Govt must not allow monoply of TV content

 YOUR Editorial of September 24, 2015 mentions of television (TV) content issues which are contractual in nature and displays the no barrier policy to acquisition of niche ICT businesses by Digicel.  

The Editorial in a way forgets the most important issue of content.  

The content of TV programmes can shape communities. Beaming of foreign content into PNG via satellite is big business. At the moment this (landed content) business of television is not regulated nor monitored.  The implications of this to name a few; loss of approval and landing rights fees, questions on copyrights and intellectual property, uncontrolled and un sanctioned content being landed, massive impact on Constitutional values and most importantly a silent killer of our generations of customs and traditions.  Broadcast content via TV, radio or the Internet is shaping our future generation. 

UNESCO, in a 2002 Pacific Islands Television Survey, made mention that the impact of this medium (television content) is changing the concepts of identity and social bonds within communities and cultures; often at the cost of local cultural expression.

There is also a saying ‘whoever owns the medium also owns the message’.  

What does boil down to in the end is that the government must  through the Department of Communication and Information be proactive in policy direction to protect the people and preserve our diverse cultures in these changing times.   The recent National Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Policy of April 2008, focuses on the aspect of telecommunication and competition among telecommunication providers rather than being a comprehensive policy on information and communication technology – in particular content and the ownership of issues of ownership of broadcast mediums.  

NRL broadcast rights is but a mere piece in a complex content puzzle that needs serious attention by Government and indirectly imposes a challenge to Department of Communication and Information, regulators  NICTA and ICCC and the National Censorship Office and Departments associated with the social sectors. 

Do we have Government processes and systems in place to protect our diverse culture and traditions and uphold out Constitution in this challenging information era?  

Noel Mobiha

Vanimo, WSP