Residents of Cook Islands and Niue will be able to access more than 2,000 hours of Australian TV content each year as part of the initiative.
PacificAus TV, which is managed by Free TV Australia, currently receives $5.68 million per year under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy to bolster the viability of Pacific regional media and expand access to Australian television programs.
“With the expansion of the PacificAus TV initiative to the Cook Islands and Niue, now even more of our regional neighbours can access quality Australian content – fostering stronger cultural ties across the Indo-Pacific region,” comments Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP in a media release.
“The Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy continues Australia’s longstanding commitment to supporting a robust media sector in the Indo-Pacific, and has identified this opportunity for expansion.”
Sports programming is an important element of the PacificAus TV initiative, with Australian news, current affairs, children’s programs, drama, lifestyle and entertainment programs also available.
Cook Islands Television, Vaka TV, and the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue have joined the initiative, with each able to individually broadcast a wide range of Australian television content according to their programming strategies, interests and audience preferences.
They join 14 free-to-air broadcasters across Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu already accessing Australian content through the initiative.
The Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy seeks to increase access to trusted and reliable news, deliver quality content and foster engagement across the region, including through measures like this.
The Strategy provides a framework to help foster a vibrant and independent media sector, counter misinformation, present modern multicultural Australia, and support deeper people-to-people engagement.
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“Australia has a proud history of support for Pacific media and broadcasters, and we know how critical a vibrant media sector is for sharing important stories and forging connections across our region,” says Hon Pat Conroy MP.
“Under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy and the Australia-Pacific Media and Broadcasting Partnership, we are committed to expanding our engagement with the Pacific media sector.”
“PacificAus TV’s growth is delivering on our commitment to share content that resonates with Pacific audiences and complements investments to bolster media development and viability.”
Adrianne Saplagio is a Content Producer at Comms Room, where she combines her passion for storytelling with her expertise in multimedia content creation. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for engaging audiences, Adrianne has been instrumental in crafting compelling narratives that resonate across various digital platforms.
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