Tonga media

Tonga govt says it's not putting limits on media

Paula Ma'u said the regulations were already in the charter for broadcasting licencing.

Ma'u said what the government did was cut the penalties for licensees to 20 percent of what they had been facing.

Media professionals had complained that the regulations appeared to reduce media freedom.

They also said they had not been informed by the government.

But Ma'u said they were wrong on both counts.

PNG broadcaster eyes Tonga TV station

Papua New Guinea's Click TV has started negotiations to purchase a licence to operate in the kingdom.

Click TV's Richard Broadbridge arrived in Tonga Thursday to hold talks with potential partners. The move was welcomed independent radio broadcaster, Maka Tohi.

“A second TV station will allow for more local content and non-government broadcast material," Tohi said.

“It's a huge challenge for non-state entities to find space on the government station.

“Hopefully an independent commercial station will give us space to produce and broadcast local material.”

Lawyer claims Tonga govt controlling media

The new chair of the public broadcaster Tu'i Uata began his tenure by moving editor Laumanu Petelo and news manager Viola Ulakai into the marketing department.

Both journalists had run-ins this year with prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva who called the TBC an enemy of government because of its critical coverage.

Mr Uata said the move was because the TBC was in financial crisis and content was unpopular.

However the journalists' lawyer, Clive Edwards, said it was unlawful and he was preparing breach of contract proceedings.

Culture of fear exists in Tonga media - publisher

'Akilisi Pohiva has forced the state broadcaster's chair Tapu Panuve to resign, is looking to replace the general manager Nanise Fifita and has not ruled out other changes.

Mr Moala said he had a special media panel organised to mark World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday but no one turned up.

"It's affecting press freedom, its bringing a culture of fear upon other journalists and media organizations and it is really bad that here we are commemorating World Press Freedom day and we are having some huge problems here in Tonga."

PIMA wants to discuss media freedom with Tongan PM

Last month Mr Pohiva said he was not happy with how the Tonga Broadcasting Commission operated and the services may be better carried out by a different provider.

The New Zealand based PIMA said the government needed to step back and take a hands-off approach to news media.

PIMA secretary Jason Brown said it is undemocratic to make vague claims of bias to justify extraordinary threats against news media that belong to the public, not government.