Following the switching off of analogue television transmission in many parts of the country, some residents of Naivikinikini in Lami who do not have access to Walesi set-top boxes connected to their home television set are disappointed as they no longer have access to television channels.
Frances Qounadovu says this was the talk of the town for them as there was no prior notice given about the switch over.
She says majority of the homes have the Walesi set-top box but do not have the UHF antenna as it is expensive.
Qounadovu says this has had a great impact on them.
Qounadovu says only about 10 out of the 60 families in Naivikinikini have access to Walesi channels.
Fiji Television Limited announced on Tuesday that their analogue free to air television transmitter in Tamavua, Suva and Sabeto in Nadi will be shut down from this Wednesday after the Government’s decision for the companies to move from analogue to the digital platform, Walesi.
This means that people in the affected areas will only be able to access the Fiji One TV signal via a Walesi set-top box connected to their home television set with a UHF antenna or through the Walesi app or via a Walesi satellite dish connected to the set-top box.
People in the affected areas can no longer access the Fiji One TV or any other TV signal via an antenna connected to their television set. In a market announcement, the publicly listed company says the shutting down of the analogue transmitters in Suva and Nadi is in accordance with correspondence from the Ministry of Communications and is in line with phase one of the Government’s planned switch-over process from analogue to digital television, Walesi.
Fiji TV says the areas affected in the Central and Eastern Division are Pacific Harbour, parts of Beqa, Navua, Naboro, Wainadoi, Lami, Delainavesi, all areas in Suva, all areas in Nasinu, all areas in Nausori, parts of Korovou and Natovi, parts of Ovalau, parts of Koro, parts of Batiki and Moturiki, areas affected in the Western Division include Nadi, Lautoka, parts of Ba, parts of Mamanuca and Yasawa and parts of the Coral Coast, and Vunisea and surrounding areas in Kadavu.
The company says Fiji One viewers in Ba and Vanua Levu will continue to access Fiji One via the analogue platform however they are strongly advised to switch over to Walesi.
We have sent questions to Fiji TV on what is the financial impact on the company, what is the asset value of the transmitters being shut down and what would all those assets be used for, what is the fee that Fiji TV has to pay to Walesi for their channels on the platform, how will this affect the company financially, did the company enter into negotiations on the shut down of the analogue transmitters and what was the advice given by the company to the Ministry of Communications on the effects on the company and the people that do not have Walesi set-top boxes, antennas or dishes, their thoughts on whether there are any benefits to leave the analogue transmitters on for those who do not have the Walesi set-top boxes and whether there have been any discussions on the type of license Fiji TV has and are there any changes to it since the transmission is being moved to the Walesi platform.
Fiji Television Limited has released another market announcement saying that it has been granted a Television Broadcast Operator License for a period of 12 years with effect from Wednesday, December 1st 2021.
It says this license was granted today by the Attorney General and Minister of Communication, Aiyaz Saiyed-Khaiyum, under the Television and Online Streaming Act 1992.
The license entitles Fiji TV to operate a free to air television broadcast service.
Chairman, Deepak Rathod says he is pleased with the 12 years broadcast license as it will enhance investor confidence in Fiji TV as a listed company.
We have sent questions to Acting Permanent Secretary for Communications, Tupou’tuah Baravilala on the Fiji TV market announcement.
We are still awaiting the response from Fiji TV and the Communications Ministry.
Related story:
By: Vijay Narayan
Tuesday 30/11/2021
The Fijian Broadcasting Corporation will be shutting down their analogue free to air television transmitter in Sabeto and Nakobalevu from tomorrow following Government’s decision for the companies to move from analogue to the digital platform, Walesi.
This means that people in the affected areas will only be able to access the FBC TV signal via a Walesi set-top box connected to their home television set with a UHF antenna or through the Walesi app or via a Walesi satellite dish connected to the set-top box.
From tomorrow, people in the affected areas can no longer access the FBC TV signal via an antenna connected to their television set.
FBC CEO Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the switch over is good for the people as the picture and sound quality will be better.
Sayed-Khaiyum says because of the work that Walesi has done, more Fijians in these areas will get better access to television.
He says there is no financial impact on the company and instead of paying for the upkeep of their transmitters, this responsibility will now shift to Walesi who will be paid a fee by the television companies.
The FBC CEO says they have not sold any of their transmitters to Walesi.
By: Shanil Singh
Tuesday 30/11/2021
Mai TV will be shutting down their analogue free to air television transmitters in Lololo, Sabeto and Nakobalevu at midnight tonight following Government’s decision for the companies to move from analogue to the digital platform, Walesi.
This means that people in the affected areas will only be able to access the Mai TV signal via a Walesi set-top box connected to their home television set with a UHF antenna or through the Walesi app or via a Walesi satellite dish connected to the set-top box.
From tomorrow, people in the affected areas can no longer access the Mai TV signal via an antenna connected to their television set.
Mai TV Director Stanley Simpson says there are benefits that will come from this switch-over however they would have appreciated a bit more time to do this and any increase in transmission fees by Walesi will severely impact the television broadcast business in the country.
He says the Government is trying to move forward and Mai TV will have to go along with the conditions provided within the license.
Simpson adds they are still waiting to find out the amount of fee they will be charged by Walesi and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission is looking into this.
He adds they are still in the process of working out how this will impact the company financially.
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