Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama unveils the new logo

It’s a new look for Fiji’s national broadcaster, with the company now known as the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation.

Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, last night revealed the new name and logo of FBC, which marks a historic milestone for the fastest growing and biggest media company in the country.

65 years after being named the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, FBC will now have a dynamic new look, which incorporates Fiji and her people.

Bainimarama says from the moment FBC started broadcasting in 1954, the company has been the guiding voice of Fijians through great moments of history.

He says throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Fiji TV was eating Fiji’s breakfast, lunch and dinner as they ran a virtual monopoly of television coverage, adding, the FBC-our national broadcaster-was flirting with insolvency.

“You were a late mover to the television market but you’ve found your legs and in eight shorts years, your market position has surged to the front of the pack.”

He further adds FBC covers the real issues that will dictate Fiji’s future and the wellbeing of the future generations.

“The staff of FBC aren’t strangers to the misinformation and mud-slinging that comes with success. And don’t let detractors diminish the nobility of the role you perform.”

FBC Chief Executive, Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says the name change now sees the FBC brand in the same stead as leading broadcasters around the world.

“As the company celebrates 65 years of the South Pacific’s most iconic broadcaster which over the years faced extreme challenges, but has come out the best, because of the resilience of the dynamic FBC team. It is also for these reasons that we firmly believe that now is the right time to change the name of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation to reflect our modern nation, in line with other major national public broadcasters.”

Sayed-Khaiyum says the logo was designed in-house by the company’s multi-skilled talented team

“Our new FBC logo was designed in-house by our multi-skilled talented team. Given the task to come up with a contemporary corporate concept that unifies our roots with a new and modern Fiji, whilst symbolizing our core operations and representing our reach to all Fijians in an equal and united country. Our team made an amazing effort and came up with this stunning, modern Fijiana logo.”

He also explained the significance of the new design.

“The triangle in the middle represents the universal symbol for broadcast towers, the circle around it symbolizing our reach to all corners of Fiji and the coconut tree, the tree of life, representing our connection to Fijians of all walks of life. The logo as a whole is also at first glance a distinct representation of a traditional masi design that encompasses our deep relationship with our country. The several shades of blue represent our connection to the pacific ecosystem and symbolize the various Fijian communities that loyally contribute to build Fiji into a better country for all of us. This new FBC logo is truly an illustration of a progressive national broadcaster.”

Apart from the new name and logo, the company has also announced its plans to build a new seven-story building at Gladstone Road.

The view from the back [left] and the view from the side [right]

Sayed-Khaiyum says the new building will be constructed to cater for the rapid growth within the company.

“In view of disaster management plans, the rapidly changing and demanding media landscape, the need for more physical space for our rapid expansion and our goal to consistently create new revenue streams, we are proud and excited to announce the FBC’s new extension project, which is set to commence in a few months’ time. This modern structure, equipped with the regions only auditorium-style TV Studio, is going to be a landmark building for the entire Fijian media industry, future-proofing FBC for many years to come.”

The view from the front

Sayed-Khaiyum also paid tribute to the legendary news presenter, Keith Broadbridge, who started off at the FBC when ZJV became the FBC 65 years ago.

Broadbridge retired last year after an amazing 63 years of service to the company.

Meanwhile, the significant prize of a 3.5 carat custom made sapphire ring was won by Ravi who entered the competition as an avid listener on Radio Fiji Two.