The Mai TV crew enjoy a moment with PCBL’s Tia Soakai at the Pacific Community Cup in Auckland.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, PCBL/Pasifika TV
A recent visit to Aotearoa New Zealand by Mai TV Fiji for its first-ever overseas outside broadcast (OB) is proof Pacific broadcasters can deliver high quality international productions.
Established in 2008, Mai TV became the second free to air television station in Fiji, which broadcasts local, Pacific and international content including major sporting events such as Super Rugby and the Pacific Netball Series.
In late November, the Mai TV crew travelled to Aotearoa to film the five-day Pacific Community Cup 2025, at Auckland’s Bill McKinley Park, with support from Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) and Manaia Go AV.
Mai TV Manager TV Content and Production Jone Tomuse in action at the Pacific Community Cup.
Mai TV milestone
Rosie Ruth, Manager Sales and Marketing at Mai TV, says being recommended by Fiji Football Association (FFA) to the New Zealand Fiji Football Incorporated (NZFFI) as the exclusive pay per view (PPV) livestream partner is a major milestone for the broadcaster.
“It has demonstrated confidence in our capability, expanded our presence regionally, and showcased that local broadcasters from Fiji can deliver high-standard international productions,” Rosie says.
Rosie, who serves as Liaison Lead and Broadcast Livestreaming Monitor for Mai TV, says during the Pacific Community Cup, she managed all communication with the NZFFI organisers and officials, coordinated with the PPV livestream platform, and ensured the team had everything they needed on the ground.
“I also monitored the streaming quality full-time to ensure a smooth viewing experience for fans across the Pacific,” Rosie says.
“Meanwhile, Manaia Go’s technical support and coordination helped ensure the livestream delivery was smooth and consistent and allowed us to focus more on production, commentary, and on-ground execution, knowing the streaming backend was well-supported.”
Before football matches featuring 10 teams from Fiji, Aotearoa, Australia, Canada and the United States got underway, Manaia Go AV spent time training the Mai TV crew on updated visual and audio production workflows, ensuring everyone was confident operating the new systems.
“Collaborating with Manaia Go was an important part of the project, which has resulted in a successful execution of our first overseas OB with strong technical delivery,” Rosie says.
Beneficial visit
Rosie adds there are many highlights from the project, including support from the NZFFI and Fijian community in Aotearoa, successful daily coverage of the event, and the upskilling, training and expanding networks for the Mai TV crew.
“This experience shows Pacific broadcasters can scale beyond borders, and it opens doors for more regional collaborations, strengthens content-sharing opportunities, and raises the standard for live sports coverage.
“It also demonstrates that Fiji-based broadcasters like Mai TV can deliver professional, world-class OB productions internationally, paving the way for future Pacific-wide partnerships.”
Mai TV’s Manager Strategic and New Business Jamie Toro, in Auckland.
Established in 2023, Manaia Go AV delivers audio-visual and streaming solutions for various events from an OB truck.
The broadcast and production company is funded by PCBL to support building OB capability throughout the region, usually sending crew to a Pacific country, however, this time, Mai TV ventured to Manaia Go’s home base.
Mark Hepi, Manaia Go owner/operator says the collaboration between his company and Mai TV began earlier this year.
“It began through PCBL, who invited Manaia Go AV to Fiji in May 2025 to support Mai TV as they prepared to upgrade their studio and OB capabilities,” Mark says.
“That initial engagement created a natural partnership and opened the door for further technical support and training.
“In Fiji, our team spent five days on the ground delivering hands-on training, system configuration, and workflow development to lift the Mai TV crew’s overall broadcast capability.”
He adds Mai TV’s visit to Aotearoa demonstrates the broadcaster’s ambition and the capability of the team to operate internationally.
“It also highlights the value of Pacific partnerships, with Manaia Go AV and PCBL providing technical support, cultural familiarity, and a trusted working relationship.
“Together, we helped ensure their team could successfully deliver a complex production in a new environment.”
Positive signal for Pacific media sector
Collaboration signals a positive shift toward greater regional cooperation, skill-sharing, and capability-building across Pacific broadcasters, Mark says.
“It shows Pacific nations can support each other to deliver high-quality productions without always relying on outside countries.
“As more broadcasters gain confidence and access to modern tools, we’re likely to see stronger regional storytelling, improved live event coverage, and more opportunities for Pacific crews to work across borders.
“It represents a step toward a more connected, self-sustaining Pacific broadcast network.”
Mai TV is one of PCBL’s 30 valued partners, who PCBL is proudly supporting to create sustainable business models and take ownership of its stories, while delivering its content to Pasifika TV, screened region wide.
Regional Content Manager for PCBL Tia Soakai documented Mai TV’s milestone visit to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Watch Bringing the Pacific Home: Mai TV Production Crew Story on Pasifika TV’s YouTube channel.
