FBC TV

FBC TV is a Fijian television channel operated by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), the national broadcasting organization that also runs radio services in iTaukei, Hindustani, English and Hindi. The channel broadcasts in English, Hindi and Fijian, and combines local news and public-affairs coverage with entertainment, imported serials, children's programming, youth-oriented shows and major sports and cultural events. The idea of adding television to the corporation's broadcasting activities dates back to a 1968 feasibility study. The proposal remained unrealized for decades, while Fiji Television established a strong position in the country's commercial television market. Mai TV later became the first significant challenger to that position. FBC, which already had an established radio operation, entered television on 25 November 2011. The launch was conducted by Fiji's prime minister, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Frank Bainimarama, and made FBC TV Fiji's third commercial free-to-air television channel. FBC TV's launch expanded the competitive television market and gave the FBC group a platform for cross-media programming. The channel was reported to reach approximately 90 percent of Fiji's population through VHF and UHF transmission. It also sought to strengthen the quality of local journalism by bringing in a senior New Zealand news producer for a period of training and development with Fijian television journalists. This initiative was intended to improve the production standards and presentation of local television news, while the expansion of the signal enabled television access in areas that previously lacked coverage. The channel developed its profile through rights to high-interest international and regional programming. It obtained exclusive Fijian rights to televise the Miss World 2012 pageant and later secured rights to the 2013–14 Premier League season and the 2013 Constellation Cup. Its role in sports broadcasting grew further after the Fijian government introduced a cross-carriage regime for designated events. The policy required certain important events, including major football, rugby, netball, Olympic and Pacific competitions, to be made available on free-to-air television rather than remaining exclusively on a competing pay or commercial platform. This gave FBC TV access to prominent content and supported the government's stated objective of making nationally significant events available to the wider population. FBC TV also became involved in Fiji's transition from analogue to digital television. In November 2014, it was assigned responsibility for managing the digital television project. Technical testing began in the Suva–Nasinu corridor in July 2015. When Fiji moved toward digital broadcasting in August 2016, FBC introduced FBC 2 and FBC Plus alongside its principal channel. FBC 2 was designed to carry international content that had previously been difficult to access on free-to-air television, while FBC Plus offered delayed repeats of FBC TV programming. During the Walesi digital television launch, FBC TV was allocated the primary channel position and FBC 2 was assigned another prominent channel position. The Walesi digital television platform was formally launched on 25 June 2018. FBC TV therefore occupies a dual role in Fiji: it is a general-interest broadcaster and a participant in the country's national television infrastructure. Its programming and distribution have been shaped by the small island market, the importance of multilingual broadcasting, government policy on designated events, and the migration from analogue terrestrial transmission to a digital platform. FBC TV's principal domestic competitors include Fiji Television, Mai TV and PBS TV.

The concept of a television service operated by Fiji Broadcasting Corporation can be traced to a 1968 feasibility study. The study considered whether the corporation, then primarily associated with radio broadcasting, should establish a television station. The proposal did not immediately result in a channel. Fiji's television market later developed around Fiji Television, whose long period of market strength and exclusive access to certain content gave it a dominant position. Mai TV subsequently became an important challenger, although it did not possess the same accumulated market advantages. FBC entered television after building an established radio network. FBC TV launched on 25 November 2011 as Fiji's third commercial free-to-air television channel. The launch was conducted by Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Ret.) Frank Bainimarama. The station was intended to provide a new source of local news and entertainment while using FBC's existing broadcasting capabilities and multilingual audience relationships. Before its formal on-air launch, the organization had reportedly sold more than $100,000 worth of television programming, although no further financial context is provided in the reference material. In its early development, FBC TV emphasized both national reach and professional news production. Its terrestrial signal was reported to cover about 90 percent of Fiji's population through VHF and UHF television bands. The broadcaster also brought a leading New Zealand news producer to Fiji for several months to train local television journalists. This was presented as an effort to raise the standard of local television news coverage. The service consequently expanded beyond the areas that had previously received television signals and became a significant competitor to Fiji Television and Mai TV. PBS TV is also identified as a domestic competitor. Programming rights were an important part of the channel's growth. FBC TV secured exclusive rights in Fiji to broadcast Miss World 2012. In 2013 it acquired exclusive rights to the 2013–14 Premier League season and the 2013 Constellation Cup. The channel's ability to carry prominent sports content was also affected by government policy. Fiji enacted a Television (Cross-Carriage of Designated Events) Decree requiring certain important events to be made available on free-to-air television. The stated public-interest rationale was that all Fijians should be able to watch events such as the FIFA World Cup, the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup, the Rugby League World Cup, the World Netball Championship, the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, the Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games. The designated-event framework also covered the Coca-Cola Games, state funerals, general-election results, the national budget address and parliamentary proceedings. By opening content that had been held exclusively by Fiji Television to FBC TV, the policy strengthened FBC's ability to compete for audience and national relevance. The broadcaster then became involved in Fiji's analogue-to-digital television transition. In November 2014, FBC TV was tasked with managing the digital television project. Testing began in the Suva–Nasinu corridor in July 2015. In August 2016, as Fiji moved into digital broadcasting, FBC launched FBC 2 and FBC Plus. FBC 2 was intended to provide international content not previously available to Fijian viewers on free-to-air television. FBC Plus was a time-shifted service, repeating programs from the main FBC TV channel three hours after their original broadcast. The main channel was allocated channel 1 in the Walesi service's launch arrangements, while FBC 2 was allocated channel 3. The Walesi digital television platform was formally launched on 25 June 2018 by Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in his capacity as Minister for Communications. The platform used encrypted or scrambled distribution for many channels and required a Walesi set-top box for the relevant services. Reference material notes that, as of January 2023, the Education Channel was the only channel described as genuinely free-to-air and receivable without a Walesi box. FBC TV therefore operates within a distribution environment that combines terrestrial broadcasting, digital migration and platform-specific access requirements. Its continuing role is that of a multilingual national television brand offering news, entertainment, sports and coverage of significant public events in Fiji.

