Television Kiribati

Television Kiribati Ltd (TKL), or TV Kiribati, was the sole, state-owned[1] service in Kiribati.

Programming

Established in 2002,[2] it broadcast "local and foreign programmes", and was accessible only in South Tarawa (the country's capital) and in the neighbouring island-town of Betio.[3] It provided "about one hour of local programming" on weekdays, and did not broadcast over week-ends.[4] As of 2006, its manager was Tom Kaitara.[5]

In January 2006, TKL received a bid to operate internet services and was waiting for a license.[6] In only carried part of the 2006 Commonwealth Games because a TVNZ decoder arrived late from Fiji due to transmission problems.[5]

Undetermined suspension

Television Kiribati was suspended by the government in March 2013, due to "serious financial problems", and its personnel's "lack [of] expertise and knowledge in programming and production". The government announced a review to determine whether the closure should be permanent.[3] As it was the only television service, viewers in Tarawa South were left with access to radio and newspapers as their media for information.[2]

There was no local television at all until 2018, when a separate channel, Kiri 1 TV, owned by Taotin Media through Click Pacific, started operations.[7]

See also

References