The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation is the only media company which provides an AM radio service to Fijians.

This was highlighted by FBC’s Chief Executive Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday while making submissions to PAC members on the 2015 Audit Report on State Owned Entities and Statutory Authorities.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the AM service is a very expensive service to run and the only reason for providing the AM radio service is because of its reach.

Adding on he says that expenses for annual repairs, equipment renewal, maintenance and electricity will increase FBC’s AM radio expenses by $630,000 annually.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that in times of natural disasters, the AM radio service keeps people well informed.

“It is absolutely vital that especially in times of natural disasters people are kept informed and the only good and effective way of doing it right now through the existing technology is through an AM service.”

Meanwhile FBC’s annual reports from 2010 to 2015 were tabled in the last parliament sitting