EM TV

EM TV is a commercial television broadcaster in Papua New Guinea and one of the country's most established national media brands. It began broadcasting from Port Moresby in July 1987, at a time when television infrastructure in Papua New Guinea was still developing and access to programming was concentrated in a small number of satellite, cable, and foreign-linked services. For much of its history, EM TV was the country's only free-to-air television service, giving it an unusually prominent role in national news, public information, entertainment, and advertising. The station's corporate background dates to 1984, when Media Niugini was established to distribute videotaped foreign programming to public venues. Those early packages also carried locally inserted advertising and community announcements. In 1986, Papua New Guinea's Post and Telecommunications Corporation issued licences for two television services, including EM TV. The station subsequently launched as a joint venture involving the Nine Network of Australia and other investors. It followed the short-lived Niugini Television Network, which operated briefly in 1987 and 1988. EM TV expanded beyond Port Moresby relatively quickly. Relays were introduced in Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Arawa, and Rabaul in April 1988. The following year, the Post and Telecommunications Department made microwave transmission capacity available for live distribution to several major centres, including Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, and Madang. In November 1993, EM TV replaced that distribution arrangement with a satellite-based system. Satellite distribution substantially broadened the station's potential footprint, allowing reception across Papua New Guinea and, under suitable conditions, in parts of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, South Asia, and other nearby or connected regions. The station's terrestrial and satellite infrastructure has also supported redistribution by mining sites, cable operators, community groups, and other local organisations. In addition to its Port Moresby transmitters, EM TV has operated or maintained retransmission and downlink facilities in locations including Lae, Rabaul, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Madang, and Kavieng. This infrastructure has enabled audiences in geographically dispersed communities and resource-development areas to receive the service, even where conventional broadcasting coverage is limited. For many years EM TV maintained a close programming relationship with Australia's Nine Network. This relationship influenced the station's imported entertainment, visual identity, promotional material, slogans, and advertising supply. A prominent 2004 station ident used music associated with the 'Still the One' campaign, reflecting the broadcaster's connection to Nine's branding traditions. EM TV ended its formal Nine affiliation after the station was sold to Fiji Television Limited in late 2006, although it continued to carry selected Australian programming supplied through or associated with Nine for a period afterward. It also acquired programmes and sports rights directly from producers and rights holders, and later added content associated with other Australian commercial networks. Following the launch of Papua New Guinea's National Television Service in September 2008, EM TV was no longer the country's sole free-to-air television outlet. Nevertheless, it remained a significant commercial broadcaster, combining locally produced news and current-affairs material with imported entertainment, Australian programming, and sports coverage. Its flagship news bulletin, EMTV News, is broadcast daily in the evening and has historically provided one of the most visible commercial platforms for locally reported Papua New Guinean news. The brand is currently owned by Telikom PNG through its subsidiary Media Niugini.

Television was discussed as a possible development priority in Papua New Guinea during the 1960s, when the territory was administered by Australia. An early proposal envisaged television primarily as an educational service for schools. A television-development commission was established in October 1965, but a national commercial television industry did not emerge immediately. The corporate predecessor associated with EM TV was Media Niugini, established in 1984 to distribute videotaped foreign programmes in public locations. These packages included locally inserted advertising and community announcements, creating an early model for the combination of imported content and local commercial material that later characterised the broadcaster. In 1986, the Post and Telecommunications Corporation granted licences for two television stations, one of which was EM TV. EM TV began broadcasting from Port Moresby in July 1987. Its ownership structure initially included the Nine Network of Australia and other investors, and the service became an important early commercial television operation in the country. The launch followed the short-lived Niugini Television Network, which had operated from January to March 1987 according to the cited historical account, with the broader early television environment also including subscription satellite and cable services. Expansion proceeded through terrestrial relay facilities. In April 1988, EM TV opened relays in Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Arawa, and Rabaul. In 1989, the Post and Telecommunications Department made microwave transmission capacity available for live programming distribution to Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, and Madang. These arrangements helped the station move from a Port Moresby service toward a national broadcaster. A major technical change occurred in November 1993, when EM TV shifted programme distribution from the public telecommunications microwave bearer to satellite. The new system offered a much broader footprint across Papua New Guinea and allowed the signal to be received beyond the country under suitable satellite-reception conditions. Local mining operations, cable providers, and community organisations subsequently established receiving and redistribution arrangements in numerous locations, including areas that were difficult to serve through conventional terrestrial transmission. EM TV's programming identity was strongly influenced by its relationship with Nine Network Australia. For much of the period before the relationship ended, Nine supplied or influenced a substantial amount of entertainment, branding, station imaging, slogans, and advertising-related material. The connection was visible in a 2004 ident that used music associated with Nine's 'Still the One' branding. EM TV ended the formal affiliation in late 2006 after being sold to Fiji Television Limited. The change affected the supply of imported programming and was followed by a different content mix, including programmes associated with Australia's Seven Network and Network Ten, alongside continuing access to some Nine-related Australian shows. The station has historically obtained foreign programming and sporting events both through network relationships and directly from producers or rights holders. Its locally produced news service, EMTV News, has been central to the brand's public role. The bulletin is broadcast daily in the evening and provides locally reported news and current-affairs coverage. In September 2008, Papua New Guinea introduced the National Television Service. This created a second major free-to-air television presence and ended EM TV's status as the country's only free-to-air service. EM TV nevertheless continued as a national commercial broadcaster with a mixture of local news, imported entertainment, Australian programming, sports, and advertising. The station is owned by Telikom PNG through Media Niugini, the corporate entity connected with its earlier operations.

