TV3 Samoa
Samoan television channel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
TV3 Samoa is a Samoan television station founded in 2006. The station is owned by the Apia Broadcasting Corporation.
| Country | Samoa |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Samoa Worldwide (via subscription) |
| Headquarters | Apia, Samoa |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Apia Broadcasting Corporation |
| History | |
| Launched | 25 May 2006 |
| Links | |
| Website | https://www.tv3samoa.net |
History
The channel started broadcasting in May 2006 covering 60% of Samoa, but planned to increase the reach to 95% and a second channel relaying the Mormon channel BYUtv.[1]
Hans Joachim Keil, who underwent surgery overseas since August 2017, sold Apia Broadcasting to Maposua Corey Keil and Nicholas Caffarelli on April 6, 2018. The move made TV3 a sister station to Maposua's existing Radio Polynesia.[2]
In 2023, the channel received funding from Pasifika TV's Pasifika On Air for two series, the two-part Pese Samoa half-hour documentaries on Samoan music and Project Climate on the effects of climate change on Samoa. These two aired on Pasifika's member channels on July 20.[3] Its facilities were partly destroyed on September 13, 2023, owing to a lit end of cigarette butt. As consequence, the channel moved to back-up offices in Vaitele.[4]
In May 2024, RNZ reported that TV3 had moved its station completely online since it was unable to afford to broadcast traditionally, coupled by the high number of channels in such a small market like Samoa.[5] In the next month, however, it had reverted its decision and resumed terrestrial broadcasts. At the time, it had a staff of 18.[6]