Chasing cheaper island TV

A smoke signaller writes from Aitutaki: “For several years to recent days Michael Henry, a businessman with ever-widening horizons towards greater things, has also supported Aitutaki people by providing, over-generously, with a free-to-air 24/7 TV service of TCM, NZTV1 and later Foxtel news, sports programmes of local events plus ESPN American/international sports. Now, Araura TV has fizzled out, but Nick and Mike’s 88FM radio station is ‘Booming’ and well received. At earlier dates Aitutaki TV proprietors raised some operating funds by way of TVthons and advertising for equipment power, pay-programmes etc. Multi-media TV via satellite is now expensive and unfortunately now people are obliged to pay/install SkyTel or TCI-Marama TV if they want to add such programmes to paying for DVD rentals. Old people, children (Cartoon Network), and hospital patients need modern entertainment, educational and regional TV but they may be deprived of TV before Christmas. Is there no one or an organised group of community-conscious people at Aitutaki resolute enough to negotiate/action an alternative, reduced costs TV service to all those who may pay less than the high installation charges for SkyTel or TCI-Marama? To Mike and his programmers, meitaki atupaka for past TV initiatives.

A smoke signaller writes from Aitutaki: “For several years to recent days Michael Henry, a businessman with ever-widening horizons towards greater things, has also supported Aitutaki people by providing, over-generously, with a free-to-air 24/7 TV service of TCM, NZTV1 and later Foxtel news, sports programmes of local events plus ESPN American/international sports. Now, Araura TV has fizzled out, but Nick and Mike’s 88FM radio station is ‘Booming’ and well received. At earlier dates Aitutaki TV proprietors raised some operating funds by way of TVthons and advertising for equipment power, pay-programmes etc. Multi-media TV via satellite is now expensive and unfortunately now people are obliged to pay/install SkyTel or TCI-Marama TV if they want to add such programmes to paying for DVD rentals. Old people, children (Cartoon Network), and hospital patients need modern entertainment, educational and regional TV but they may be deprived of TV before Christmas. Is there no one or an organised group of community-conscious people at Aitutaki resolute enough to negotiate/action an alternative, reduced costs TV service to all those who may pay less than the high installation charges for SkyTel or TCI-Marama? To Mike and his programmers, meitaki atupaka for past TV initiatives.