Government issues two new FM Radio and Television broadcasting licenses. Featured
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni with Mr. Paula Ma'u (CEO for MEIDECC) and the two new operators, Mr. Paula Ma'u and Mrs. Jessie Prema
Nuku'alofa, 6 October 2015. Government has presented two new operators with FM Radio and Television broadcasting licenses. This was done by Acting Prime Minister and the Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Hon Siaoasi Sovaleni today, Friday October 2.
The FM Broadcasting Individual license was presented to Hitz FM, owned and operated by Paula Mosa’ati, who will operate from Kolofo’ou, here in Nuku’alofa.
A TV and FM Broadcasting License was presented to the Fetu’ungingila Spiritual Group, of Mailetaha, Fanga ‘o Pilolevu.
These license applications were processed since last year, according to the requirements of the Communications Act and also vetted against the national policy objectives of the communications sector.
Each application has met the necessary requirements, including compliance with consumer standards, passing the inspected technical and program standards and to provide top quality service.
“Once applications meet the necessary requirements according to law and policy, we can process them for approval, which may include proof of financial viability as a business, technical capability, and ethical standards as a broadcaster,” the Chief Executive Officer of MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Ma’u said.
These new licenses will promote competition in broadcasting, which will be beneficial to the end-users in terms of providing better quality of service and at a more competitive rate or pricing.
The new TV/FM Broadcasting to Fetu’ungingilaSpiritual Group will be the 5th TV station set up here in Tonga and the 14th FM Radio Broadcasting station.
It is owned by Spiritual Healing Ministry, with owners Mrs. Jessie Prema and Konifelenisi Bansal.
The financial operation of this station will be fully funded by the owners, Mr Richard Prema (Managing Director Prema & Sons) and Mr. Sunil Bansal (Managing Director Discovery Operation Ltd), with their wives as members of the Fetu’ungingila Spiritual Group.
Mrs. Jessie Prema says the aim of the new radio and TV station is to provide the public with “the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a Vision to “Revive Tonga”.
She said they are willing to provide reach-out programs to the people of Tonga. Hitz FM will be the 15th FM Radio Station in Tonga. Owner Mr Mosa’ati said they will be offering more variety of choices for listeners.
“Specific target age 25 and 45 years old, rather than unrealistically trying to provide for more segments,” Mr Mosa’ati said.
“The language of broadcast will predominantly be in English, whereas other commercial FM radio stations are currently predominantly broadcasting in Tongan, except 89.1.” They will provide news context in English also.
The Ministry wishes both the newly licensed FM and TV operators success in their own businesses, and looks forward to continuing a more fruitful and collaborative effort in ensuring that Tonga’s public is well-informed with complete, timely and factual information.
Source: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications
