Back Issues
Media Ownership in the Pacific
By Philip Cass
Vol 10 (2), September 2004
APPENDICES
Appendix 1:
Radio and television penetration
American Samoa. Pop: 57, 902. GDP: US$8000
Radio stations: 1 AM, 1 FM (1998)
Radio ownership: 57,000 (1997)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1
Television stations: 1 (1997)
Television ownership: 14,000 (1997)
Television sets per head of population: 1:4
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Pop: 78,252. GDP: US$12,500
Radio stations: 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 SW (1998)
Radio ownership: No data
Television stations: 1 on Saipan, 1 planned for Rota, 2 cable services on Saipan (1997)
Television ownership: No data
Cook Islands. Pop: 21,200. GDP: US$5000
Radio stations: 1 AM, 2 FM (1998)
Radio ownership: 14,000 (1997)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.5
Television stations: 2 (1997)
Television ownership: 4,000 (1997)
Television sets per head of population: 1:5.3
Federated States of Micronesia. Pop: 108, 155. GDP: US$2000
Radio broadcast stations: 5 AM, 1 FM (2004)
Radio ownership: 9400
Radio sets per head of population: 1:11.5
Television stations: 3, plus cable
Television ownership: 2800
Television sets per head of population: 1:38.6
Fiji. Pop: 880, 874. GDP: US$5800
Radio stations: 13 AM, 40 FM (1998)
Radio ownership: 541,476 (1999)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.62
Television stations: 2
Television ownership: 88,110 (1999)
Television sets per head of population: 1:9.99
French Polynesia. Pop: 266, 339. GDP: US$17,500
Radio stations: 2 AM, 14 FM, 2 SW (1998)
Radio ownership: 128,000 (1997)
Radio sets per had of population: 1:2.08
Television stations: 7
Television ownership: 40,000 (1999)
Television sets per head of population: 1:6.65
Guam. Pop: 166,090. GDP: US$21,000
Radio stations: 4 AM, 7 FM, 2 SW (2003)
Radio ownership: 221,000 (1997)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:0.75
Television stations: 5
Television ownership: 106,000 (1999)
Television sets per head of population: 1:1.5
Kiribati. Pop: 100,798. GDP: US$800
Radio stations: 1 AM, 2 FM, 1 SW (2003) (shortwave station may be inactive)
Radio ownership: 17,000 (1997)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.59
Television stations: 1 (reported inactive 2002)
Television ownership: 1,000 (1997)
Television sets per head of population: 1:100
Marshall Islands. Pop: 57, 738. GDP: US$1600
Radio stations: 2 AM, 1 FM (The US armed forces operate one AM and one FM station on Kwajalein)
Radio ownership: No data
Television stations: 2 (both are US military stations)
Television ownership: No data
Nauru. Pop: 12, 809. GDP: US$5000
Radio stations: 1 AM (1998)
Radio ownership: No data
Television stations: 1
Television ownership: No data
New Caledonia/Kanaky. Pop: 213, 679. GDP: US$15,000
Radio stations: 1 AM, 5 FM (1998)
Radio ownership: 107,000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.99
Television stations: 6
Television ownership: 52,000
Television sets per head of population: 1:4
New Zealand/Aoteoroa. Pop: 3.9 million. GDP: US$21,600
Radio stations: 124 AM, 290 FM, 4 SW (1998)
Radio ownership: 3.7 million (1997)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.05
Television stations: 41
Television ownership: 1.9 million
Television sets per head of population: 1:2
Niue. Pop: 2156. GDP: US$3600
Radio stations: 1 AM, 1 FM (1998)
Radio ownership: 1000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:2.1
Television stations: 1 (1997)
Television ownership: No data
Palau/Belau. Pop: 20, 016. GDP: US$9000
Radio stations: 1 AM, 4 FM, 1 SW (2002)
Radio ownership: 12,000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.66
Television stations: 1 (1997)
Television ownership: 11,000
Television sets per head of population: 1:1.8
Papua New Guinea. Pop: 5.4 million. GDP: US$2200
Radio stations: 8 AM, 19 FM, 28 SW (1998)
Radio ownership: 410,000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:13
Television stations: 3 (2004)
Television ownership: 59,841
Television sets per head of population: 1:90
Samoa. Pop: 177, 714. GDP: $5600
Radio stations: 1 AM, 3 FM (1998)
Radio ownership: 174,849
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.1
Television stations: 2 (2004)
Television ownership: 8634
Television sets per head of population: 1:20.5
Solomon Islands. Pop: 523, 617. GDP: US$1700
Radio stations: 3 AM (1998)
Radio ownership: 57,000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:9
Television stations: 0
Television ownership: 3000
Television sets per head of population: 1:174
Tokelau. Pop: 1405. GDP: US$1000
Radio stations: Data uncertain.
