29 Jun 2012

No word on renewal of Fiji TV licence

2:22 pm on 29 June 2012

There is still no official word from the Fiji regime on whether it will renew the licence of Fiji TV.

The licence will expire tomorrow but is expected to be renewed after a written assurance given by the interim attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khayium, last year.

This month, the regime issued a decree that empowers the minister to revoke or vary a television licence if the licensee is found to have breached the Media Code of Ethics under the Media Industry Development Decree.

The Labour Party says it finds it abhorrent that none of the decrees can be challenged.

Earlier this month, Fiji TV was reportedly warned that its licence was at risk for giving coverage to two former prime ministers.

Fiji has two other television stations, Mai TV and FBC TV, which is run by the interim attorney-general's brother.