Fiji Television Limited confirms that it has been given formal assurance from Communications Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum that Fiji TV's broadcast license will be renewed for a further 12 years.
Fiji TV Chairman, Isoa Kaloumaira said that Sayed-Khaiyum himself had written to the company in a letter dated 14th October 2011 confirming the renewal of Fiji TV's license for a further 12 year period.
Kaloumaira said that Fiji TV management has had meetings with the ministry officials and the information sought included the coverage area, number of hours of local content, hours of prime time broadcast, ethnic language based programs and other relevant program and technical information.
In a statement issued by the Attorney-General yesterday a meeting was held with the Chairman of Fiji TV Limited, Isoa Koloumaira, on 25 May 2012.
At this meeting, the Attorney-General emphasised that as far as news reporting was concerned, Fiji TV, like all other media organisations, needed to adhere to the Media Code of Ethics and Practice and be balanced and fair, not just in form but in substance.
The International Federation of Journalists and the Pacific Freedom Forum claim that the government has raised concern about the coverage given to the “opposition” by Fiji TV.
The people in the opposition lineup according to these organisations include Laisenia Qarase, Mahendra Chaudhry and others.
The international federation and the Freedom Forum say in their statements that the management of Fiji TV has been put on notice that all the station's content will be monitored this month and will influence the decision regarding the renewal of Fiji TV's broadcasting license, due at the end of this month.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