• 2018

  Walesi platform formally launched

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  Fiji's national digital television platform launched on 25 June, carrying FBC services in prominent channel positions.

• 2016

  FBC 2 and FBC Plus launched

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  FBC expanded its digital channel offering with FBC 2 and the time-shifted FBC Plus.

• 2015

  Digital transmission testing begins

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  Testing of the digital television platform commenced in the Suva–Nasinu corridor in July.

• 2014

  Digital television project assigned to FBC TV

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  FBC TV was tasked with managing Fiji's transition from analogue to digital television.

• 2013

  Major sports rights acquired

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel obtained exclusive rights to the 2013–14 Premier League season and the 2013 Constellation Cup in Fiji.

• 2012

  Exclusive Miss World broadcast

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  FBC TV held exclusive Fijian rights to televise Miss World 2012.

• 2011

  FBC TV launches

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  FBC TV began broadcasting on 25 November as Fiji's third commercial free-to-air television channel.

• 1968

  Television service proposed in feasibility study

  [1]FBC TVen.wikipedia.org

  A feasibility study first suggested that the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation could establish a television station.

A multilingual, general-interest Fijian broadcaster combining local news and public-service coverage with entertainment, imported programming and widely accessible sports and cultural events.

• Main television channel · 2011

  FBC TV

  The principal FBC television service is a multilingual general-interest channel broadcasting in English, Hindi and Fijian. Its schedule combines local news, public-affairs coverage, entertainment, imported serials, children's and youth programming, and live or recorded coverage of sports and major national events. It is distributed as a free-to-air television service within Fiji's broadcasting system.

• Digital television channel · 2016

  FBC 2

  FBC 2 was introduced during Fiji's move to digital broadcasting in 2016. The channel was designed to provide international programming and other content that viewers had not previously been able to access through free-to-air television. It formed part of FBC's expanded multi-channel offering on the Walesi digital platform.

• Time-shifted television channel · 2016

  FBC Plus

  FBC Plus was launched alongside FBC 2 as a delayed-repeat service. It retransmitted programs from the main FBC TV channel approximately three hours after their original broadcast, allowing viewers another opportunity to watch the channel's schedule within the digital television environment.

• 2018

  Integration with the Walesi digital television platformStrategy

  Background

  Fiji formally introduced the Walesi digital television platform as part of its national broadcasting transition.

  Action taken

  FBC services were incorporated into Walesi, with FBC TV receiving channel 1 and FBC 2 receiving channel 3 in the launch draw.

  Aftermath

  FBC became a prominent service within Fiji's digital television distribution system, although access to many channels required a Walesi set-top box.

  Source

• 2016

  Expansion into a multi-channel digital offeringProduct launch

  Background

  Fiji was moving into digital television after trials of the platform in the Suva–Nasinu corridor.

  Action taken

  FBC launched FBC 2 for international content and FBC Plus for delayed repeats of the main channel.

  Aftermath

  FBC gained additional channel capacity and was allocated prominent positions in the Walesi service.

  Source

• 2014

  Management of Fiji's digital television transitionStrategy

  Background

  Fiji planned to move television distribution from analogue transmission toward a digital platform.

  Action taken

  FBC TV was assigned responsibility for managing the digital television project and began supporting testing the following year.

  Aftermath

  The project led to digital service testing in the Suva–Nasinu corridor, the launch of additional FBC channels and FBC's participation in the Walesi platform.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch of FBC TVProduct launch

  Background

  Fiji Broadcasting Corporation had operated as an established radio broadcaster, while Fiji's commercial television market was led by Fiji Television and later challenged by Mai TV.

  Action taken

  FBC launched a multilingual commercial free-to-air television channel on 25 November 2011.

  Aftermath

  The launch gave FBC a national television presence, increased competition and extended its signal to areas that previously lacked television coverage.

  Source

1. 1FBC TVen.wikipedia.org