Fiji One is a free-to-air television channel run by Fiji Television. It provides coverage throughout Fiji. It is fully funded from revenue generated through commercial advertisements, meaning that programs have commercial breaks.[1]
History
The Fijian government had shown varying levels of deliberation before introducing a television service. In 1984, the government set up the Fiji National Video Centre (FNVC) in association with the German Hanns Seidel Foundation. That same year, the government accepted an offer from Kerry Packer's PBL to conduct a feasbility study for a television service in the country, by 1987 at earliest. An agreement was settled between PBL and the Fijian government in August 1986.[2]
Following the coups of 1987, PBL suspended its financing to the Fiji Television Corporation, due to the downturn caused to the economy by the effects of the coups. With Fiji experiencing rapid economic recovery in the aftermath, in 1988, new proposals were being set up, and with the government owning a controlling stake in the new company.[2]
In October 1991, the government granted Television New Zealand a temporary license to operate a television service, Fiji One Television, to carry the 1991 Rugby World Cup initially with coverage in Suva with coverage extending to Nausori and Navua its transmitter located in Tamavua in the outskirts of Suva. In December 1991, following positive interest in the Suva area, the coverage area was extended to the whole of the Western Division, with transmitters installed in Tualesia (southeast of Lautoka) and the Sabeto Range providing signals to Lautoka, Nadi and their surrounding areas.
Eyeing for the creation of a permanent service, the government and TVNZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding. When the company was scheduled to go permanent, TVNZ would manage the service and use the resources of the FNVC using the existing Fiji One service. TVNZ was only involved in the service on a "contractual basis", providing operational and managerial expertise until Fiji TV was set to become self-sustaining, which according to TVNZ, would take five years.[2]
