Pacific Press Release – Television New Zealand

Pacific nations are benefiting from broadcast technology and equipment donated by TVNZ and carried to the Islands by Air New Zealand.

PACIFIC TV ‘GOES LIVE’ COURTESY OF TVNZ AND AIR NEW ZEALAND

Friday 5 March, 2010

Pacific nations are benefiting from broadcast technology and equipment donated by TVNZ and carried to the Islands by Air New Zealand.

TV stations in Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands have been donated TVNZ’s live broadcasting kits, which the broadcaster has recently replaced as a result of the migration to digital television.

Air New Zealand volunteered free seats for TVNZ staff to transport the equipment and train their Pacific colleagues in live broadcasting techniques, and free freight for the equipment.

TVNZ’s Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver says the mission was incredibly exciting and emotional for all concerned.

“They were unbelievably thrilled to have the gear, and very nervous at first. But they did a beautiful job and put their new skills to work immediately in some important breaking stories,” she said.

“While we were there the Tonga Broadcasting Commission ran their news live twice, with two live crosses on a byelection and one warning the public about the oncoming Cyclone Rene.

“Apia Broadcasting ran their news live and did a live cross about a new government policy making education compulsory.”

“And Cook Islands Television broke into its programme to bring updates from the Police Emergency Operations Centre about developing tropical depressions and the impact of Cyclone Pat on the northern Cook Islands.”

Barbara Dreaver has compiled a special report on the mission, which will go to air on ONE News on Monday night.

The introduction of live broadcasts has been enthusiastically welcomed by local communities, and the broadcasters report coming under heavy pressure to do more. It’s expected that a popular use for the live links will be in covering community events.

TVNZ’s Live News manager, Russell Jones, says all the equipment was in good working order and its installation has been a great success.

TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis pledged surplus TVNZ equipment to Pacific broadcasters at the Commonwealth Broadcasters Conference hosted in Tonga early last year.

TVNZ and the recipient broadcasters have offered grateful thanks to Air New Zealand for their generosity.

WATCH BARBARA DREAVER’S SPECIAL REPORT – ONE NEWS, MONDAY 8 MARCH.