It’s All “Go” For French Pacific TV

As far as Tele Noumea and Tele Tahiti, the Pacific’s newest television stations, were concerned all systems were reported to be “ Go” a month after opening day. Most viewers with access to sets were enjoying the programmes but wondering how much a licence fee was going to cost. Rumours put it as high as £l5 per annum but nothing has been announced yet.

The cost of establishing Noumea’s TV station was over £A250,000 and a similar sum has been allocated for initial operating costs. In addition another £250,000 will be spent on constructing a high-powered radio transmitter at Noumea designed to become the Voice of France in the Pacific. Similar sums were spent or have been allocated for Tahiti TV and radio.

The money is coming from Metropolitan France—in other words the poor old French taxpayer. In view of his donation perhaps New Caledonian and Tahitian viewers should not complain, no matter what a TV licence costs.

It was estimated that there were about 1,000 privately owned TV sets in Noumea at the time the station opened (October 19): and a considerable number have been purchased since.

The last and only other TV transmitter in the South Seas is at Pago Pago, American Samoa.