Antenna support: 31.5 metres Polarisation: Vertical.

Translator at Ivirua: Transmitter power: 5 Watts Channel of operation: NZ Channel 8 Antenna support: 31.5 metres Transmitting antenna: 4 Yagis Receiving antenna (Channel 4): 2 Yagis receiving Rangimotia link.

Mangaia is a very difficult island to cover because of central hills which rise to 169 metres. Hence the proposal to have four transmitters (one main and three translators).

Summary

As a government corporation, the Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation has benefitted from its semi-private status as well as from its government connections. Training opportunities are one of CIBC's government benefits. Staff have participated in SPC and UNESCO courses and benefitted from government scholarships to universities. However, due to staff turnover and the need to upgrade skills, more training is required.

The upgrading of equipment is a pressing need at CIBC's facility. A grant from the Japanese government is expected however, which would fill many of their current requirements. The repair and maintenance of existing equipment is another problem. It is hoped that a Cook Islander currently training overseas, will soon become the CIBC technician. However, at

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the time of the PACTEL mission little was known in Rarotonga about whether the technician would definitely return to his home country.

CIBC's desire to gradually increase local production is a valiant goal but one which will require considerable re- organisation of existing human and technical resources as well as the acquisition of additional human and technical resources.

Recommendations

(1) CIBC's production staff require training in camera techniques, lighting techniques and TV news production. There is also the need for training in more advanced documentary techniques. It is recommended that CIBC request such training from the SPC Regional Media Centre or investigate training possibilities further afield.

(2) There is a need for a qualified television engineer to prepare diagrams of audio and video cabling to facilitate trouble-shooting when problems occur. It is further recommended that this engineering mission could assist in re-wiring the control room's patch panel.

(3) It is recommended that alternative sources of appropriate programming be investigated to assist Cook Islands in selecting programmes and reducping costs.

(4) It is recommended that the establishment of a regional or sub-regional programme exchange be investigated and tried out with the aim of supplementing CIBC's need for affordable, appropriate programming.

(5) Since CIBC and other Pacific island TV services use the same videotape stock (S-VHS) it is recommended that a bulk purchasing scheme be investigated to assist in reducing costs associated with tape purchase.

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(6) Since a grant to provide equipment to the Ministry of health has reportedly been approved, it is recommended that the provision of thi.s equipment be followed up by government to expedite its delivery.

(7) CIBC is in dire need of a trained television technician to repair and maintain their television equipment. radio technician who is currently available cannot cope with the complex requirements of television production equipment maintenance. As equipment ages, under present circumstances, the technical problems encountered will reflect seriously on CIBC management and operations.

The single

(8) Because of the large number of videotapes copies necessary for the outer islands television service, there is the need for a one-master and 10 slave S-VHS duplicating system.

(9) Rarotonga studio needs to be expedited.

The procurement of a Time Base corrector for use at the

(10) If and when satellite charges reduce, the option of satellite connections to the outer islands could be examined to determine feasibility of use.

(11) The present CIBC studio size limits the types of programmes that can be produced there. plan to increase local programme production, expanding the present studio may assist with this plan.

As there is already a

(12) No hand held portable lighting gear or sunguns are available with CIBC. There is the need to have such units.

(13) The same two video cameras are used for outdoor work and for studio productions. This puts a limitation on outside coverage. If it is not already included in its present proposal, additional cameras need to be obtained.

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(14) It is recommended that CIBC's equipment be replaced at a designated time rather than to force the staff to struggle continuously to.repair old equipment whose reliability is questionable. A forward plan for production facilities development and replacement is needed for the longterm benefit of the organisation.

Contacts : Mr Stuart Davies Executive for Cook Islands Telecom

Mr Ewan Smith Chairman of Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC)

Mr Pa Epi Mana General Manager Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC)

Dr Roro Daniel Director of Public Health

Phil and Wendy Evans Cook Islands News

Mr Aukino Tairea Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Mr Edwin Pittman Secretary Cook Islands National Commission for UNESCO Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr Tere Tangiiti Bishop Secretary Prime Minister/s Department

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NIUE

Country Information

Niue Fekai, commonly known as Niue Island, is located in the Polynesian sector of the South Pacific Ocean about 500 kilometres east of Nuku'alofa, Tonga, and 1000 kilometres west of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Niue is self governing in free association with New Zealand, a status achieved by Constitutional Act in October, 1974, through which Niueans are citizens of New Zealand. From 1900-1901 Niue was a British Protectorate, but in 1901 it was annexed to New Zealand.

Niue is a single uplifted coral limestone island approximately 21 kilometres long and 18 kilometres wide with a land area of 259 square kilometres. It has a rugged precipitous coastline joined at sea level to a narrow coral fringing reef leading to deep blue ocean. This classic formation renders it barren of shoreline beaches, characteristic of other Pacific island countries. In cross sectional form Niue has the shape of two terraces. A narrow coastal terrace about 28 metres above sea level and an upper terrace, which constitutes the bulk of the island, 69 metres above sea level. The lower terrace was once a sea level reef which was displaced upwards through movement of the huge volcanic crater the island is composed of. The upper terrace leads to a tableland and is covered with dense tropical forest.

Niue has a population of about 2,300 and is one of several Polynesian countries which have experienced heavy emigration with an estimated 12,000 of its people resident in New Zealand. This is the result of movement to acquire secondary and tertiary eduction and subsequent employment.

Self-government was attained in 1974 and Niue's constitution provides for a Fono or Legislative Assembly of 20 consisting of 14 members elected at village district level and 6 nationally

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elected common roll members. The Premier is elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly. He in turn appoints three of the elected members to his cabinet.

A large portion of recurrent government funding is provided by New Zealand, which, under constitutional arrangements is also responsible for Niue’s defence and foreign affairs. Nearly all of Niue’s import and export trade is with New Zealand. Exports at this time are mainly agricultural produce - taro and coconuts for the Niueans and other Pacific islanders living in New Zealand.

Radio broadcasting in Niue was established in August, 1967, under a government department, known at the time as the Community Development Office, utilising a 250 watt AM marine transmitter owned and operated by the country’s Radio Department (Telecom) for ship to shore communications. Transmissions were conducted from 6-9 pm from a 3x4 metres tin shed. The transmissions were often discontinued with the approach of a ship during the night hours. In 1969 the Community Development Office acquired its own 250 watt transmitter.

In 1973 the Niue Information Office was formed to cater for national radio broadcasts as well as the Niuean/English weekly A4 size newsheet IITOHI TALA NIUEf1 issued by government from 1953. (TOHI = to write. TALA = to tell). In 1974 the broadcasters moved to a more convenient larger building and the name Radio Sunshine was adopted. In 1986 the Information Office media operations were placed under the newly created Department of Community Affairs.

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) was established in 1989 with objectives pertaining to the provision of radio and television broadcasting under the control of a board of directors. The weekly newssheet remained under the Department of Community Affairs until it was discontinued in July 1992.

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The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue currently provides national radio and television transmissions in Niuean and English as follows:

Daily RADIO transmission hours:

Monday to Friday: 0600-0900. 1130-1330. 1800-2130.

Saturday: 0600-1330. 1830-2130.

Daily TELEVISION transmission hours: Monday to Saturday: 0600-0630. 1800-2200.

