Australian tv shows like The Voice, Border Security, Neighbours and MasterChef will be transmitted in the Pacific under a $171 million Australian Government task at a time when China’s diplomatic and media existence is on the rise in the region.
Key points:
- PNG broadcasters invited the move, but desired Pacific shows on Australian TV
- China has a growing media and diplomatic existence in the Pacific
- Critics say “white” commercial TV may stop working to resonate, and Pacific voices should be prioritised
However some critics say the funds could have been better used to establish Pacific transmitting abilities, strengthen independent journalism in the area or display content more relevant to Pacific audiences.
Broadcasters in Papua New Guinea welcomed the relocation, saying they had been spoken with and had actually selected content they thought would suit their audiences.
But they also hoped Pacific material would be beamed onto Australian TVs.
” I make sure there are a great deal of pleased individuals around PNG today,” Sheena Hughes, acting CEO of EMTV, said after The Voice premiered last night.
” We would have possibly chosen to get some of those funds to be able to build our regional content, but I’m hoping that this is a platform for future efforts and future partnerships … ideally down the line we do take a look at