PRIME MINISTER'S |  | MEDIA |
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TV CAN EDUCATE AND INFORM OUR PEOPLE: PM
[For release – 13 March 2008]
Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare said today the power of media cannot be underestimated, and “the time is right” to consider introducing television in PNG.
“We already have the National Broadcasting Corporation with provincial stations around the country.
“The time has come for government to consider television as another medium for visual broadcasting first in Port Moresby then everywhere else throughout the country,” Sir Michael said.
He said the National Television Service will be a commercial station that will focus on educating and informing Papua New Guineans in more detail developments taking place around the country.
“At present, there is no quota of local content that the government demands from the existing media organisations.
“We believe our PNG audience wants to have more information about our own country, not just what is happening in Port Moresby and overseas,” he said.
The Prime Minister made these comments when announcing Cabinet’s recent endorsement of K12m as initial seed funding for the establishment of the National Television Service for PNG.
He said the only content-producing institution was the National Film Institute, mandated under Section 21 of the National Cultural Commission Act 1994.
“The NFI is basically responsible for the generation and promotion of local content and growing the television and film industry in PNG,” he said.
He said the NFI, in partnership with NBC, will be tasked with local content production. NBC has also commenced discussions with various Government and line agencies to address local content.
“By having a television service that demands local content, we are also enabling opportunities for our young people to explore areas such as filmmaking, acting and other associated industries to develop,” he said.
There are four phases to the project. Phase one will commence with the launching of the Service in Port Moresby, while phase two will be the rebroadcast of the television service via satellite to the 19 provinces. Phase three will be the roll out of the service to the 89 districts, and phase 4 would be to cover areas of Asia Pacific.
A Task Force comprising NBC, Department of Communication & Information, Department of Treasury, Department of National Planning & Monitoring, Telikom, and PANGTEL is overseeing the initial phase of the project.
M T SOMARE
Prime Minister
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