Host broadcast awarded at last

Wednesday 12: A local company has been awarded the tender to be the host broadcaster for next month’s Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga.

The directors of Host Broadcast Unit Ltd were informed yesterday by PMG 2009 sales and marketing director Tui Short.

“We let them know by telephone,” says Short, “and the conditions are being looked at by the lawyer to ensure there is no conflict of interest with sponsors.”

The directors of the company are CITV chief executive Jeanne Matenga and Te Digital Factory’s Nick Henry.

“In our view, this is what it is all about,” says Henry. “Teams spend a lot of time fundraising to get to an event and it’s very important that they get to see how their athletes are doing, in their own home countries.

“That’s the driving force for Jeanne and I. We’ve put up our hands at the 11th hour to deliver this broadcast to the region – the first of many.”

Henry has been helping Cook Islands Television put together coverage of the World Youth Netball Championships, with the Cook Islands-Wales game being shown on Monday night.

“It’s a test event for us for the mini games – it’s been a bit hectic especially after being given permission by IFNA [International Federation of Netball Associations] on Sunday afternoon.”

The host broadcasting arrangement between Australia Media Consultants and the PMG 2009 company was put on hold after an audit investigation found that AMC had been engaged without the company board giving its approval.

The audit investigation also found that while the World Youth Netball Championships company was not a party to the memorandum of understanding which was signed without board approval, the MOU imposed upon the 2009 PMG to be liable for any services provided by AMC towards the 2009 WYNC. - MM