News

New National Digital Television Platform for television broadcasters

August 2, 2014 9:17 pm

Government has finalized plans for the creation of a National Digital Television Platform.

Speaking on the occasion of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation’s diamond jubilee celebrations last night, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the platform will greatly improve the picture and sound quality of TV programmes and expand the coverage of all broadcast television channels.

He says the new platform will initially extend the coverage of all broadcast channels to 94 per cent of the population, marking a drastic improvement over the current levels of coverage.

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Bainimarama adds, with the platform, digital television will work on current TV sets and no satellite dish will be required.

The Department of Communications will oversee the creating of the platform.

Once completed, the platform will be handed over to FBC to manage.

FBC will form a new transmission company for this purpose.

Bainimarama says broadcasters will then lease one or multiple digital channels for fixed annual fees.

He adds, the system will be completely transparent and the cost to lease the channels will be the same for all broadcasters, including FBC.