12th January, 2008
 
I’m very happy today for several reasons. First, months of hard work are starting to pay off for the MAI Group – today while we witness another leap for us, we also recognize the vision and foresight of another great company – VODAFONE Fiji.

Starting business from scratch is not easy but has many upsides. While we are being given media coverage, there are hundreds if not thousands in our country who also need coverage to highlight their plight – something we in the media generally tend to miss.

The whole concept of MAI was to introduce sharing – this can be defined in many ways and with daily advances in technology the ability for our people to share information and entertainment with each other has become easier.

We also recognize that content will be one of the major keys to our success while the ability to deliver content through several mediums will be crucial.

VODAFONE recognizes this too – and together we see the provision of different types of content in an instantaneous manner so crucial to the ever more demanding society.

MAI TV is very happy to announce today that with the kind assistance of VODAFONE we will be televising all matches of the Rugby League World Cup later in the year.  I am sure you are all aware that our own Vodafone Bati side has qualified to play in the Rugby League World Cup in Australia in October.

Other participating teams include PNG, Tonga and Samoa with all matches played in Australia culminating with the Grand Final in Sydney on Saturday 22 November at 8.30pm.

MAI TV has won the exclusive right to broadcast all matches LIVE in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. We have begun sublicensing rights to all other territories and intend to broadcast all matches LIVE free to air here.  This will be the first time in the history of TV viewing in Fiji where people will be able to watch live all matches of any major world tournament on a free to air channel. 

MAI TV brings a breath of fresh air for the television industry in Fiji.

VODAFONE Fiji is the major sponsor of the event on television and as the sponsor of the Vodafone Fiji Bati; we both saw the partnership as a natural fit. We intend to sign on and announce other partners over the next few weeks.

Combined with Rugby League we will be offering our people a choice on television.

We have set a tentative launch date of March 31 with a few surprises in store for our viewers.

Our license allows us to roll out our operation in several phases as did the only other TV company when it first started.

We intend to begin terrestrial UHF broadcasts to the Galoa – Nausori corridor area only with plans to deliver services to the West and eventually the North in 2009. We expect to be in other areas by 2010.

Our local content will consist of news and current affairs, programmes for children, long distance learning, sports and entertainment.  We have also set ourselves a first year target of 30% local content increasing to 50% by 2015.

Combined with our MAI Life Magazine and MAI Mix radio interests we will offer the people of this country a fresh and crisp approach to their daily entertainment needs. Our partnership with VODAFONE extends into these areas as well.

We have also partnered with some reputable names in world entertainment including IMG and CSI Sport,  CBS/Paramount which has awarded us the CSI franchise, 60 minutes returns to Fiji, Survivor Fiji, Vanuatu and China and America’s next top supermodel and what’s more for buffs – stereo sound.

We think viewers deserve a choice – we at MAI want to provide this choice

Statement by Shailendra Prasad , Corporate Affairs Manager
 
Richard has touched on a very important subject – choice! This society deserves more not only in TV but in all forms of entertainment and information provision. When Richard first approached us with the sponsorship proposal we didn’t think twice. 

Fiji Rugby League has really grown in stature and profile in the last two years.  With the Vodafone Bati side qualifying for the Rugby League World Cup, we thought partnering with MAI TV gave us a unique opportunity for the first time ever to take matches of any major world tournament live into the living rooms of viewers and that too on a free to air channel.

This will give the sport another boost to take it to the next level.

We know Rugby League will be the talk of the town this year.  Under watchful eyes of professional coachers and trainers, the team is well into their preparation for the tournament.  The Vodafone Bati side I am confident will do very well in the tournament and with MAI TV we expect that the Fiji public will support their team in ways never seen before.

VODAFONE recognizes that for our services to grow, we need to invest in services that will grow with us. MAI TV as a brand is being very ably lead by a seasoned TV personality in Richard Broadbridge.   We are confident that this partnership is the beginning of a very long and mutually benefiting relationship.

Vodafone has over 350,000 subscribers.  This gives MAI TV as it does to any other partners of ours instant access to reach this customer base with our products and services and an ability to interact and participate using our texting platform..

We are extremely happy that MAI TV chose our headquarters to announce their launch dates. It’s certainly an indication of their willingness to partner with us and in a whole host of choices for our people.

Ladies and Gentleman – MAI TV is coming, The Rugby League World Cup is coming right into your living rooms….we’re excited and trust the people are too .

About Vodafone Fiji:

Vodafone Fiji Limited is part of Vodafone Group Plc, a leading mobile communications company with over 240 million proportionate customers worldwide. Vodafone Fiji which is a partnership with Telecom Fiji provides mobile telecommunications services to 320,000 Fiji customers. The global company has equity interests in 26 countries and partner networks in a further 33 countries, the largest global footprint.