The former head of state television in Samoa says the Government has a responsibility to maintain a public broadcasting presence in the country.
The Government is poised to sell off its radio and television assets within a year.
Leota Uelese Petaia - who headed state television until two years ago - says the Government should continue to fund local programmes.
"Privatising television's obviously going to be a good thing as far as business people are concerned. My concern is what they need to look at, is to turn it into a community-type television station, where communities can come in and make programmes, and government can fund it."
Leota has applied to the Government for a license to set up a private free-to-air station because he says there's not enough focus on local events.
Officials say state-owned media, operating under the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation, will be restructured before any sale can occur.
