In mid-1997, Nadi’s first community television prepared to go into operation.
An article published in The Fiji Times on May 3. 1997, stated that an announcement was made by John Yates of Community Television soon after he was presented a three-year licence by the then Information minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
Mr Yates and his wife Regina first put a proposal to the government in 1995. The plan was to begin with two-hour programs in the evening.
“We have everything in place and now we’re ready to get the finance from whoever’s interested to come in and support community television,” Mrs Yates said.
“In the first day of asking around, we’ve had aid organisations and 700 people volunteer their services.
“We will be doing educational programs across the board for every age group, helping in any way for literacy, music, cultural and religious programs. In fact, anything that will be able to develop a better quality of life.”
She said their immediate concern was in setting up an aerial because “it will take a few months to get landowners permission”.
“And then we could be on the airwaves in three to six months.
“We are excited that it has finally come around.”
