Basil wants radio to improve local content

NBC Radio Bougainville has a duty to improve its airtime to broadcast local content, especially during the referendum, Minister for Energy, Communication and Information Technology Sam Basil says.
Basil also wants NBC to improve its coverage and airtime by giving more time to local content, including news and information.
The minister was responding to questions in Parliament from the regional Bougainville MP Joe Lera, who wanted to know why Radio Bougainville continued to promote regional and international contents, giving less airtime to local content, especially on programmes and information on referendum awareness.
He wanted to know the policy of the national broadcaster and wanted the minster to explain to the people of Bougainville.
Basil said he agreed with the MP that NBC Radio and Television should have more airtime for local contents.
He said he would look into the concern of the MP and talk to the management of NBC to make sure there was more time given to local content.
He also announced that the Government, through the National Executive Council, had approved to build two new radio stations for Hela and Jiwaka.
He said the Government had also approved top give more support to Radio Bougainville.