Transcript
TREVOR TIAKIA: At the moment we are in the testing phase for the channels that we have been able to acquire rights for.
DON WISEMAN: So you have got quite a number from New Zealand haven't you?
TT: Yes.
DW: What about sports channels, news channels?
TT: We have also acquired rights for the news channels and also a sports channel. But we have an agreement with BBCL which was appointed by the New Zealand government to handle all the Pasifika TV. There will be sports coming through that channel and our normal TV Niue channel.
DW: Now what it means is everyone has got to switch to digital don't they because you are shutting down analogue?
TT: Eventually we are heading towards that way.
DW: So people are getting little receivers put on their houses at the moment.
TT: Customers will have a UHF antennae and also a set top box with a card in their homes.
DW: What are the costs to the typical resident?
TT: The cost for the normal TV Niue channel still remains because that is the annual subscription fee that covers the TV Niue channel. But anything outside of that the customer pays for the extra channels.
DW: The TV Niue fee is what we might have called in the old days a licence fee, how much is that annually?
TT: The licence fee is charged at $NZ75 every three months.
DW: OK and in terms of the charges for channels.
TT: In terms of charges for channels for example if you want the news package, that is an additional $15 on top. Entertainment package that is an extra that the customer needs to pay also.
DW: That is every three months?
TT: That is every three months.
DW: You expect everything to be up and running, when?
TT: Hopefully when we iron out some phasing problems that we have with the signal we will be able to launch sometime in the New Year.
DW: In the main town Alofi what is the quality of reception like there?
TT: From Avatele right through to Tui the signal quality is excellent but for the remaining villages on the other side, we have a phasing signal problem.
DW: OK so what is the solution there?
TT: We need to install another couple of antennae on top of our tower that feeds the northern side and increase the power of the transmitter and also for the southern side.
DW: OK you are getting I know quite a lot of aid support for this but it still it is a very big project for broadcast Niue isn't it?
TT: Yes it is big but we are excited.
