By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, Pasifika TV/PCBL
After a hugely successful 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow for the Pacific, athletes and those telling their stories are already preparing to take on larger scale events such as the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and Brisbane in 2032.
Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) partnered with Sky New Zealand to make its extensive coverage of the Games, including coverage of Pacific athletes in action, available to Pasifika TV’s affiliated broadcasters across several Pacific countries.
Supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), PCBL and Sky welcomed a Pacific cohort to Aotearoa, to train alongside the Sky team, while gathering stories and producing daily highlights focused on Pacific athletes competing in Glasgow for Pasifika TV, from July 23-August 2.
The cohort consisted of Katokakala Lino, visual editor at Tonga Broadcasting Commission, Jone Tomuse, producer at Fiji’s Mai TV, Wari Ila, senior editor at National Broadcasting Corporation in Papua New Guinea, and Meli Ma’afu Fanua Laddpeter, sports journalist at Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.
The team were overseen by Paul Vunituraga, a Pacific-based broadcast manager, producer and consultant, PCBL Regional Content Manager Tia Soakai, and PCBL General Manager Programming and Sport Tui McKendrick, Chief Operations Officer Junior Hunter and supported by Oceania National Olympic Committees and The Reporters Academy.
Following an intense and busy time, Tia congratulated her team, who stepped up and out of their comfort zones fulfil a shared purpose.
“The team had one shared purpose, to showcase our people,” Tia says.
“It worked tirelessly to ensure Pacific audiences could celebrate not only medal winners, but also personal bests, historic firsts and the pride of representing home.”
At major international sporting events, host broadcasters naturally focus on big countries, big names and podium moments, Tia explains.
“For our Pacific nations, that often means incredible performances go unseen, simply because they are not on the world feed.
“Pacific at the Games set out to change that.
“Working from Sky TV New Zealand, our small team from across the Pacific followed athletes from 11 Pacific countries throughout the Commonwealth Games.
“By curating coverage specifically for the region, Pacific at the Games gave Pacific communities something they rarely experience at global events – the chance to see themselves, their athletes and their stories on screen.
“It was a powerful reminder that every Pacific story deserves to be told.”
Tia adds one of the greatest successes of the project was the cohort itself.
“Bringing together broadcasters from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, the team quickly grew from learning new systems and workflows into a confident unit delivering daily coverage under the pressure of an international sporting event.
“Working alongside Sky TV provided invaluable exposure to international broadcast operations, production workflows and technology that are not always accessible to broadcasters in the Pacific.”
She says the experience has reinforced while training is important, there is no substitute for hands-on opportunities at major events.
“The confidence, technical knowledge and editorial experience gained through Pacific at the Games will be taken back to each broadcaster, strengthening capability across the region.
“Just as importantly, the project demonstrated what can be achieved when Pacific broadcasters collaborate with a shared purpose.
“As the region looks ahead to future events…continuing to invest in these opportunities will help build a skilled Pacific workforce capable of telling our own stories on the world stage.”