Tuvalu Media Corporation
Tuvalu Media Corporation (TMC) was a government-owned corporation established in 1999 to take over the radio and print based publications of the Broadcasting and Information Office (BIO) of the small Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu.[1][2] However, in 2008 operating as a corporation was determined not to be commercially viable and the Tuvalu Media Corporation then became the Tuvalu Media Department (TMD) under the Office of the Prime Minister.[3]
As the BIO, TMC and now the TMD, the organisation is the public broadcasting organisation in Tuvalu.[3]
Melali Taape is the General Manager of the Tuvalu Media Department (2015).[4]
The Tuvalu Broadcasting Corporation took its place in 2015.
Radio Tuvalu
[edit]The Tuvalu Media Department operates one station on the AM frequencies under the name Radio Tuvalu, which broadcasts from the main atoll of Funafuti since 14 August 1975.[5] In 2011 the Japanese government provided financial support to construct a new AM broadcast studio. The installation of upgraded transmission equipment allows Radio Tuvalu to be heard on all nine islands of Tuvalu.[6] The new AM radio transmitter on Funafuti replaced the FM radio service to the outer islands and freed up satellite bandwidth for mobile services.[7]
The station broadcasts Tuvaluan programming 3 times a day. Transmission hours are: in the morning: 6:30am – 8:00am; afternoon: 11:25am – 1:00pm; evening: 6:25pm – 10:00pm. When Radio Tuvalu is off the air, programming from the BBC is transmitted.
Radio Tuvalu provides special broadcasts during general elections, such as during the 2015 Tuvaluan general election.[8]
Print publications
[edit]Tuvalu Echoes was a fortnightly newspaper published from 1983 by the BIO and subsequently by the TMC.[1] Publication was in English and Tuvaluan with the newspaper in an A4 sized format.[9] Sikuleo o Tuvalu was a newsletter in the Tuvaluan language that was first published in 1983.[1][2] Publication was hampered by the printer breaking down and lack of paper and ink and these publications were closed down in 2007.[2]
Fenui – news from Tuvalu is a free digital publication of the Tuvalu Media Department that is emailed to subscribers and operates a Facebook page, which publishes news about government activities and news about Tuvaluan events, such as a special edition covering the results of the 2015 general election.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Robie, David (1995). Nius Bilong Pasifik: Mass Media in the Pacific. University of Papua New Guinea Press. ISBN 9980840528.
- ^ a b c Lee Duffield, Amanda Watson & Mark Hayes (2008). "Media and Communication Capacities in the Pacific region" (PDF). Queensland University of Technology. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ a b Jo Tacchi, Heather Horst, Evangelia Papoutsaki, Verena Thomas and Joys Eggins (6 October 2013). "State of Media & Communication Report - Tuvalu" (PDF). Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS). Retrieved 5 January 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Bulletin April 6, 2015" (PDF). Fenui News. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (1988). Handbook - Commonwealth Broadcasting Association.
- ^ Endou, Shuuichi (30 December 2011). "New AM Radio Station in Funafuti". Tuvalu-News.TV. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ Andrew McIntyre; Brian Bell & Solofa Uota (February 2012). ""Fakafoou – To Make New": Tuvalu Infrastructure Strategy and Investment Plan" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ Diana Semi (1 April 2015). "Transmission for general election took media staff to dawn" (PDF). Fenui News (Special Bulletin). Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ "Tuvalu Echoes". tuvaluislands.com. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ Yvette D’Unienville & Semi Malaki (1 April 2015). "Special Bulletin April 1, 2015" (PDF). Fenui News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.