An attempt by BCN to develop a Niue/New Zealand tabloid newspaper publication, NIUEXPRESS, commenced on a trial basis in October, 1992. Three pilot issues were produced in cooperation between BCN, a New Zealand advertising agency and Niuean journalists living in New Zealand. This effort to tap the New Zealand Niuean newspaper market is currently being evaluated for longterm feasibility. An alternative idea, which has been mooted, is the development of a privately owned local tabloid newspaper.

Television in Niue

The first attempt to establish a television service for the residents of Niue commenced in 1986 when a Mr John Bliss from Nevada, USA, a businessman tourist, obtained permission from the Niue Government to install a cable television distribution system in each village fed by terrestrial transmissions from a site at the captial, Alofi.

This service cost each subscribing household an initial NZ$50 installation fee and a NZ$5 per week viewing fee. The main programming consisted of American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service programmes received via a 7 metre dish from Intelsat, supplemented by Nostalgia Channel, black and white movie re-runs off videotape prerecorded in the USA. The system

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utilised two television standards: NTSC for videotape recording, playback and video switching, and PAL for on-air transmissions. .

Bliss Cablevision first provided cable television signals to the Alofi area and extended in several phases over a period of three years to Tamakautoga, Avatele, Hakupu, Liku and Lakepa. Before completion of the underground cable installation at Lakepa, however, the company discontinued its operations and its assets were purchased by government. After technical assessment of the situation with engineers from TV New Zealand, a decision was made to abandon the cable system in favour of terrestial transmission delivery to all parts of the island.

In 1989, under the auspices of the newly established Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN), a 100 watt television transmitter was installed at Alofi with the assistance of a television consultant from New Zealand. Later, 10 watt relay transmitters were added at Mutulau and Anahake. This configuration provided adequate coverage of all the island but there was a small weak-spot at the village of Hikutavake. At the time of the PACTEL mission, installation of a 3 watt translator to improve television reception by the few affected Hikutavake households was in progress.

Television Policy

Niue does not have a specific television policy,. but the PACTEL mission was informed that a broadcasting act has been formulated and is utilised to guide both radio and television broadcasting. The mission, however, was not able to acquire a copy of the document during the visit.

Television Programming

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) receives its main programming from TV New Zealand who pre-record the programmes

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off-air, edit out commercials, annoucements etc. and despatch the videotapes by airfreight in batches to Niue on a weekly basis. The videotaped programmes consist of feature movies, television series, sports programmes and documentaries. New Zealand international news (TV1 Network News) is received on a daily basis via a 7.5 metre satellite dish for local rebroadcast. Satellite transmissions from TV New Zealand also provide international sports and special events by arrangement.

BCN pays TVNZ on a monthly basis for single transmission of the videotaped programmes, the compiling of the programmes on videotape, videotape despatch and satellite transmission time. The arrangements between the two organisations are formalised by annual contract the details of which, including charges, are confidential. This confidentiality may be related to differing contractual arrangements between TVNZ and other Pacific island countries receiving programme supply.

In terms of local programming, BCN produces a daily (Tuesday-Friday) 20 minute local news bulletin as well as national events including special sittings of the house, constitutional celebrations, schools special events and sports. It was estimated that locally produced programmes account for 6% of BCN's television transmissions.

Viewing Audience

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue has a captive television audience with its transmissions currently available to 100% of the country's estimated 2,300 people.

Manpower

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) is the smallest broadcasting organisation in the Pacific with five full-time staff, including the General Manager, to organise and conduct radio and television operations. They are, however, assisted by

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6 part-time radio announcers and four television on-air continuity switchers (for 2 to 4 hours each evening) to provide 8.5 hours of radio broadcasting and 4.5 hours of television broadcasting daily. The BCN staff were also willing to produce and publish a weekly New Zealand/Niue tabloid newspaper. The three editions produced, however, were purely on a trial basis to gauge feasibility of the venture.

Currently, the full-time staff of BCN include, the General Manager, 2 producers, a technical officer and a trainee. All staff work in both the radio and television areas and perform all production functions. Versatility is the key to the operations of BCN and, in the case of the daily production of the television news, tasks are rotated on a weekly basis - i.e. news writing, news presenter, camera operator/lighting, and Director/video/audio switcher. This provides staff involvement and experience in several areas of television operations. It also protects the television service from any interruptions due to sickness, travel, etc.

Training

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue commenced operations essentially with radio broadcasting staff. The General Manager was the only member with video production experience acquired while he was the Broadcasts Officer with the South Pacific Commission (SPC) several years ago. The staff therefore were initially trained on-the-job by the General Manager.

In addition, an in-country news production course was conducted for the staff under the UNESCO/SPC Pacific Video Training Project (PACVIDEO) by the SPC coordinator of the project who also arranged for one staff member to attended a PACVIDEO basic video production course at the SPC Regional Media Centre in Suva.

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With the small staff numbers, training opportunities' abroad are sometimes difficult to take advantage of as the absence of one staff member makes a noticeable manpower difference especially to local programme production. The in-country training mode seems most suited to Niue but there can be limitations as daily news production schedules have to be met. Therefore, courses need to be run alongside daily routines or geared to meeting daily on-the-job production needs.

The training requirements most apparent at the time of the PACTEL mission visit are: advanced editing techniques, documentary production, script-writing and in-depth news production techniques for the two producers. In addition it was quite apparent that, although the technical officer is performing very well, he requires training to acquire additional technical knowledge and skills.

The single trainee is currently in the process of on-the-job orientation to radio broadcasting and basic writing for radio. He will eventually require both radio production and television production training to meet the requirements of participating in the small versatile BCN production team.

Future Development

In the Niue Government's current development plan is the construction of a new broadcasting complex to house the radio and television operations of BCN. This national planning element is designed to meet a long overdue need as the national broadcasting operation from its inception in 1967 has been housed in makeshift, temporary premises. In 1967 radio broadcasting commenced in a 3x4 metre tin shed, in 1974 their operation was moved to a house overlooking the Niue wharf area. The current site, in government domestic accommodation near the hospital, is the result of a further move in 1992. It is to the credit of the broadcasting personnel that their radio and television operations have developed as well as they have.

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With Niue's small scale economy, funding will continue to be a major hurdle to development in all sectors including radio and television broadcasting. BCN receives a government subsidy and is attempting to earn as much revenue as possible through commercial advertising. But with a population of only 2,300 people, the business infrastruture is limited and in turn the advertising market. It is doubtful, therefore, that BCN will ever be able to exist primarily on its own earnings.

Technical Facilities of the Broadcastins Corporation of Niue:

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) commenced television transmissions in 1988 in a modest way with limited equipment in a temporary building. Plans to develop a permanent studio complex with added technical facilities were prepared several years ago. These plans are reportedly on the verge of approval.

Studio productions and transmissions are in the PAL standard.

The following are the technical facilities in the present temporary setup.

The television studio is small, approximately 3m x 4m in size. The ceiling is less than 3 meters in height. There is only room for a single presenter. The news presentation is recorded in this studio and replayed via a basic on-air suite in the transmitter building located at another site approximately 2 kilometres away. The system does not facilitate live transmissions.

A single camera (Panasonic, WV-70E) is in use in the studio. It has a dockable S-VHS field recorder (AG7450).

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In view of the limited ceiling height and the small dimensions of the studio there is no lighting grid. Lights on floor stands are in use. The Studio is cooled by wall-mounted airconditioner.