• 2008

  National Television Service launches

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  The launch of the National Television Service ended EM TV's exclusive position as Papua New Guinea's free-to-air broadcaster.

• 2006

  Nine Network affiliation ends

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station was sold to Fiji Television Limited and subsequently ended its formal Nine Network affiliation.

• 1993

  Satellite distribution introduced

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  EM TV transferred programme distribution to a satellite platform, broadening national and regional reach.

• 1988

  Relay network expands

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  Relay services opened in several major Papua New Guinean centres, including Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Arawa, and Rabaul.

• 1987

  EM TV launches

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  EM TV began commercial broadcasting from Port Moresby in July.

• 1986

  Broadcast licences issued

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Post and Telecommunications Corporation issued licences for EM TV and another television station.

• 1984

  Media Niugini established

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  Media Niugini was created to distribute videotaped foreign programming with local advertising and community announcements.

• 1964

  Television proposed for Papua New Guinea

  [1]EM TVen.wikipedia.org

  A World Bank mission suggested television development in Papua New Guinea, initially with an educational purpose.

A national commercial broadcaster combining locally produced Papua New Guinean news with imported entertainment, Australian programming, sports, and advertising-supported television distribution.

• Television broadcasting · 1987

  EM TV free-to-air service

  EM TV's core offering is a commercial free-to-air television service distributed through transmitters, satellite facilities, and retransmission arrangements. It combines locally produced material with acquired entertainment, Australian programmes, sports, advertising, and community-oriented content for audiences across Papua New Guinea.

• News and current affairs

  EMTV News

  EMTV News is the station's flagship locally produced news bulletin. Broadcast daily in the evening, it has historically provided reporting on Papua New Guinean events and has been a central part of EM TV's role as a national commercial broadcaster.

• Broadcast distribution · 1993

  Satellite and retransmission distribution

  Since 1993, EM TV has used satellite-based programme distribution alongside terrestrial transmission and leased or maintained downlink and retransmission facilities. This model supports reception in major cities, remote communities, mining areas, cable systems, and other locations where local organisations redistribute the signal.

• 2004Still the One station ident

  Papua New Guinea

  EM TV used a station ident built around music associated with the 'Still the One' branding tradition of the Nine Network and earlier American television promotion.

  Outcome. The ident became a recognisable part of EM TV's on-air identity and remained in use after the formal Nine Network relationship ended.

  Source

• 2008

  Response to the launch of the National Television ServiceOther

  Background

  The National Television Service began broadcasting in September 2008, ending EM TV's long-standing position as Papua New Guinea's only free-to-air television service.

  Action taken

  EM TV continued operating as a commercial broadcaster rather than an exclusive national free-to-air outlet.

  Aftermath

  The Papua New Guinean television market gained another free-to-air service, while EM TV retained its commercial news, entertainment, sports, and advertising role.

  Source

• 2006

  Sale to Fiji Television LimitedM&A

  Background

  EM TV had previously operated with a close ownership and programming relationship involving Australia's Nine Network.

  Action taken

  The station was sold to Fiji Television Limited and later dropped its formal Nine Network affiliation.

  Aftermath

  EM TV changed its imported programming mix, adding programmes associated with Seven Network and Network Ten while continuing to carry some Australian content linked to Nine.

  Source

• 1993

  Shift from microwave to satellite distributionStrategy

  Background

  The station's earlier live-distribution arrangements relied on telecommunications infrastructure and did not provide the same broad geographic reach as satellite transmission.

  Action taken

  EM TV moved programme distribution from the Post and Telecommunications Corporation's microwave bearer to a satellite system.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded the station's potential footprint across Papua New Guinea and enabled reception and redistribution in additional remote and regional locations.

  Source

1. 1EM TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2EM TV official websiteemtv.com.pg