$23,000 tala monthly Tariff Increase for 3 Television Stations

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 20 JANUARY 2022: Three (3) television companies will start paying $23,000 talā monthly tariff to the Samoa Digital Communications Ltd (SDCL) for the use of the digital platform.

This is an increase from the original $18,000 monthly tariff agreed between the Samoa Digital Communications Ltd and all 9 local televisions companies operating in the country.

The increase which comes into effect this month, was recommended by the Regulator based on the audited accounts of the television companies.

Speaking to Talamua, the Regulator Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell said out of the nine television companies in Samoa, only 3 have been targeted for the increase while all other companies remain at ST$18,000 a month.

“The determination of the tariff is based on each company’s audited accounts because these accounts include everything such as company assets, liabilities, overheads, profitability or losses,” said Gisa.

The digital platform was completed in August 2019 and television companies started paying tariff of $18,000 tala in December 2019.

In the two years and two months since the transition from analogue to digital TV, the Regulator noted the difference in the companies’ annual profits hence her decision to review the tariff.

Based on her analysis, she realized the unfairness to all nine companies paying the same amount when some of the companies are not doing well based on their audited financial accounts.

“It is unfair because some of the television operators have been in business much longer than others and the difference in profits is significant,” she said.