Adjacent to the studio is a master control room in which all the equipment for recording and editing are housed. It has the following equipment:

(1) Vision Mixer - Panasonic WJ-MX10. (2) S-VHS Edit Recorder - Panasonic AG7500. (1) AMIGA 3000 Graphics Computer. (1) 4 Channel Audio Mixer - EELA, S50.

Video Monitors Audio Monitoring System

Image Master GenLock, NERIKI (PAL output 600 lines resolution).

This room is also cooled by an airconditioner.

For field use there are two camera units. (Panasonic WV70E Cameras and AG 7450 SVHS field recorders). Necessary accessories such as tripods, microphones, microphone stands, etc. are available. Whenever needed portable lights are utilised.

News bulletins, current affairs and sports are recorded with the electronic news gathering units mentioned above. Three portable lights are available for outdoor use. In addition, there is a single compact 12 volt light which works on a rechargeable battery. Maximum duration of the battery is less than 20 minutes (SUNPACK CL-5).

Transmission and Transmitters:

The transmitter is housed in a building about 2 kilometres away from the temporary studio complex. The television transmitter

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and playback equipment are in the same room with Radio playback equipment for F.M. and A.M. Radio transmission. The A.M. Radio transmitter is located at another site. Both the F.M. and A.M. Radio transmitters carry the same programme. At the time of the PACTEL mission the A.M. transmitter was off the air since it had developed a fault and had to be sent to Australia for repairs. It is very old and acquiring spare parts is problematic.

The video and audio equipment in the Television transmitter building consists of the following:

(2) S-VHS Edit Recorder - Panasonic AG7500. (1) Vision Mixer - Panasonic WJMX10. (2) Audio-Video switchers - Panasonic SW100. (1) Satellite Receive equipment - Scientific Atlanta,

E9700.

A 7.5 metal Parabolic Dish Antenna (Andrew) is installed adjacent to the premises to receive satellite transmissions from TVNZ. This transmission room is cooled with an airconditioner.

Transmitter

The transmitter is radiating 75 watts of power and operates on New Zealand Channel 6. The Manufacturer of the transmitter is NEXUS ENGINEERING corporation, Canada. It can deliver a maximum power of 100 watts. An Exhaust fan is installed in the wall adjacent to the transmitter cubicle.

The transmitting aerials are supported on a triangular mast of about 14 metres. Five element yagi aerials in a two stack configuration are used in two different directions. The four yagi aerials are well sealed at the connections.

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Apart from the CH 6 transmitter there are two relay ~

transmitters to cover the island which is nearly 19 kms long and 18kms wide..

RELAY Transmitter 1:

Relay #l is located at a village called Mutulau. A 40 watt Television translator radiating on NZ Channel 8 feeds the signal into four yagi antennae arranged in a two stack configuration pointing in two different directions. Two yagi aerials receive the signal from the main transmitter.

RELAY transmitter 2:

This VHF TV translator is situated at Makefu village. It radiates 10 watts of power and operates on NZ Channel 4. The Transmitter is a product of Television Technology Corporation, U.S.A.

This translator receives the main transmitter (NZ CH 6) signal via two 5 element yagi aerials in a two stack configuration and radiates on NZ CH 4 through four 5 element yagi antennae all pointing in the same direction in stack configuration.

The translator along with an F.M. relay transmitter is housed in a concrete room (2M x 2M) which has three small windows for ventilation. The windows are fitted with wire mesh netting to prevent insects from entering. Both the T.V. translator and F.M. receiver are mounted in a standard rack. A telegraph pole is used as antennae support. This guyed pole carries all the yagi antennas for transmitting and for receiving from the main station.

Both the translators are unmanned and are always left on. They depend totally on mains electricity. translators on, continuously, a mechanism could be devised to control them remotely.

Instead of keeping the

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Future Plana

In addition to the plans to shift BCN to a permanent complex after it is built, there is a proposal to augment the existing technical facilities. A site adjacent to the present main transmitter building has been alloted to accommodate the new complex which will include separate transmission studios for Radio and Television, a production control room, a Library, a workshop, office area, a plant room etc. The plant room is for central air conditioning and the emergency power supply generator.

Additional equipment such as a CCD camera, video production mixer, S-VHS Recorder/players with TBC, video monitors, wireless mike, spares and alignment test equipment etc., are proposed.

Summary

The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue provides a TV service with the smallest number of staff of any other Pacific island country. Despite this fact, a nightly news bulletin is produced as well as occasional llspecialsll, documentaries and spots. Clearly, their lack of manpower is a major constraint to increasing local production.

Although the manager of BCN has trained his staff to operate both the TV and radio service, more training is required, especially in the areas of TV news production, scriptwriting, camera/lighting techniques, editing and documentary production. Their small staff number however limits their ability to make use of overseas training opportunities.

The age of their equipment and their temporary studio complex also hamper their production of local programmes. There is an urgent need to upgrade and increase the number of cameras as well as to supplement their lighting equipment. Given the fact

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that a much larger staff is not economically feasible, the improvement of BCN's service may have to rely on the upgrading of equipment and the studio complex as well as the further training of staff.

Recommendations

(1) The present temporary set up of BCN is inadequate and the development of the permanent studio complex needs to be expedited.

(2) or at the transmitter site. BCN requires at least one at each site to further improve the technical quality of productions and transmissions.

There are no time base correctors at either the Studio end

(3) It would be desirable to increase the number of staff at BCN in the' interest of improving maintenance and repair operations and increasing local programme production.

(4) The staff neéd further training in video production and upkeep of equipment.

(5) Radio and Television equipment including transmitters. He spends most of his time repairing equipment leaving little time for preventive maintenance. There is a need to have one more technician and for both the technicians to be trained.

There is only one technician to service and maintain both

(6) There are no battery operated lights or sunguns for outdoor shooting except a small one which can be mounted on the top of camera. There is need to procure additional portable lighting gear.

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(7) The relay transmitters are always on irrespective of the transmission hours. It may be worth investigating the possibility of utilising a basic system to remotely control the transmitters.

(8) transmitters are sufficient to cover the island, there are some weak spots due to terrain and vegetation (tall trees). A proper field strength survey could assist future planning.

Although the present main transmitter and two relay

(9) Because technology is changing rapidly, acquiring spare parts for older equipment is becoming a problem everywhere. BCN could procure adequate spare parts even though it increases the inventory costs. This may work out cheaper than periodically shipping the defective units to New Zealand for repairs.

(10) It is recommended that all of BCN's equipment be replaced at a designated time rather than to have the staff struggle to continuously repair the old equipment with its questionable reliability.

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Contacts :

Hon. Mrs O’love Tauveve Jacobsen Mr Patrick Lino Minister of Broadcasting, Education, Producer Health, Environment, Tourism and BCN Community Affairs

Mr Toe Tongatule Acting Secretary to Government

Mr Hima Douglas General Manager Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN)

Mr Trevor Tiakia Technical Officer Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN)

Mrs Rosalofa Rex Producer Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN)

Mr Shane Tohovaka Trainee Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN)

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AMERICAN SAMOA

country information

American Samoa, with a population of 46,773 (1990) consists principally of five volcanic islands in the eastern Samoas annexed by the United States of America in 1900. Tutuila, the 135 square kilometre island on which the capital Pago Pago is located, lies just east of the 171st meridian. Close to Tutuila’s eastern tip lies the island of Aunu’u and approximately 100 kilometres further east are the islands of Ta’u, Ofu and Olosega. There are also two tiny atolls in the group, Rose Island 260 kilometres east of the capital, and Swains Island situated in isolation 360 kilometres north of Tutuila.

