New TV service goes to air on independence day

Harlyne Joku
Papua New Guineans will receive a special gift when the country celebrates its independence anniversary on September 16.

They will be able to switch on to a new free to air television service with more local content and programmes—thanks to government.

NTS (National Television Service) will telecast live giving a choice to Papua New Guineans to watch a new TV service, hence provide competition to PNG’s only commercial TV station, EMTV.

EMTV is owned by Fiji-based Yasana Holdings, also owners of Fiji TV.

NTS will be operated and managed by PNG’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of which PINA (Pacific Islands News Association) president, Joseph Ealedona, is managing director.

Ealedona told ISLANDS BUSINESS the PNG government views television as a powerful tool for empowering people to make informed decisions that will improve their quality of life and living standards.

“It is the initiative of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to ensure that Papua New Guineans are able to view local programmes and news events relevant to the country.

“NTS will focus on positive developmental issues and highlight government’s priority programmes of agriculture, fisheries, health, education and infrastructure and PNG sports and entertainment,” Ealedona said.

He further stressed that responsible and objective journalism is vital in a developing country like PNG and others in the South Pacific region. He said the media must be seen to be playing that role.

“NTS will aim to maintain high standards of journalism and quality local programmes currently lacking,” Ealedona said.

Since independence in 1975, successive PNG governments have recognised the need to have a national television service in PNG.

In 1981, PNG NEC (National Executive Council) approved in principle the introduction of a television service of which NBC was to undertake a feasibility study on the technical, engineering, financial, management and programming aspects of the project. The process was not concluded due to the 1982 national elections. The 1981 NEC decision was resurrected in 1989 and NBC was directed to initiate the processes to realise the service.

Prime Minister Somare in March 2007 directed NBC again to initiate the processes on NTS.

On September last year during the opening of PNG’s 8th parliament, Somare reiterated his call for the introduction of the TV service for PNG. A taskforce was established and progress so far has been successful, according to Ealedona.

The first phase will make it possible for Port Moresby viewers to watch NTS, second phase will be the provinces (19), the third phase will be for rural people and the fourth phase will be the region.

Ealedona said Asia Broadcast Union and Canal France TV will assist NBC, so as Singaporean experts.

NBC officers responsible for producing local radio programmes are currently putting together the NTS programmes.

“We are currently identifying local content programmes and shooting footage,” Ealedona said.

He added that NTS will be requesting business entities and organisations to support the TV station through commercial public advertisements that will be informative and educational for the PNG audience.

Ealedona said PNG and countries of the region have been exposed to commercial foreign television which has affected their culture and traditional values leading to disorder amongst communities.

He said NTS will aim to promote positive aspects of the PNG culture and values which are fast disappearing.

“We are hoping that NTS will help Papua New Guineans sustain and uphold their cultural values,” he said.

He stressed the media had an important role to play in ensuring that Papua New Guineans and countries in the region hold on to their cultural morals and positive development.

“NTS will promote and enhance local production of content industry in PNG and develop and create a core team of specialist in the field of multimedia content production,” Ealedona said.

Papua New Guineans excited Papua New Guineans are excited about the new national TV service expected to go on air on Independence Day, according to a vox pop conducted in Port Moresby. “Yes. It’s about time we have a rival station to EMTV,” Betty Pulpulis from the PNG Department of Education said, when describing how she felt about a new government-owned National Television Service. Pulpulis said many of EMTV’s programmes are not relevant to PNG. “They are old stuff from other countries. Sports on EMTV such as cricket, rugby or golf, are those that not so many ordinary Papua New Guineans are into. EMTV has failed to serve Papua New Guineans well,” she said. Pulpulis said a government-owned television station is much needed in PNG. “We need to be informed fairly and positively about what is happening around our beautiful country rather than concentrating only on mostly negative issues in the major centres especially Port Moresby and foreign lands. “We can use television to channel educational programmes and lessons for those that cannot go through the formal education system,” Pulpulis said. Bernadette John, a Grade 11 student, said it is good to have a national TV channel that has local programmes and shows that are relevant to PNG. She said apart from the EMTV news coverage, most of the current EMTV programmes were foreign ones. She said most young people were really into programmes such as Rage, etc. “They want to imitate the way foreigners talk, sing and dress in their normal lives. Many young people watch TV and believe life is easy and material things can be gained when in reality they cannot,” she said. John Alois agreed that most of the current TV programmes were irrelevant to Papua New Guinea and supported NTS. Iamo Kila said EMTV needs a competitor to improve its performance. But he thanked EMTV for serving Papua New Guineans for the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the General Manager for EMTV, Glenn Armstrong said the Media Niugini Limited (MNL) which operates EMTV has offered some advice and assistance to the PNG Government in its bid to establish a public service television station in Papua New Guinea. The offer of assistance remains open, Armstrong said. He added that a television service requires the investment of millions of Kina, expertise in TV content, production, programming, engineering, management and delivery infrastructure in order to serve the people of PNG. Armstrong said at this stage there is not enough known about the proposed service and its content and delivery to make a comment or form an opinion. The PNG Media Council President, Oseah Philemon, said the introduction of a new television service is indeed an excellent opportunity for Papua New Guinean viewers who have had access to EMTV only. However, he said because NTS is government owned he hopes it does not become a propaganda tool for the government. Philemon hopes NTS will be a good TV network that will provide excellent local content and operate independently from government control. “It must adhere to the NBC charter on independence and covers news events and views without fear or favour. “NTS must be able to provide news and views for and against government policies. It must not be used as a tool for government propaganda, Philemon said. Philemon added there is a lot of room to develop local programmes and NTS must provide an excellent alternative to EMTV. “It must not be a copy of EMTV under a new banner,” he said. Philemon also said that television is an expensive network to run and he hopes that it is separately funded. “I hope the government television service does not take up the role of NBC because it plays a crucial role in educating majority of Papua New Guineans. NTS must have separate funding from NBC,” Philemon said.