Radio ownership: 1000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:1.4
Television stations: No data
Television ownership: No data
Tonga. Pop: 110,237. GDP: US$2200
Radio stations: 1 AM, 2 FM, 1 SW
Radio ownership: No data
Television stations: 2
Television ownership: 2000
Television sets per head of population: 1:55
Tuvalu. Pop: 11,468. GDP: US$1100
Radio stations: 1 AM
Radio ownership: 4000 (1997)
Radio sets per head of population: 1:2.8
Television stations: 0 (1997)
Television ownership: 800
Television sets per head of population: 1:14
Vanuatu. Pop: 202,609. GDP: US$2900
Radio stations: 2 AM, 2 FM, 1 SW
Radio ownership: 67,000
Radio sets per head of population: 1:3
Television stations: 1
Television ownership: 2300
Television sets per head of population: 1:88
Wallis and Futuna. Pop: 15,880. GDP: US$3700
Radio stations: 1 AM
Radio ownership: No data
Television stations: 2
Television ownership: No data
Source: CIA World Factbook 2004.
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook
Note: No attempt seems to have been made to differentiate between networks and transmitter stations. New Zealand/Aoteoroa is listed as having 41 television stations, but these in the main carry the three terrestrial broadcasters. The spread of cable services, including the distribution of pirated satellite signals in places like Port Moresby, has also been ignored. Percentages for radio and television ownership extrapolated from the Handbook should not be taken to indicate audiences size, since in many households, particularly in rural areas, radio listening and television viewing are likely to be communal affairs. There is also no indication whether the number of television sets includes those in hotels or in individual households. Crowl (1996) writes:
Like people throughout the world, Pacific Islands people will sit in front of television and watch anything that is programmed…Indeed, so pervasive is television that the purchase of a TV monitor and VCR often takes precedence over other necessities, including payment of school fees.
The underlined figures are for my calculations based on the data from the CIA Factbook. They should be read as being the number of units for had of population. Using Guam as an example, a radio set ownership ratio of 1:0.75 means that there is one radio for every three quarters of a person; or, to put it more sensibly, four radios for every three people. A television set ownership of 1:1.5 means that there are two television sets for every three Guamanians.
Appendix 2:
Literacy rates
American Samoa. Pop: 57, 902. GDP: US$8000
Total population: 97%
Male: 98%
Female 97%
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Pop: 78,252. GDP: US$12,500
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female:96%
Cook Islands. Pop: 21,200. GDP: US$5000
Total population: 95%
Federated States of Micronesia. Pop: 108, 155. GDP: US$2000
Total population: 89%
Male: 91%
Female: 88% (1980)
Fiji. Pop: 880, 874. GDP: US$5800
Total population: 93.7%
Male: 95.5%
Female 91.9%
French Polynesia. Pop: 266, 339. GDP: US$17,500
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female 98% (1997)
Guam. Pop: 166,090. GDP: US$21,000
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female 99% (1997)
Kiribati. Pop: 100,798. GDP: US$800
Data not available
Marshall Islands. Pop: 57, 738. GDP: US$1600
Total population: 93.7%
Male: 93.6%
Female: 93.7%
Nauru. Pop: 12, 809. GDP: US$5000
No data
New Caledonia/Kanaky. Pop: 213, 679. GDP: US$15,000
Total population: 91%
Male: 92%
Female: 90% (1976)
New Zealand/Aoteoroa. Pop: 3.9 million. GDP: US$21,600
Total population: 99%
Male: No data
Female: No data
Niue. Pop: 2156. GDP: US$3600
Total population: 95%
Male: No data
Female: No data
Palau/Belau. Pop: 20, 016. GDP: US$9000
Total population: 92%
Male: 93%
Female: 90%
Papua New Guinea. Pop: 5.4 million. GDP: US$2200
Total population: 66%
Male: 72.3%
Female: 59.3%
Samoa Pop:177,714. GDP: $5600
Total population: 99.7%
Male: 99.6%
Female: 99.7%
Solomon Islands. Pop: 523, 617. GDP: US$1700
No data
Tokelau. Pop: 1405. GDP: US$1000
No data
Tonga. Pop: 110,237. GDP: US$2200
(Defined as being able to read and write Tongan and/or English)
Total population: 98.5%
Male: 98.4%
Female: 98.7%
Tuvalu. Pop: 11,468. GDP: US$1100
No data
Vanuatu. Pop: 202,609. GDP: US$2900
Total population: 53%
Male: 57%
Female: 48%
Wallis and Futuna. Pop: 15,880. GDP: US$3700
Total population: 50%
Male: 50%
Female: 50% (1969)
Source: CIA World Factbook 2004.
