People will soon pay for Sky Pacific channels through Walesi box - Sayed-Khaiyum

Talks are currently taking place between technicians of the government owned, Walesi and Pay TV company, Sky Pacific for Sky Pacific to move to the Walesi Digital TV platform when the analog platform is switched off.

While giving an update on Walesi TV, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the plan is to switch off the analog platform by June 2019.

This means the only system used by everyone would be the Walesi Box and people would just have to pay for the Sky Pacific channels to be activated on the Walesi box.

Digicel had agreed to move Sky Pacific to the Walesi platform when it has nationwide coverage. This is part of their license condition.

Meanwhile, Sayed-Khaiyum stresses that the Media Act prohibits the airing of local content and advertisements on any subscription based Pay TV services owned by a foreign person or media organization, as he says that there must be protection established to ensure that the local free to air broadcasters can survive, thrive and continue to provide services.

So far, over 11,000 households are using the Walesi service throughout Fiji.

SODELPA MP Viliame Gavoka says they join government in celebrating the Walesi facility however he says SODELPA would have done it better.

NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad says they do not oppose digital tv however people must have the choice either to have analog or digital tv.

He also says that Walesi does not have 100% coverage and also questioned why FBC has a third channel on the Walesi platform.