The Polynesian people of American Samoa are identical in ethnic origin, language and culture to the Western Samoans (they are of the same country). The American Samoans are citizens of the USA and more than 90% of the population reside on Tutuila Island the site of the capital and seat of government, Pago Pago. With more than 80,000 American Samoans on the US west coast and Hawaii, emigration has been an important factor in keeping the population at a manageable level.

The government of American Samoa is divided into three main branches - the Executive, the Legislature and Judiciary. The Executive, which works to the United States Secretary of the Interior, is made up of an elected Governor, an elected Lieutenant Governor and government department heads. The legislature consists of an 18 member Senate appointed through the traditional tlmataitl (chiefly) system by 12 councils and a 20 seat House of Representatives elected by popular vote from 17 electoral districts. There is also a non-voting representative from Swains Island elected by the island‘s eligible voters (pop.27 in 1980). The Judiciary is three tiered

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with a High Court of general jurisdiction, a District Court of limited jurisdiction and village courts. At Local Government level, the Office of Samoan Affairs links the districts to the Territorial Government through a complex system of district and village leaders. American Samoa also has a representative in the United States Congress.

As American Samoa is a territory of the United States of America, the government receives a considerable portion of its budget from the US Department of the Interior and US Federal Grants to augment locally provided finances. In 1989 an estimated 53% of the overall national budget was generated locally. Largely from two fish canning operations and various taxes. In that year fish canning exports were valued at 296.9 million United States dollars. The capital, Pago Pago, is linked by air and sea routes to the other Pacific islands, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

American Samoa has modern telecommunications facilities which link it to the world via the COMSAT satellite system. It is in direct contact with more than 120 countries via telex, facsimile and ISD automatic telephone services. There were more than 8,000 telephone subscribers in 1990.

The established print media in Pago Pago consists of two privately owned tabloid publications. The daily (Mon-Fri) Samoa News with a daily circulation of 1,500 and the twice weekly Samoa Journal and Advertiser with circulations of 1,500 copies on Tuesdays and 1,800 on Thursdays. The Samoa News has about 60% English and 40% Samoan language content with the Samoa Journal and Advertiser approximately 50% English and 50% Samoan. Both newspapers include advertising in both languages and operate their own printeries.

Radio broadcasting in American Samoa is also owned and operated by the private sector. A 24 hour 10 kilowatt AM service, known as WVW, is operated by Radio Samoa Ltd. In addition there is a

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3 kilowatt FM station, KSBS which conducts daily transmissions from 0600-2400 hours. Both stations operate commercially and broadcast a variety of Pacific island and western popular music.

Television came to American Samoa in 1964 and was introduced as a means of providing education to Samoan children. Because of a shortage of local teachers, American mainland teachers were brought to Pago Pago to conduct television lessons which were transmitted via 8 television channels to classrooms around the country. The scheme, referred to by an American communication scholar as a "bold experimentft, was abandoned in 1974. Today all that remains of the original system are two channels broadcasting mostly American entertainment and international news. KVZK-TV channel 2 broadcasts on a daily basis from 0600-2400 hours and channel 4 from 1500-2400 hours daily. As KVZK-TV is owned and operated by government it is non-commercial although it broadcasts commercial advertising pre-recorded in programming provided on videotape by sources in USA.

KVZK-TV

Background

Television was introduced to American Samoa in 1964 with the opening of KVZK-TV. This was the first television service to be introduced in the Pacific islands after Hawaii. Initially, TV was to have a strictly educational purpose. costs, lack of qualified local teachers and other difficulties in staffing American Samoa's school system, the United States administration developed a plan for TV sets to play a large role in the classroom. Educational TV programmes would be produced on a wide range of primary and secondary school topics, from mathematics to biology. These programmes would be broadcast to classrooms throughout American Samoa, viewed by local students, then discussed in class with lesser-qualified

Faced with high

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tutors, most of whom were Samoan. The episode was later described by two evaluators (Schraam and Betham) as a IIBold Experiment”.

In 1964, there were approximately 500 staff members of KVZK-TV. Four complete studios were utilised to produce programmes for the eight separate television broadcasting channels which related to the eight different school levels which utilised the programmes.

There were many theories as to why the experiment ultimately failed and was abandoned. In the early 1970’s the experiment in classroom TV teaching was slowly phased out, firstly by the secondary schools and finally by the primary schools. The 500 staff were reduced and the ratio of local Samoan staff increased as most of the staff returned to the U:S. mainland.

In 1993, KVZK became an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service of USA and began broadcasting PBX network programmes. PBS is essentially a semi-government educational network supported financially by the U.S. government. KVZK also began broadcasting NBC, ABC and CBS programmes. The eight channels of programming were reduced gradually over the years to three. Channel 2 carrying PBS programmes, Channel 4 carrying NBC and Channel 5 broadcasting a combination of ABC and CBS programmes. However, Channel 5’s transmission equipment was seriously damaged by a hurricane in 1991 and out of action at the time of the PACTEL mission visit.

Today KVZK is without formal Department of Education connections and is part of the Department of Information administered in direct connection with the Governor’s office.

KVZK’s transmissions are received throughout American Samoa as well as on the island of Upolu in nearby Western Samoa. According to the production supervisor at KVZK, Mr. Peni Failautusi, discussions were held between the Prime Minister of

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Western Samoa and the former Governor of American Samoa to establish a booster transmitter in Western Samoa to re-broadcast KVZK's signals. The results of these discussions were not published, but the recent decision by the national authorities in Western Samoa to set up their own television service is an indicator in this regard.

The American Samoan Representative to the U.S. Congress recently raised the issue of privatising KVZK to reduce government costs. The territory's government has recently had a serious financial deficit situation and even the Governor suggested that KVZK might have to be tttrimmedll to fit the scale of the local economy. All of the KVZK staff the PACTEL mission interviewed expressed their concern about the proposal to privatise the service. They believe that privatisation would invariably involve considerably large personnel and budget cuts as well as a dramatic change to the service now being provided. Concern was also expressed about how privatisation would affect the station's status as a PBS affiliate. There was further concern that if KVZK were privatised, there would not be sufficient advertising revenue available in American Samoa to make it viable.

Policy

Although TV had been in operation since 1964, it was believed by those interviewed that there was no specific government policy for television. It is understood however, that KVZK must operate under the United State's Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules which govern technical as well as ethical standards for the service. In addition, since KVZK is a PBS affiliate, the station must conform to PBS's stringent regulations in order to continue receiving federal and territorial funding to operate. This is one reason that KVZK it must maintain its status as a non-commercial service.

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There used to be a public committee which determined’the programming needs for American Samoa. This committee was responsible for.censoring movies as well as choosing programmes. This committee has not met in recent years.

Programming

Channel 2’s programming consists mainly of PBS educational programmes such as IfSesame Street” and specials as well as all of the programming produced by KVZK locally. During the day, Channel 2 also offers a live satellite feed of CNN. The broadcasting hours are 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

Channel 4 offers programmes recorded off-air in Hawaii from the NBC affiliate there. They are broadcast on KVZK complete with commercials. Channel 5, although not in operation since 1991, previously broadcast a mix of CBS and ABC programmes also recorded off-air in Hawaii complete with commercials. Channel 5 also offered live news from ABC (U.S.) via satellite.

