Taiwanese Grant Boosts Kiribati State Radio Reach

Taiwanese Grant Boosts Kiribati State Radio Reach

By Taberannang Korauaba

AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch): Kiribati’s state radio, a division of the Broadcasting and Publications Authority, began broadcasting today on a new frequency of 1440 KHTZ, thanks to a grant of almost AUD$137,000 from the government of Taiwan.

The new frequency replaces 846KHTZ which has been used since independence.

General manager of BPA, Betarim Rimon, told the national paper, Te Uekera, that the new frequency is a big achievement for the organisation.

Radio Kiribati is the only station that broadcasts across the country to about 100,000 population, mainly in Kiribati languages.

In 2008, the radio station went off air for several months after its transmitter broken down for serious technical problems.

This put pressure on the state broadcaster to cut its expenses and consider a bank overdraft to solve its financial problems.

ENDS

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