Host Broadcaster is a Privilege for the Host Nation

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 17 September 2024 – The Samoan media is questioning the process which the host broadcaster for the upcoming CHOGM was awarded whether there is a record of the job being tendered.

The Co-chairperson of the CHOGM Media Sub-Committee, Lefaoali’i Unutoa Auelua Fonoti revealed in the very first media briefing for CHOGM last Wednesday, that the host broadcaster was MMG from New Zealand, Radio 2AP and TV9.

However, she was immediately contradicted by the ACEO for the state-owned Radio 2AP, Misa Vicky Lepou who told the briefing that Radio 2AP was the host broadcaster to be assisted by MMG and the government run Channel 9TV. The Media Centre for the meeting will be located at the Radio 2AP at Mulinu’u.

The following day, CEO of the Ministry of the Prime Minster and Co-Chair of the committee Agafili confirmed that the broadcasting host was indeed tendered.

However, Talamua understands that the Committee directly approached the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to be the host broadcaster for CHOGM 2024 but were told that “that was a privilege for the host nation.”

Major media companies in Samoa were taken by surprise when Lefaoalii named the New Zealand based Company as the host broadcaster as they were interested and were questioning if there was ever a tender for the job.

MMG was the host broadcaster for the 2019 Pacific Games hosted in Samoa and the media restrictions put in place for the media then are similar to the restrictions Lefaoali’i announced during last weeks’ briefing.

She insisted that the restrictions are in line with the guidelines set down in the Commonwealth Bluebook and have been endorsed by Cabinet.

However Talamua sources say the media guidelines were never discussed by Cabinet.

On CHOGM 2024 website and Facebook, there are only Requests for Tender for the following, but it is not certain whether they were actually tendered.

• Parliament House
• Maota Tofilau
• 2AP Building
• Multi-Purpose Gym
• A Stand-by Generator
• A PA System
• A Consultant and
• Website