The CNN service oh Channel 2 is received through the American Armed Forces Television and Radio Service (AFTRS) network which KVZK is authorised to receive, possessing the licensed B-Mac decoders appropriate to the AFTRS signal. According to Peni Failautusi, the station receives all the AFTRS programming free of charge except for CNN, which he said they pay for.

Regularly scheduled locally produced KVZK programmes include the evening news (broadcast at 5:30 p.m. and repeated at 9:00 p.m.) and weekly programmes on information, sports, health, instruction and religion as well as a game show. According to programming schedules given to the PACTEL team, 8.5 hours of locally produced (or programmes with local content) are broadcast weekly on Channel 2. In addition, many special programmes are produced during the year including live coverage of the flag day celebrations, inaugurations of governors,

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sessions of the legislature and others. produced programmes are presented in the Samoan language.

Many of the'locally

The evening news bulletin is presented in both English and Samoan. The Samoan news stories are presented first (for 15 minutes) followed usually by the same stories in English (for 15 minutes). Two news presenters are used, one for Samoan, the other for English. The news stories consist mainly of long interviews with very little supportive footage. The interviews appear to be frequently done at KVZK's studio complex.

News which is critical of the government is never broadcast, according to the Production Supervisor. But according to a former presenter of KVZK's news, Ms. Monica Miller, who is now editor of the Samoa News, former KVZK administrations allowed more freedom to present news which was unbiased and had less of a "government newsletter" format. It was unclear to the PACTEL team whether the current lack of unbiased news was due to government doctrine or a lack of desire on the part of KVZK's staff to test their freedom to do so.

Beside their regular weekly programmes, KVZK also produces occasional tlspotstl on littering, water pollution, road safety, etc. These are normally produced in conjunction with the related government departments.

Viewing Audience

The PACTEL mission was able to estimate the size of the viewing audience in American Samoa through some research at the Department of Planning and Statistics.

According to the 1990 census, the total number of households in American Samoa with television sets was 5,641. The average number of people per household was 7. Using these figures, KVZK's potential viewing audience in 1990 was approximately 39,487 people. The projections for 1992's population indicated

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an increase of 8.8% over 1990. Based on these projections, the estimated viewing audience in 1992 was 42,962 people. These figures only include the population of American Samoa, not the population of Western Samoa which also receives the TV service's broadcasts. It was not possible to determine the estimated number of viewers in Western Samoa.

Manpower

The number of staff employed by KVZK at the time'of the PACTEL mission's visit was 40 according to Mr. Failautusi. The breakdown was as follows:

Programming 3

Production 16 (cameramen , producers,etc) Engineering 12 (technicians, operators, etc.) Administration 6 Hawaii staff 2 (tape programmes off air) Custodian 1

When KVZK began broadcasting in 1964, nearly all of the higher-salaried production, engineering and management staff were Americans from the U.S. mainland. In 1968 the first local producer/director was named. In 1973, with the changeover in programming, the number of mainland staff was reduced even further. In 1979, the first Samoan general manager was named as were the first local programme supervisor and production

manager. During the PACTEL mission visit, only two staff members were mainland Americans and both worked in engineering. The remainder of KVZK's staff, including all management positions, were Samoan.

Training

Prior to 1974 all local staff were trained on the job by American mainlanders working for KVZK. In 1974 the first local staff member was sent overseas -- to the Columbia School of Broadcasting in Hollywood, California. Other locals had to

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understudy the mainland producers. By 1974, locals began to take over most of the staff positions and train the newer staff themselves. The engineering department had its own training programme for new staff.

SPC training was first received in 1981 again in 1988. An in-house training course was held at KVZK in 1986 with the more experienced staff training the newer staff. In 1992, a grant was obtained to hire an overseas trainer to conduct a 3-week courses in production techniques. The trainer hired was reportedly too fond of lecturing and the training was not considered successful.

Mr. Failautusi expressed his desire for his production staff to further participate in SPC training which was felt to be more appropriate and more tthands-on.tt He indicated that the training needs of the station included production and direction skills, camera techniques, lighting techniques, scriptwriting and training of presenters/newscasters. The possibility of an in-house training course sponsored by SPC was discussed.

Technical Facilities:

Although KVZK commenced transmissions in 1964 with 8 channels, the closure of the television teaching programme in 1973 resulted in the gradual reduction of channels in use. In 1991 three channels (2, 4 and 5) were operational, but in that year a hurricane caused considerable damage to Channel 5. When the PACTEL mission visited Pago Pago only channels 2 and 4 were on air. They were, however, operating at reduced power because of hurricane damage to their antennae systems. KVZK is '

considering the feasibility of replacing the Channel 5 transmitter to restore the service.

Of the four production studios originally constructed, only two are now in use. One was converted into offices and the other is utilised as a storage area. The two operational studios,

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named studio ‘A‘ and / B r share the same studio cameras and production control room, therefore only one studio can be used at a time. The cameras can be wheeled from one studio to the other and operations can be changed from one studio to the other very quickly.

The Master control room is a huge set-up with a transmission desk and rack mounted equipment.

A trailer mounted container with built-in recording equipment is available for outside recordings or direct outside broadcasts relay.

The television transmitters operating on American channels 2, 4 and 5 are located on Mount Alava which is at a.height of 1610 feet above sea level overlooking Pago Pago harbour. The height of the transmitting complex and the high power of the transmitters facilitate the provision of television signals to most parts of the mountainous terrain of American Samoa. The remotely controlled transmitters are capable of 18 kilowatts peak power.

Microwave links operating in the 13 giga hertz band carry audio, video and telemetry signals from the KVZK studios to their transmitters. A 120 foot tower supports the antenna for channel 2 and the combined antennae of channels 4 and 5. The NTSC colour standard is utilised for all KVZK studio and transmission systems and their recording format is three- quarter inch U-matic. Although this format is being phased out by the main international equipment manufacturers they are surprisingly still able to acquire spare parts to keep the video-recording equipment operational. In addition there is no plan to change the video-recording format to S-VHS, Betacam or M II. The Chief Engineer, Mr Tom Norman, preferred to wait for the digital formats to stabilise before KVZK changed over from the present analogue U-matic format. For ENG work, KVZK has four three-quarter inch U-Matic field units.

Studios

Studio ‘A’ and studio ‘Br which are in use now are identical. The dimensions are 20 feet X 30 feet with a very high ceiling.

A large number of lights including spots and scoops are fitted on a lighting grid in both studios. Some connected to dimmer controls.

Three Sony M3 cameras (with saticon tubes) are provided in the studios. They can be used in either studio ‘Ar or studio ’BI. Two cameras have teleprompters (autocues) and the news presenters make frequent use of them. The cameras are mounted on heavy pedestal dollies.

The camera control units are located in the master control room.

The room, adjacent to Studio A, is a common production control room (PCR) for either studio ’A’ or studio ‘Br.

The vision mixer is a Grass Valley 1600 series. They have plans to replace it with Grass Valley GV-200-1 video switcher and intend to use the old one in the outside broadcast container.

The audio console is designed by Audiotronics and supplied by Harris company.

A character generator and a number of video monitors are provided in the PCR.

