Fiji One

Fiji One is a free-to-air television channel serving viewers across Fiji. It is operated by Fiji Television and forms part of the country’s domestic broadcast infrastructure. Unlike a subscription service, the channel is available without a direct viewing fee and finances its programming and operations through commercial advertising, resulting in scheduled advertising breaks during programmes. The channel emerged from Fiji’s long-running effort to establish a national television service. Early interest in television was demonstrated by Fiji Trading Co. Ltd. in Suva, which imported and exhibited a television set before nationwide broadcasting existed. During the late 1960s, the Fijian government began considering television as part of broader planning for the country’s broadcasting future. A feasibility study envisaged a service associated with the Fiji Broadcasting Commission and estimated that a national network could eventually reach a substantial majority of the population. Institutional preparations continued in the 1980s. In 1984, the government established the Fiji National Video Centre with support from the German Hanns Seidel Foundation. The government also worked with Kerry Packer’s PBL on a feasibility study and later reached an agreement in 1986 concerning the possible development of a television service. The proposed service was expected to use Australian-built broadcast equipment and include a meaningful proportion of local programming. The political and economic disruption caused by Fiji’s 1987 coups led PBL to suspend financing, delaying the establishment of a permanent commercial television operation. A new phase began in 1991, when the government granted Television New Zealand a temporary licence to operate Fiji One Television initially for coverage of the 1991 Rugby World Cup. The first service was concentrated around Suva, with transmission later extending toward Nausori and Navua. Positive audience and commercial interest encouraged expansion into the Western Division, including coverage around Lautoka, Nadi and surrounding communities. The temporary service helped demonstrate the viability of a national television network while longer-term arrangements were developed. Fiji One began permanent broadcasting in July 1994 under an exclusive 12-year operating contract. Television New Zealand provided contractual operational and management expertise during the service’s early development, while the broader institutional and technical resources of the Fiji National Video Centre were incorporated into the emerging television system. On 20 March 1995, Fiji One introduced Fiji One News, replacing the earlier News Focus service associated with the National Video Centre. News became an important component of the channel’s local identity and public relevance. The network continued expanding its technical reach during the 1990s. By 1999, Fiji One’s signal covered the Coral Coast, Taveuni and Northern Lau, and the channel reportedly reached approximately 85 percent of Fiji’s population. Its national role was further reflected in the transition to Fiji’s digital television environment. Following the launch of the Walesi digital terrestrial television platform in 2016, Fiji One was granted the right to operate on channel 2. Fiji One’s business model is therefore centered on a national, advertiser-supported broadcast channel rather than a portfolio of separately marketed consumer products. Its principal offerings are television programming, local news and other scheduled content delivered over free-to-air infrastructure. The available reference material does not identify a separate founder, a current chief executive, a detailed ownership structure, financial results or a confirmed programming schedule. Fiji One should be understood primarily as a domestic media and broadcast brand whose significance lies in its role in the development and continuing operation of television service in Fiji.

Fiji’s television history predates the launch of Fiji One by several decades. Fiji Trading Co. Ltd. of Suva was an early demonstrator of television technology in the country, importing and exhibiting a television set to assess whether reception from Australian stations might support a domestic market for television receivers. Government consideration of a local television service developed more seriously in the late 1960s, when a feasibility study connected the possible creation of television broadcasting with the Fiji Broadcasting Commission. The study contemplated a service capable of reaching roughly three-quarters of the national population. In 1984, the government created the Fiji National Video Centre in cooperation with the German Hanns Seidel Foundation. The same period brought a feasibility initiative involving Kerry Packer’s PBL. An agreement between PBL and the Fijian government was reached in August 1986, with a possible launch targeted for 1987. Plans included Australian production and outside-broadcast equipment and a local-programming component. The 1987 coups and their economic consequences caused PBL to suspend its financing of the Fiji Television Corporation project. As Fiji’s economy recovered, alternative proposals for a television service were developed in 1988, with the government holding a controlling interest in the new company. The immediate precursor to the permanent channel appeared in October 1991, when the government granted Television New Zealand a temporary licence to operate Fiji One Television for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Initial transmission was concentrated in Suva, with the signal later extending to Nausori and Navua. In December 1991, the service expanded westward into the Western Division. Additional transmitters at Tualesia, southeast of Lautoka, and the Sabeto Range served Lautoka, Nadi and nearby areas. The government and TVNZ subsequently pursued a permanent arrangement through a memorandum of understanding. TVNZ was expected to provide operational and managerial expertise on a contractual basis, using resources associated with the Fiji National Video Centre while the Fiji television operation developed toward self-sufficiency. Fiji One commenced permanent broadcasts in July 1994 with an exclusive 12-year operating contract. The channel’s news identity strengthened on 20 March 1995, when Fiji One News replaced the National Video Centre’s News Focus programme. Coverage expansion continued through the decade. By 1999, the network had extended service to the Coral Coast, Taveuni and Northern Lau and reached approximately 85 percent of Fiji’s population. In 2016, following the launch of Walesi, Fiji One was assigned the right to operate on channel 2. Throughout this development, the channel’s core commercial model remained free-to-air broadcasting supported by advertising revenue. The available references do not establish a separate founder, current executive roster, detailed shareholding structure or financial performance history.

