The Mangaia TV crew (L-R): Tuaine Papatua, Leanne Taokia, Anthony Whyte and Mini Dean.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, PCBL/Pasifika TV
Running a small television station on an isolated Pacific island has its fair share of challenges, but with support from Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), Mangaia TV manager Anthony Whyte knows he is not alone in his mission.
Born in Australia, Anthony relocated to Mangaia, the southernmost of the Cook Islands, in 1998, working with Australian Volunteers Abroad.
“When I arrived in 1998, the TV station had closed down so after a short time running the power station and doing electrical work, the Council asked me to try and get it back running, which I did, originally using VHS tapes, and have kept improving it ever since,” Anthony says.
Since he re-established Mangaia TV, the sole media outlet in Mangaia, serves as a vital voice for the island, documenting its people, challenges, and unique cultural life within the wider Cook Islands context.
While producing its own community-focused and news programmes, it also relays content from Pasifika TV and Cook Islands Television (CITV) productions.
Anthony says the positives outweigh the challenges of working at Mangaia TV.
“I have always enjoyed working for the TV, even when I did not get paid,” he says, referring to the station being staffed on a volunteer basis previously.
“It gives the people at home a routine…and enables the elderly to know what is happening around the island.
“During cyclones we pride ourselves on being able to keep communications going to the outer villages.”
Three staff rotate throughout the week for evening shifts at the station, as well as two casuals who help with filming events, providing rare employment opportunities in Mangaia.
While it has taken a long time, Mangaia TV now has satellite dishes used to show the island news live, Anthony explains.
“We have weekly items from what’s been happening on Mangaia which we send to Rarotonga CITV every week to keep the rest of the Cooks informed about what happens here.
“It is helpful for the Government as it keeps them in touch with communities, while highlighting the struggles and difficulties they experience.”
Like many players in the Pacific media sector, Anthony says paying the bills is a constant battle.
“Our funding comes from the community power bills, as a small fee is attached to help us cover costs, as well as notices for the public and church programmes, which brings in some extra cash,” he says.
“Accessing new equipment over the years has also proved a challenge, however, PCBL has provided tools of the trade including hand-held phone packages and gimbles, a TV decoder for accessing the signal and some really good assistance with getting the low-noise block downconverter (LNB) for the dish.
“Zoom training for staff and attending the 2024 PCBL Conference have been highlights as it was great to hear from other island broadcasters as they experience issues too.
“This made us realise we are not alone out there and have similar issues to different degrees.”
Old equipment and more film and editing training is always welcomed by Anthony, who says he is surrounded by culture and history on Mangaia but is sometimes overwhelmed how best to capture it all.
He is hopeful the next generation will take an interest in making content for Mangaia TV and taking ownership of their own stories; however, it is challenging motivating them when he cannot pay them.
“Funding for projects like this would go a long way,” he says.
Meanwhile, Anthony will continue doing his part to ensure the people of Mangaia have a voice, and are acknowledged within the Cook Islands and the Pacific.
Mangaia 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.
