Mangaia Television

Last updated
Mangaia Television
Country Cook Islands
Broadcast areaNew Zealand
Headquarters Mangaia, Cook Islands
Programming
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerAnthony Whyte
History
Launched2001;25 years ago (2001)

Mangaia Television is the only television station in the island of Mangaia, the southernmost of the Cook Islands. Founded in 2001 by Australian-born Anthony Whyte, who is also its manager, the station produces some of its own programmes, as well as relaying content from Pasifika TV and Cook Islands Television (CITV) productions. It is the island's only media outlet and is run by volunteers. [1]

History

Anthony Whyte, an Australian electrician, arrived in Mangaia in 1998, at a time when there was virtually no money circulating there, infrastructure was getting outdated and electricity supply ended at midnight. [2] Following the September 11 attacks, he felt the urgency of creating a television station for the island, which, up until then, lacked any proper television signals. Using equipment obtained from across the Cook Islands, he built his own television station from scratch. [1]

In 2008, the station carried live coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics relayed from TVNZ's Pacific Service (now Pasifika TV), which was shared with CITV from Rarotonga. [3] A new round of equipment was delivered in 2022 when Pasifika TV sent mobile journalism kits to several Pacific stations. [4]

As of 2025, Whyte is still in charge of the station, editing reports for the local news, which are also sent to the main CITV station in Rarotonga. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mangaia's one-man band: Anthony Whyte keeps the island informed". Cook Islands News. 30 June 2025. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  2. "Whyte's journey of service". Cook Islands News. 25 January 2025. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. "Extensive coverage of Olympics on CITV". The Cook Islands Herald. 4 August 2008. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  4. "Provision of Broadcasting Equipment". Pasifika TV. 12 August 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2026.