• 2016

  Fiji One assigned channel 2 on Walesi

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  After Walesi launched, Fiji One received the right to operate on channel 2 in the digital television system.

• 1999

  Coverage reaches approximately 85 percent of the population

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  The network’s coverage expanded to the Coral Coast, Taveuni and Northern Lau, reaching about 85 percent of Fiji’s population.

• 1995

  Fiji One News launches

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  The channel introduced Fiji One News on 20 March, replacing the Fiji National Video Centre’s News Focus service.

• 1994

  Permanent broadcasting begins

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  Fiji One commenced permanent broadcasts in July under an exclusive 12-year operating contract.

• 1991

  Temporary Fiji One service launches for Rugby World Cup coverage

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  Television New Zealand began operating a temporary Fiji One Television service, initially centered on Suva and later expanded into the Western Division.

• 1986

  Government and PBL reach television-service agreement

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  An agreement was reached with Kerry Packer’s PBL concerning the development of a television service, although financing was later suspended after the 1987 coups.

• 1984

  Fiji National Video Centre established

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  The government established the Fiji National Video Centre in association with the German Hanns Seidel Foundation, creating an institutional basis for later television development.

• 1960

  Government television feasibility planning begins

  [1]Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org

  A feasibility study concerning the future of Fijian radio helped advance consideration of a television service associated with the Fiji Broadcasting Commission.

A national, advertiser-supported free-to-air television channel focused on broad coverage of Fiji and locally relevant broadcasting.

• Television channel · 1994

  Fiji One free-to-air television channel

  The core Fiji One offering is a free-to-air television service transmitting scheduled programming to viewers throughout Fiji. The channel is funded through commercial advertising rather than direct subscription charges, so advertising breaks are integrated into its programming. Its network development included expansion from Suva into the Western Division and later into other parts of Fiji.

• Television news · 1995

  Fiji One News

  Fiji One News is the channel’s named news service, launched on 20 March 1995 as a replacement for News Focus, the earlier news programme associated with the Fiji National Video Centre. The available reference does not provide a detailed account of its current format, schedule or presenting team.

• 2016

  Adopt a position on the Walesi digital platformStrategy

  Background

  Fiji’s television distribution environment changed with the launch of Walesi and the development of digital television access.

  Action taken

  Fiji One was granted the right to operate on channel 2 of the Walesi platform.

  Aftermath

  The channel retained a designated position in Fiji’s digital television environment.

  Source

• 1995

  Launch of Fiji One NewsProduct launch

  Background

  The channel required a continuing local news service as it developed from a temporary broadcast operation into a national television network.

  Action taken

  Fiji One launched Fiji One News on 20 March 1995, replacing News Focus.

  Aftermath

  The launch strengthened the channel’s local-news identity, although detailed audience or financial outcomes are not identified in the reference material.

  Source

• 1994

  Transition to permanent broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  The temporary service showed sufficient interest for the government and its operating partners to establish a continuing television network.

  Action taken

  Fiji One began permanent broadcasts in July 1994 under an exclusive 12-year contract, with TVNZ providing contractual operational and management expertise.

  Aftermath

  The channel developed its own news identity and expanded transmission coverage across Fiji during the 1990s.

  Source

• 1991

  Use a temporary sports-led launch to establish television serviceStrategy

  Background

  The government needed to demonstrate the feasibility of television broadcasting before a permanent national service was established.

  Action taken

  It granted Television New Zealand a temporary licence to operate Fiji One Television, initially using coverage of the 1991 Rugby World Cup as the service’s launch occasion.

  Aftermath

  The service expanded geographically during 1991 and was followed by arrangements for permanent broadcasting.

  Source

1. 1Fiji Oneen.wikipedia.org