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook
Note: Literacy is defined as being over 14 or 15 and able to read and write. Except for Tonga, no attempt is made to say in which language the person is literate. Crowl (1996) warns:
The South Pacific Board of Educational Assessment cautions that literacy rates…across the region are difficult to compare because figures might measure vernacular or English literacy, children in and/or out of school and when children begin learning English in school…one quarter to one third of Solomon Islands children are not in school, whereas nearly all Cook Islands children are.
Clearly, it is more likely that most, if not all, children will go to school in countries with a tiny population, such as Niue. It seems infinitely less likely that a child will go to school in the New Guinea Highlands.
Appendix 3
Internet usage:
American Samoa. Pop: 57, 902
Internet country code: as
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: No data
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Pop: 78,252. GDP: US$12,500
Internet country code: mp
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: No data
Internet Users: No data
Cook Islands. Pop: 21,200. GDP: US$5000
Internet country code: ck
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 3 (2000)
Internet Users: 3600
Percentage of population who are internet users: 17%
Federated States of Micronesia. Pop: 108, 155. GDP: US$2000
Internet country code: fm
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1
Internet Users: 6000
Percentage of population who are internet users: 5.54%
Fiji. Pop: 880, 874. GDP: US$5800
Internet country code: fj
Internet hosts: 785 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 2
Internet Users: 50,000
Percentage of population who are internet users: 0.56%
French Polynesia. Pop: 266, 339. GDP: US$17,500
Internet country code: pf
Internet hosts: 3661
Internet Service Providers: 2
Internet Users: 35,000
Percentage of population who are internet users: 13%
Guam. Pop: 166,090. GDP: US$21,000
Internet country code: gu
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 20
Internet Users: 50,000
Percentage of population who are internet users: 30%
Kiribati. Pop: 100,798. GDP: US$800
Internet country code: ki
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1
Internet Users: 2000
Percentage of population who are internet users: 1.98%
Marshall Islands. Pop: 57, 738. GDP: US$1600
Internet country code: mh
Internet hosts: 5
Internet Service Providers: 1
Internet Users: 1300
Percentage of population who are internet users: 2.25%
Nauru. Pop: 12, 809. GDP: US$5000
Internet country code: nr
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: No data
Internet Users: 300
Percentage of population who are internet users: 2.34%
New Caledonia/Kanaky. Pop: 213, 679. GDP: US$15,000
Internet country code: nc
Internet hosts: 5915 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: 30,000 (2002)
Percentage of population who are internet users: 14%
New Zealand/Aotearoa. Pop: 3.9 million. GDP: US$21,600
Internet country code: nz
Internet hosts: 432,957 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 36
Internet Users: 1.9 million
Percentage of population who are internet users: 48.71%
Niue. Pop: 2156. GDP: US$3600
Internet country code: nu
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1
Internet Users: No data
Palau/Belau. Pop: 20, 016. GDP: US$9000
Internet country code: pw
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2002)
Internet Users: No data
Papua New Guinea. Pop: 5.4 million. GDP: US$2200
Internet country code: pg
Internet hosts: 517 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 3 (2000)
Internet Users: 75,000 (2002)
Percentage of population who are internet users: 1.38%
Samoa. Pop: 177, 714. GDP: $5600
Internet country code: ws
Internet hosts: 5705 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 2 (2000)
Internet Users: 4000 (2002)
Percentage of population who are internet users: 2.25%
Solomon Islands. Pop: 523, 617. GDP: US$1700
Internet country code: sb
Internet hosts: 470 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: 2200 (2002)
Percentage of population who are internet users: 0.4%
Tokelau. Pop: 1405. GDP: US$1000
Internet country code: tk
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: No data
Tonga. Pop: 110,237. GDP: US$2200
Internet country code: to
Internet hosts: 19,485 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 2 (2000)
Internet Users: 2900
Percentage of population who are internet users: 2.6%
Tuvalu. Pop: 11,468. GDP: US$1100
Internet country code: tv
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: 1300 (2002)
Percentage of users per head of population: 11.3%
Vanuatu. Pop: 202,609. GDP: US$2900
Internet country code: vu
Internet hosts: 551 (2002)
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: 7000 (2002)
Percentage of population who are internet users: 3.4%
Wallis and Futuna. Pop: 15,880. GDP: US$3700
Internet country code: wf
Internet hosts: No data
Internet Service Providers: 1 (2000)
Internet Users: 900 (2002)
Percentage of population who are internet users: 5.6%
Source: CIA World Factbook 2004.
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook
Note: Figures are for individual subscribers. It does not appear to take account of casual users who go online in the Internet cafes which have sprung up in the main towns or who may use common accounts for mail.
The underlined figures are my own calculations based on the World Factbook data.
