NUKU'ALOFA: After its controversial shutdown by the Tongan government last month, BroadCom Ltd is awaiting word on its broadcasting licence that may see the popular radio station back on air within a month.
“All signs are positive,” said managing director Katalina Tohi.
“There’s a Cabinet sub-committee working on it before the final decision will be made,” she told Tonga Chronicle/TMN.
The final Cabinet decision is expected mid-next week.
Acting CEO for Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) Feleti Tu’ihalamaka confirmed that BroadCom’s application was “on top of their list” for consideration for licence approval.
“Well they’ve fulfilled much of the requirements. Right now we are looking at formulating some ethics guidelines, content standards, things like that,” he said.
A total of seven radio licence applications – including four non-commercial community stations – and five television license requests are currently pending with the ministry.
Tu’ihalamaka said “two or three” could be granted next week.
“Once [applicants] meet the necessary requirements, we can give them the licence… This includes [proof of] financial viability as a business, technical capability, and ethics [standards].”
He said tests have successfully been carried out on the 89.5 FM frequency for BroadCom to use.
Shutdown
BroadCom Broadcasting previously operated on the 88.1 FM frequency since September 2009. Owned by veteran radio engineer Maka Tohi and journalist wife Katalina, the company had lodged a licence application in March 2009.
While it was pending, BroadCom aired under a licence owned by Taimi Media Network chief executive Kalafi Moala.
However, last December 3 the Ministry of Information and Communication – then headed by minister ‘Eseta Fusitu’a – ordered the station’s immediate shut down.
The stop was based on a letter from Moala severing all arrangements with BroadCom. Moala had received complaints that radio content was “inciting people” to anger over the Prime Minister election, and that the programmes were biased in favour of ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s pro-democracy political party.
BroadCom had no legal broadcasting permit on its own – the Tohis never received any final outcome on their 2009 application.
They filed a second application after the shutdown – which has now yielded some response from the new government.
“I feel good… I had a meeting with the Prime Minister [also new Minister of Information and Communication] and he was happy… He said transparency and media are important,” said Katalina Tohi.
Moala has congratulated BroadCom on their potential licence: “I think it’s fantastic – they deserved it. They have proved they can operate and run a radio station.”
Taimi Media Network plans to launch its own FM radio station on the 88.1 frequency under Moala’s licence. - Taimi Media Network/Pacific Media Watch
Josephine Latu