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Viewing Room

A room meant €or PCR of studio ‘BI and identical in shape to the existing PCR is now being used to view tapes. A U-matic VCR with monitoring system is provided here.

Master Control Room

This is a very large room for controlling on-air programmes with a number of standard racks in which various equipment is mounted. Patch panels are provided for both video and audio.

A transmission desk with remote controls for the master control switcher (UTAH SCIENTIFIC) and, routing switchers (BSM) is provided. A character generator is also provided here.

For playback of transmission tapes there are eight U-matic machines with four time base correctors. Any TBC can be connected to any of the playback machines.

The telemetry remote control panel with a transmitter status monitoring system is also available in the programme control desk area.

The racks in the master control room contain sync pulse generators, test signal generators, audio distribution amplifier, intercom amplifier, etc. The racks are well separated for ease of operation and for servicing.

Also located in the master control room is the satellite receiving equipment (TVRO-Electronics) made by Scientific Atlanta to receive the Intelsat television feeds either with an 11 metre Parabolic Dish Antenna (PDA) or with a 5 metre PDA installed just outside the studio complex. Signals are received from AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio and Television Services) for direct relay or pre-recording.

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Uninterruptable power supply (arranged with batteri'es) is available and can provide upto10 hours of emergency power supply to equipment only. Such a system cannot cater for lighting and air-conditioning, but can keep the studio operational during a mains power failure in the area.

The technical areas are all provided with a centralised airconditioning system.

The technical store has a number of spare components and test equipment.

Edit Room 1

This room has two U-matic VCRs without an edit controller.

Edit Room 2

Edit Room #2 has an A/B roll editing system with a CMX Edit controller for time code editing, 2 X Sony BVU 950 SP edit machines, an ECHO LAB Video switcher and a Sony Audio Console.

ENG Field Units

At present there are three field units each with a DXC3000 CCD camera and a portable Sony BW 110 U-matic VCR connected to the camera through a multicore cable. The units are equipped with battery packs, portable lights, camera stands, etc.

Transmitters

The distance between the KVSK studio complex and the transmitter complex on Mount Alava is around 2 kilometres (as- the-crow-f lies) .

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Three transmitters operating on American Channel 2 ‘(54-60 megahertz), channel 4 (66-72 megahertz) and channel 5 (76-82 megahertz) provided three television transmissions to the people of American Samoa up to 1991 when a hurricane seriously damaged the Channel 5 system rendering it unserviceable. Previously, because of buffer of four megahertz, both channel 4 and 5 could be used without one interfering with the other. In addition Channels 4 and 5 utilised the same antennae via a duplex system. Channel 2 transmitter had its own transmitting antenna system.

All of the transmitters are from the Harris company and provide 18 kilowatts peak power.

After the hurricane in 1991 the transmitting antennae were badly damaged. KVZK is awaiting grants for the restoration of full service.

To some extent repairs could be carried out but

The channel 2 transmitter -- capable of providing 60 kilowatts of effective radiated power (ERP) -- is now operating at around 20 kilowatts ERP with the repaired 4-bay antenna system.

The channel 4 and 5 transmitting system was completely damaged. A simple dipole arrangement was made as an emergency measure to keep channel 4 transmitter on-air. At present it provides an estimated 5 kilowatts ERP.

The revival of the third service (Channel 5) can take place only after they the transmitter and the aerial system are replaced.

In addition to the damage to transmitters and their antennae system one of the microwave units, which carries the television signal from the studio complex to the transmitter, was also very badly damaged.

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In view of the terrain and obstruction by a 2,140 foot hill and other ridges there are pockets where the Television signal is not now available. Plans have already been drawn to install two translators and the equipment is now available to enable these pockets to be reached.

The power supply for the transmitters at Mount Alava get is provided by the Pago Pago Electricity Department. Standby diesel generators are not available at the site.

The transmitters are remotely controlled from the master control room with the help of a telemetry system through the microwave units which carry the television signals from the studio complex to Mount Alava.

Initially there was a cable car system up to the transmitter complex by which heavy loads were transported. This facilitated the original construction and installation work. The cable car system, however, was also damaged by the 1991 hurricane but there are plans to effect repairs.

At present, it is still possible to reach the ‘transmitter by a road. However, the road does not go all the way up to the transmitter building. A 75 feet climb is also involved. This is obviously a handicap to transporting machinery to the transmitter building.

In addition to the above, the mission was informed that KVZK has plans to instal two translators to,cover a number of transmission blind-spots caused by rugged terrain reaching up to 2,140 feet. Equipment installation is due to commence in the not too distant future.

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summary

Despite the fact that KVZK-TV has been broadcasting for almost 29 years, its needs are very similar to the newer TV services in the Pacific. Training is a continual need in order to upgrade the skills of present staff as well as to train newer staff in the theory and practice of TV production. The station is also heavily dependent upon TV engineers from the U.S. mainland.

Technically, there is an urgent need to replace and upgrade existing transmission equipment, much of which was seriously damaged by a hurricane in 1991.

KVZK still relies on U-Matic equipment, despite that format's impending demise. It is adviseable that plans be made to change to a smaller, more portable format such as Betacam, S-VHS or MII.

The quality of KVZK'slocally produced programmes varies, with much reliance on long, studio-based interview programmes rather than outside documentaries and other field productions. The evening news programme was in urgent need of revitalization and streamlining of production methods. It also appears to have assumed the role of a government newsletter, leaving 'Ihard'l news to the print media.

With talk of privatising the station, it is obvious that KVZK must make large effort if it is to develop. Training, upgrading of equipment and fresh attitudes from its new management could be the added stimulus to revitalisation.

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Recommendations

(1) It is recommended that renewed effort be made to include KVZK's staff in training available from SPC and other sources. This will help address the station's training needs in programme production.

(2) It is recommended that consideration be given to the instigation of an exchange scheme whereby KVZK staff are seconded to other Pacific island television stations to gain experience and other Pacific island television station staff are seconded to KVZK.

(3) In the interest of developing Samoan language programming, it is recommended that cooperation between KVZK and the proposed Western Samoa television service be investigated with a view to establishing on-going neutral assistance.

(4) It is recommended that the current method of producing the news be examined and perhaps changed to allow the Producer/reporter more control over the shooting and editing of news stories. Current problems appear to be due to lack of training in writing and editing skills.

(5) There is an urgent need to replace the existing transmitting antenna systems and restore full power to the transmitters.

(6) Instead of waiting for digital video recording formats to stabilise and become affordable, it is'recommended that KVZK change over to an Analogue format such as Betacam SP, MII, S- VHS, etc.

(7) Since the present trend is do more and more outside productions and since KVZK-TV already has a trailer mounted O.B. set up, more outside productions would be possible by augmenting the facilities in the O.B. container.

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Contacsts :

Mrs. Vaoita Savali Director KVZK-TV

Mr. Peni Failautusi Production Supervisor KVZK

Ms. Nancy Satele Programming Supervisor KVZK

Mr. Tom Norman Chief Engineer KVZK

Mr. Ekeroma Tulafono Financial Manager KVZK

Ms. Monica Miller Editor Samoa News

Mr. Andrew Thompson Newsman KSBS-FM Radio

Alofa Lokeni Reporter Samoa Journal

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OVERVIEW OF TELEVISION IN POLYNESIA

As mentioned elsewhere in this report the island countries in the Polynesian sector of the Pacific visited by the PACTEL Mission were Western Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Cook Islands, Niue Island and American Samoa. This overview therefore deals with the television broadcasting systems currently operating in these countries and television broadcasting plans about which the mission was informed.

