The small but agile TV3 Samoa team, left to right, Micheal Aisea, Piui Simi, Epi Ah Koy and Vilisi Sumasofu.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, PCBL/Pasifika TV
Finding a niche in the market is key to success in business, and television is no different.
With eight TV stations operating in Samoa, TV3 Samoa specialises in entertainment and sports and are leading the small island nation in this area, rather than compete against its peers.
General Manager of Apia Broadcasting Limited and TV3 Samoa Michael Aisea says Samoa is just too smaller market, so it is best to focus on a point of difference.
Michael found himself in his current role following the death of former General Manager Aotearoa Pesamino in 2023.
“They needed someone to run the television station, so I came back,” Michael says, referring to several stints he has done with TV3.
With a wealth of experience across the media industry, Michael says driving him in this current role is the opportunity to be the first organisation to bring the best documentaries, movies, sports and entertainment to Samoa.
“I started in television doing parttime with Fiji TV as a cameraman in parliament before traveling all over the world with them,” he says.
“I covered two major military takeovers of the Fiji Government and then moved to be a reporter cameraman, and senior cameraman for Fiji TV.”
Michael moved to Samoa to work in the hospitality industry before television lured him back for a short stint as Programs Director and Technical Engineer with TV3 Samoa.
“I left again…but was offered the job as General Manager TV3 and returned to television.”
Along with the heavy lifting he does wearing the General Manager hat, Michael is also the Chief Engineer for TV3 Samoa.
Among the challenges his small team of six face, is being left behind when it comes to technology for new programmes and sports, Michael says.
“Most sports programmes are taken by bigger television stations in the south Pacific,” he adds.
“We are in dire need of new programmes and bigger sports events happening around the world.”
Helping the small station to achieve its aims, is Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), who has been a part of the station’s journey over the past decade, by providing new equipment, training and content, which is always needed, Michael adds.
Samoa’s TV3 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 content to Pasifika TV, screened region wide.
