EMTV is a commercial television station in Papua New Guinea. For most of its life until the launch of the National Television Service in September 2008, it was the country's only free-to-air television service.
It is owned by Telikom PNG through a subsidiary Media Niugini. It was previously owned by Fiji Television Limited and Nine Network Australia.
History
Background
Television in Papua New Guinea was first suggested in 1964, when it was still an Australian territory, per a World Bank mission, with the initial aim of introducing an educational service for schools. A two-man commission for the development of television was set up in October 1965 by Professor Derek Broadbent and Douglas Brooke. It was expected that their findings were to be sent to Administrator Donald Cleland in January 1966.
The parent company behind EM TV, Media Niugini, was set up in 1984 delivering videotape foreign programming to public places. These tapes also included some local advertising inserts and community announcements.
In 1986 the Post and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) issued licenses to two television stations, EM TV and NTN.
Early years
The station commenced broadcasting in July 1987 in Port Moresby. It was a 50-50 joint venture between the Nine Network and other investors. It followed the short-lived Niugini Television Network, owned by NBN, which operated from January 1987 to March 1988.