Page 33 - IB April 2018

Media

Vanuatu State compelling content across a multitude of platforms- tailor making
The management will also develop interactive, relevant and
content that are relevant to Ni-Vanuatus.
With all that as priorities, the team’s main aim is to reposition
Broadcaster’s VBTC in the marketplace as Vanuatu’s national broadcasting
service.
“Only after we are able to achieve the above can VBTC begin
road to recovery to attract commercial revenue to cross subsidise its operations.”
As part of its succession plan, the corporation will put in place
an extensive professional development programme to build the
capacity of a cadre of Ni Vanuatus, from which it can select its
next CEO.
With all its plan of action mapped out, Herman believes that
the road to recovery is long and arduous but “it is our belief that
By Mereseini Marau-Totoka
some changes will begin to take shape within the next quarter.”
THE newly appoint- Herman said they were finalising budgets that would be based
ed boss at Vanuatu on revenue from a multitude of sources including annual govern-
Broadcasting and ment contributions for public service broadcasting.
Television Corpora- Last year, the state broadcaster was in a dysfunctional state
tion is there with a and the government moved in to rescue it.
mission- to salvage Prime Minister Charlott Salwai tasked a board and taskforce to
the state broadcaster look into the affairs of the corporation, saying his government
from the doldrums would not continue to bankroll a dysfunctional entity that had
and return it to its serious governance issues and which could expose the govern-
rightful place as the ment to further liabilities.
national broadcaster. Salwai said he had the backing of the Council of Ministers to
Chief Executive Of- stop any further degradation at the VBTC.
ficer Francis Herman He called the VBTC an underperforming state owned en-
said his team’s game terprise.
plan was simple and
that was to deliver a
level of broadcasting TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE IN
services where con- MICRONESIA, MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND
tent is king and the PALAU
audience matters. VBTC Chief Executive Officer Francis Herman
“It will be a broad- Notice is hereby given that Asahi Group Holdings,
casting organisation Ltd, a joint-stock company duly organised under the
where our audience is the reason we exist.” laws of Japan, Manufacturers and Merchants of 23-
To achieve that, Herman and his team would spend the first 1, Azumabashi 1-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan,
three months which began from December 2016 to last month is the sole proprietor in Palau, the Federated State of
‘discover all the skeletons in the closet’ largely around the Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and elsewhere of the
financial performance and commercial contracts. following trade mark:
“Once we’re able to ascertain the true state of affairs, then
only can we put in place relevant strategies to rehabilitate
VBTC,” he said.
The Fiji born veteran broadcaster termed the first three months
as discovery phase, which they hoped would assist them lift the
state broadcaster from its underperforming status to an entity
to be reckoned with in the market. Used in respect of:-
First things first- the management team will ascertain VBTC’s
true financial position and put in place strategies to make the Beer – Class 32
organisation more financially sustainable.
The management is also recruiting a new, young and dynamic The said proprietor claims all rights in respect of the
team as part of a strategy to change the work culture which they above trade mark and will take all necessary legal steps
believe has been holding VBTC back for decades. against any person or company infringing their said
In moving with time, Herman said the new recruits would rights.
make up 70 per cent of the corporation.
“We are looking at developing Vanuatu’s next generation DAVIES COLLISON CAVE PTY LTD
of broadcasters and have opted to recruit tertiary qualified Ni Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys
255 Elizabeth Street
Vanuatus with limited experience but loads of enthusiasm and Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
passion to drive the rejuvenation of Vanuatu’s broadcast media AUSTRALIA
industry” he shared.

Islands Business, April 2018 33