Most of the island countries in the Pacific region are comprised of large or small groups of small islands. This is true of Western Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and American Samoa, but Niue, which is a single uplifted coral island, is an exception. In terms of television broadcasting, however, this is advantageous as Niue will not have to contend with the complex and expensive business of propagating television transmissions to islands dispersed over wide expanses of ocean. 100% television broadcasting coverage of the country is therefore both practical and achievable and all of the present population have access to television. Niue does, however, have a number of disadvantages relating to scale. Its population is around 2,300 and its economy is severely limited. In addition there is heavy reliance on territorial funding grants from New Zealand. The operation of the media is therefore challenging in terms of limited staffing structure, small budgets and limited feasible infrastructural development prospects.

American Samoa was the only country, visited by the PACTEL Polynesia Mission, which had had extensive experience with and exposure to television broadcasting transmissions. infrastructure was set up 28 years ago in 1964. In three of the five countries visited, Tonga, Cook Islands and Niue, television broadcasting had been introduced over the last decade - Tonga 1984, Niue 1986 and Cook Islands 1989. Western Samoa was the only country without its own television broadcasting system but it was in the process of implementing

Their

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plans to establish the medium officially by June 1993 (3 months after the PACTEL mission visit) but conducting test transmissions .in April, 1993, in time to broadcast the World Cup Rugby Sevens tournament from Scotland and the first games of the Super Ten Rugby Series. It should be mentioned that large areas of the island of Upolu in Western Samoa can receive American Samoan television transmissions and have done so for many years. So that, although the Western Samoa government is currently working on establishing their own system, some of the Western Samoans have had considerable television viewing experience. At this point one might ask why Western Samoa, an LDC, is setting up its own television broadcasting facility?

In terms of service area, two of the countries visited had achieved 100% coverage, American Samoa and Niue Island. Although at the time of the PACTEL visit, KVZK-TV in American Samoa was experiencing service area reduction caused by hurricane damage to one of their transmitters and antenna and the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) was in the process of rectifying a transmission weak-spot at Hikutavake village. In Tonga, Channel 7 transmissions are strongest on the main island, Tongatapu, but also receivable, the mission was told, on the western side of ‘Eua Island to the ESE of Tongatapu. Tonga‘s Channel 3 is effectively radiating to the capital, Nuku’alofa, and environs out to an estimated radius of about 10 kilometres. The Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) has acknowledged the national wish to extend television transmissions to as wide a section of the population as possible. Television transmissions were established initially (1989) on the capital island Rarotonga, which has a population of nearly 11,000, then extended in 1990 to Aitutaki (pop. 2366) and to Mauke (pop. 639) and Manihiki (pop. 666) in 1992. This was the situation at the time of the PACTEL mission visit, but there were plans to further extend transmissions to Atiu, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Mangaia and Mitiaro by the end of 1993. Current coverage of four islands makes television transmissions available to 78% of the population. Completion of the 1993

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installations will raise this figure to 97%. Western Samoa government television plans include initial coverage of Apia and environs and the eastern face of Savai'i island with phased plans to extend transmissions to all of Upolu and Savai'i islands. The government would like to aohieve complete coverage by late 1993 early 1994.

Television ownership was through government corporations in two of the five countries encountered by the PACTEL Polynesia Mission, Cook Islands and Niue Island. Western Samoa plans to commence under direct government auspices and transfer to the corporation or company mode at a later date. television was initially established in 1964 under the Department of Education as it had direct educational objectives at the time. It then became a government department itself in 1974 with broader community based terms of reference. Private ownership of both channels 3 and 7 in Tonga are perhaps indicative of entrepreneurship, as Channel 3 was established by a Tongan businessman living in the USA, and strong Christian commitment on the part of the national authorities, as Channel 7 is owned and operated by an interdenominational Christian organisation from the USA. It also perhaps indicates that the government does not place television in its own list of funding priorities.

In American Samoa

The reasons for the introduction of television to these five Polynesian countries is interesting in that, although officials state that they would like to broadcast educational, development and cultural information, it is the opinion of the PACTEL Polynesia Mission that only one of the systems was established for reasons related to these categories.

In American Samoa television broadcasting was originally introduced in connection with an educational need. Local teachers in the early sixties were in short supply so United States government representatives in Pago Pago and the government of the United States decided to meet the demand

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through teaching by television. The initial establishment included 8 television transmissions beaming locally produced lessons conducted by American teachers to Samoan children in the school classrooms.

The mission was informed that television was introduced to the Cook Islands, as a result of an election promise by the political party which formed the government. Transmissions officially commenced on Christmas Day 1989 - a present to the people so to speak.

The decision to officially introduce the medium by June, 1993, in Western Samoa is similar in that it is also the result of an election promise by the present government. With rugby so popular a game in Western Samoan, the setting up of test transmissions by April 1993, will be in time to televise the World Cup Rugby Sevens tournament to be held in Scotland as well as some of the early games in the international "Super Ten Rugby SeriesIl in which Western Samoa's representative team "Manu Samoag1 will participate.

In Tonga and Niue, the PACTEL mission team was informed that television broadcasting was introduced by business entrepreneurs. In 1984 a Tongan businessman living in the United States set up a low power subscriber television system in Nuku'alofa - now known as Channel 3. In 1991the station ceased to charge a monthly subscription and commenced selling commercial advertising to earn revenue. In 1986 an American businessman, who first visited Niue Island as a tourist, set up a cable television distribution system in several villages fed by terrestrial transmissions from the capital, Alofi. His visions of making large profits from the pay television system were short lived.

Two television standards, PAL and NTSC, are to be found in the Polynesian countries visited by the PACTEL Mission. The Cook Islands and Niue Island utilise PAL production and transmission

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equipment and American Samoa and Tonga utilise NTSC; Western Samoa has decided to set up a PAL standard system although Upolu residents in and around Apia have viewed NTSC transmissions from Pago Pago for many years.

The PAL systems in the Cook Islands and Niue were installed under commercial arrangements with Television New Zealand who have also been contracted to establish the Western Samoa system. These arrangements may perhaps be attributed to former colonial and territorial connections between these island countries and New Zealand. On the other hand they may be the result of active sales techniques of commercially operated Television New Zealand.

The NTSC standard in American Samoa is directly connected to the country's status as a territory of USA. Business and religious connections between Tonga and the USA constitute the reason for the NTSC installations in Nuku'alofa.

In all of the Polynesian countries visited, entertainment is the main reason for the popularity of television viewing. It was a common view among officials that television broadcasting should enhance educational, developmental and cultural aspects of life, but only in American Samoa, the Cook Islands and Niue did the mission actually encounter development oriented spots or cultural programmes on television. These offerings, however, were limited due to financial, personnel and equipment facilities constraints.

