Page 9 - IB JAN 2017

Cover Story
‘

... I told him

to prepare
for a rough

ride and the
journey would

not be easy
... I’m not

surprised
that he took

the job but
that’s Geoff

- he’s never
backed down

even in the
most trying

circumstances

Fiji Television chief executive officer Geoffrey Smith Photo:Supplied ‘
appointed in the main by the Fijian Prior to Patel’s departure came a Limited, and walked directly into a con-
Government through its nominees on board-instigated moved to sell Sky frontation over broadcast rights for the
the Fijian Holdings Limited board. Pacific – a region-wide digital pay tele- World Rugby Sevens Series for which
One of the board’s main aims was the vision platform – a core revenue-earner his company held exclusive rights.
dismissal of News and Current Affairs for the Fiji TV Group. When Fiji TV refused to share the
Manager, Merana Kitione, and senior The board also wanted to sell its sevens broadcast signal with its com-
journalist, Anish Chand. hugely successful EmTV in Papua New petitor, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation,
In 2013 Patel was shifted to a regional Guinea along with regional broadcast legislation was enacted to circumvent
posting within the company to make rights to coverage of the National Rugby the contractual obligations between the
way for Tevita Gonelevu. League. local rights holder and Word Rugby.
The regional posting was a signal Patel was instrumental in the estab- Key players in this saga were At-
that he was no longer wanted and less lishment of Sky Fiji which became Sky torney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
than a year later Patel had moved to Pacific, moving its delivery system from and his brother, Riyaz, CEO of Fiji
the burgeoning Vision Group which has land-based to satellite signals. Broadcasting.
interests in Courts HomeCentres, Vision Gonelevu was recruited from Fiji
Motors and the Fiji-based Hilton Hotels. TV’s parent company, Fijian Holdings n Continued overleaf

Patel ... moved out Gonelevu ... non compliant Waqaniika ... forced out Anish Chand ... exit Merena Kitione ... exit

Islands Business, January 2017 9