Samoa raises the bar in Pacific Games broadcasting
The Pacific Games Office is proud to announce that Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games will achieve a new set of firsts, including the production and distribution of eight hours of broadcasting each day in HD (High Definition).
Among the firsts is the announcement that for the first time in Games history SKY New Zealand will be joining established Games partners EMTV, Fiji TV, France TV and Vanuatu TV for the Host Broadcast.
“We are excited to announce that for the first time in Games history SKY New Zealand will be joining established Games partners EMTV, Fiji TV, France TV and Vanuatu TV, who have contributed significant equipment and crew to ensure we get live coverage from six (6) venues simultaneously,” said Falefata Hele Matatia, CEO of Pacific Games Office.
L-R: Pacific Games Office CEO Falefata Hele Matatia, with Maposua Corey Keil of TV3, Sagapolutele Jr. Ulaula Jensen of NUS and Director of Branding and Communications for the Games Tupa’i Klaus Stunzner at the Press Conference earlier today.
SKY New Zealand Director of Sport, Tex Teixeira, says: “We’re proud to be coming on board to broadcast the Pacific Games in New Zealand for the first time. It’s an exciting event that not many Kiwis will have had access to before, so I’m sure it will be welcomed by the fans here.”
Another first is the inclusion of TV3 Samoa as the exclusive local broadcast
partner. TV3 Samoa is contributing brand new equipment and personnel, in return for exclusive online rights in Samoa that will be available on Digicel Samoa’s PlayGo platform.
With this new development, Samoan residents will be able to access full Games coverage from the Opening Ceremony on 7 July on TV3 and Digicel PlayGo.
In addition, Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games will also be available in Europe, America and Asia on the Olympic Channel, and live streamed to other territories via the Games website - www.samoa2019.ws.
“In addition, we are proud about the use of the submarine cable, Tui Samoa, to feed the coverage of the XVI Pacific Games globally.”
Also joining the broadcasting team, thanks to the support of the Australian High Commission, are ABC Australia and PACMAS who are providing a highlights production team of five and an international commentary team of seven.
ABC International Development (ABCID) (the international broadcast unit of the ABC) is providing support through the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), funded by the Australian Government.
Training for local commentators is again funded by the Australian Government through PACMAS, and is being led by MMG with Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) providing secretariat services for the training.
Brendan Telfer is the lead trainer. He's a very experienced New Zealand TV and radio broadcaster with a background in sport (including commentating on the historic Kiwi gold medal in hockey at the Montreal Olympics in 1972 at the age of 25).
Pacific Games Office is also pleased that National University of Samoa is playing a vital role with the Host Broadcaster MMG. NUS will be providing equipment and crew for the volleyball coverage and over thirty students will be utilized by MMG in the different facets of their operation.
“The Office acknowledges the work of Host Broadcaster, Melanesian Media
Group, who have secured eight (8) broadcast kits totaling close to 50 cameras, a steadycam and segway for events at Apia Park, and a professional drone for Live aerial shots. They have certainly putting their best foot forward,” said Falefata.
At the helm of the Host Broadcast team is MMG’s Project Manager Richard
Broadbridge.
“The support from the region has been tremendous and we thank the Pacific Games Office and their Pacific partners France TV, Fiji TV, EMTV, TV3, NUS, VBTC and SKY New Zealand for agreeing to collaborate to produce global coverage of the XVI Pacific Games from Samoa," said Mr Broadbridge.
“Samoa 2019 will prove to be one of the best Games in terms of broadcasting as it will be the first using new encoding technology to feed images to our satellite teleport at STS Australia using the Tui Samoa cable. Samoa has excellent broadband and we intend on making the most of it to allow the Pacific and the world to tune in to the XVI Pacific Games,” said Mr Broadbridge.
During the Games, MMG will be producing a minimum of eight (8) hours per day in HD and will be distributing a one-hour highlights package to PGO’s Rights Holders.
Twenty-four countries will participate in 27 sports throughout the Games, which run from 7-20 July.