In American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga, there was evidence of local programme production. KVZK-TV American Samoa produces about 8.5 hours per week of its own programmes mainly in the areas of information, culture and religion. This represents 6.7% of the programming on KVZK-TV Channel 2 which broadcasts from 0600 to 2400 hours daily. It should be noted that American Samoa has a second television transmission, KVZK- TV Channel 4 which broadcasts only foreign (USA) programming

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(movies/series/documentaries) from 1500 to 2400 hours daily. The Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) produces 6% of its programmes locally and the Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) has 14% local content. Three of the countries, American Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue, produce daily local news bulletins but local television news broadcasts were conspicuously absent in Tonga. This contrasts markedly with the large volume of local print media news available through several Tongan newspapers and a glossy magazine aimed at regional distribution published in Nuku'alofa. Regular local television programme production in Tonga is quite limited, (the mission was not able to ascertain the total volume), and consists mainly of televised church services broadcast over Channel 7. Locally produced revenue earning commercial advertisements were broadcast in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga (Channel 3).

In American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue Island and Tonga the bulk of television programmes broadcast are produced by foreign sources and provided by foreign agencies. In American Samoa, where two channels are currently on air, 93% of KVZK-TV Channel 2 and 100% of KVZK-TV Channel 4 transmissions are of foreign (USA) origin. In the Cook Islands foreign programming accounts for 86% of transmissions, and in Niue there is 94% foreign programming on television. As the extent of local programme production was difficult to ascertain in Tonga,. the mission estimated that approximately 98% of transmissions were of foreign origin. The foreign programmes regularly broadcast in these four countries were produced in the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The international news services broadcast in the Cook Islands and Niue - 1 Network News and ITN - originate in New Zealand and the United Kingdom respectively. broadcasts international news from the United States - CNN, CBS and ABC. Most of the feature movies and television series broadcast are produced in the United States.

KVZK-TV in American Samoa

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In all of the countries visited, officials in the television organisations and in government offices as well as a number of private individuals stated that they would like to see more information concerning their Pacific island neighbours in television programming. As an example, reference was made by the Minister for Broadcasting in Niue that the television programme on the Vaka (canoe) produced in the Cook Islands and shown on Niue television was greatly appreciated and that programme exchange should be encouraged. This programme was in fact part of a UNESCO pilot project entitle IIPacific Women Television Programme Exchanget1 conducted to support women television producers in Niue, Cook Islands and.Fiji and to promote television programme exchange. The PACTEL mission would like to emphasise the desirability of television programme exchange between Pacific island countries in the interest of supporting local television programme producers in the various Pacific islands as well as promoting local programme production. This is seen as an important factor in raising the local and Pacific content of television programming in the region as transmissions are heavily weighted towards foreign country entertainment, news and information.

With television organisations in Polynesia (and elsewhere in the Pacific) heavily reliant on foreign programming to fill their transmissions, it was noted that in the case of KVZK-TV, American Samoa, television programming is provided by at least four sources - PBS, CNN, CBS and ABC - whereas the Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) and the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) rely on a single source of programme supply - Television New Zealand. The mission understands that the television service to be set up in Western Samoa will operate with a similar arrangement.

As CIBC and BCN are operating under strict economic constraints and limited budgetary arrangements, management would like to reduce the costs of acquiring foreign programming. The answer as to why they have not done so is that they are not

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knowledgeable about avenues of foreign programme supply and do not know how to acquire information concerning alternative sources. The mission is of the opinion that television executives should make the effort to obtain information about alternative sources of foreign television programme supply. This will enable them to initially assess their current monopoly supplier situations, open discussions on relevant factors and eventually work towards facilitating their rights to a wider choice of programmes from several sources if they so wish. However, the mission advises caution and care with negotiations so as not to jeopardise relations with the current supplier and future programme supply prospects. It also suggests the examination of the feasibility of collective purchasing arrangements involving several Pacific island television organisations but advises careful consideration of all factors relating to this complex mode of operation.

The need for continued training in all the main areas of television broadcasting is evident in the countries with the established systems - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue Island and Tonga. Training is required at basic and advanced levels in all areas including production and direction, camera, lighting and editing techniques, script writing, documentary production, and the conceptualisation of programmes. The PACTEL mission feels that special training emphasis is needed to revitalise local news production in terms of techniques and concepts. This is in reference to poorly produced bulletins which have lapsed into dull routines and compiled in the easiest outdoors interview style with little depth and use of cutaways or other effective editing techniques. also feels that special efforts should be made to improve script writing for all production areas and styles. Concerning the current situation of Western Samoa, extensive initial training is urgently required by the newly employed Western Samoa Broadcasting Service personnel charged with the operation of the new ssTelevise Samoass (Television Samoa) service. In addition to production training requirements, the television

The mission

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organisations display a very large electronics engineering training need. There is a noticeable lack of technical maintenance expertise in Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue and Western Samoa. KVZK-TV, American Samoa was the only organisation visited with sufficient technical expertise to conduct proper maintenance and repair of television equipment. It should be noted that the two expatriate employees at KVZK-TV are television electronics engineers. The lack of local technical expertise is a regionwide phenomenon which needs to be addressed at national and regional levels for long term benefit to the Pacific island television organisations.

In all of the countries visited by the PACTEL Polynesia Mission television broadcasting appears to be very popular with a majority of government officials and members of the general public. Television is now deeply entrenched in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue Island, Tonga and Western Samoa which has received Pago Pago transmissions for an extended period of time. In Tonga, Cook Islands and Niue the television systems are characterised by limited, lowcost technical infrastructures, small staff structures, limited budgets, limited production of local programmes and heavy reliance on foreign programme suppliers. In comparison American Samoa has a very extensive technical infrastructure with a large staffing element to conduct operations and more generous US territorial and federal government funding. In American Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue, the development oriented use of television, relating to health and environment issues, is emerging in limited volume. These aspects of television utilisation, in the view of the PACTEL mission, are worthy of encouragement, support and funding assistance from all governments as well as regional and international agencies.

In four of the five Polynesian countries visited by the PACTEL mission, television broadcasting was introduced during the last decade. The rapidity in transfer of the medium to limited economic situations has been accompanied by difficulties in

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terms of erecting technical infrastructures, the’development of adequately trained personnel and achieving suitable volumes of local programme production. These factors have created heavy dependency on foreign sources of programming to sustain the television broadcasting systems. It is interesting to note, however, that there is similarity between the current needs of the small television organisations in the Cook Islands, Tonga, and Niue and the larger longer established television organisation in American Samoa. It is also noteworthy that the television organisations in Polynesia are more concerned about local news production and local programme production in general than their counterparts in the Micronesian region. As a result CIBC, BCN and KVZK-TV have established daily television news bulletins and produce a limited volume of other programmes locally.

Television broadcasting in Polynesia is still developing and although American Samoa has had 29 years of experience with the medium, there is still much to be done in terms of local programme production, human resources development and infrastructural development. However, there are certain peculiarities in the sub-region which were apparent to the PACTEL mission. Polynesia has the oldest television broadcasting organisation in the Pacific islands region - KVZK- TV American Samoa, established in 1964. Polynesia has two countries with television service areas reaching 100% of their populations - American Samoa and Niue Island. Although local programme production is still at undesirably low levels, three out of five of the countries visited produced local news bulletins. Polynesia has the only country of scattered islands attempting to provide television broadcasting services to all of its population through a national development plan - the Cook Islands. Polynesia has the Pacific islands’ first television channel devoted to religious broadcasting. Polynesia has what is perhaps the smallest radio and television broadcasting organisation in the world - the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN) which operates with 5 fulltime staff

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to conduct 8.5 hours of radio broadcasts and 4.5 hours of television daily.

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