The $2.5 million broadcasting contract awarded to New Zealand-based company MMG Communications Ltd on a single source deal for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is not surprising.

MMG stands for Melanesian Media Group. The company is quite reputable and led by people with extensive experience in television across many countries. The first deal the company had with the government was in 2019.

It was a different government back then, however the connections have remained through various other projects involving other companies.

MMG was contracted to provide host broadcast services for the 2019 Pacific Games. MMG supplied over 250 staff and equipment to broadcast the event. MMG also owns an internet satellite company called WoI.

WoI has previously worked with Kacific to introduce emergency communication kits called the CommsBox. Coincidentally, Kacific was also the same company that was used for the Pacific Connectivity Project in Samoa.

In 2020, before the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) political party was in government rolled out the Free School Wifi project with E3 Samoa Trust in partnership.

It was implemented by NetVo Samoa in partnership with the Kacific Broadband Satellite Company.

In terms of these previous projects, it is possible to assume that the connections have been there and perhaps that is why a single source tender was called.

In a letter dated 6 May 2024 from the co-chairs to the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (M.F.A.T.), Peseta Noumea Simi the sub-committee outlined its reasons for a single source.

“Further, and owing to the very urgent nature of securing and procuring relevant standard broadcast equipment overseas as well as specialised human resources and taking into account shipping schedules, we wish to recommend that a single source contract be offered to MMG (NZ) Communications Limited,” the letter states.

The nation has known since 2022 that they would be hosting the CHOGM. Why was there a last-minute dash to procure a broadcaster?

According to the sub-committee, indications of interest to support Samoa’s media and broadcast services for CHOGM were received from two reputable media vendors: i) Globecast, a Europe/Africa-based company with offices in Asia and the Americans and ii) MMG (NZ) Communications Limited, a Pacific-based company.

In the letter, the co-chairs said Globecast does not commit to legacy apart from suggesting that local staff will be trained; “it is then presumed that Globecast will provide rental equipment for the duration of the CHOGM.

MMG has been instrumental in setting up television stations for other Pacific state-owned broadcasters including the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati. The government is perhaps looking to retain the expertise taught by MMG and the equipment to become broadcasters themselves.

This is quite an ambition. Just one problem persists, MMG Communications has never worked with the government television crew in covering major events. The Pacific Games was done with the help of TV3.

The future will tell how the equipment and training will be used. MMG would most likely bring its crew to deliver what they are being paid for.

Another concern is that there will be limited coverage from venues and best efforts will be made to supply package content. This has been worsened by the fact that the CHOGM Media and Communications sub-committee has made clear its intention to restrict media from covering the events.

$2.5 million is a lot of money and this tender should have been announced at the end of last year and proper procurement procedure for any such large tender should have taken place. It should have been done for transparency and accountability, the two strongest pillars that define a government.

Local broadcasters should have also been given a chance to bid for broadcasting rights. In this world of synergy, you never know that a local broadcaster could have struck a better deal with another major communications and broadcast company.

Congratulations to MMG Communications for getting the tender even though it was single-sourced.

The restrictions on media coverage remain and it is also concerning that all media coming to Samoa will be restricted to do their work. We would like to see how this would work when this has never happened at any international event before.

Despite the teething problems, this newspaper hopes for a successful CHOGM with no restrictions on the freedom of media.