CFL to Receive 1.7 Million Taxpayer Dollars a Year from Government

Communications Fiji Limited (CFL), the parent company of LegendFM, FM96, VITIFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, and FijiVillage, will receive $1.732 million annually from the Government of Fiji to provide news and information, conduct public service campaigns, and offer vital broadcast services in times of national disaster.

Social media users quickly pointed out that FijiVillage has already been actively working to amplify the voice of the government and leaders within the coalition, especially through its StraightTalk program.

However, it has struggled to halt the ongoing barrage of unprecedented negative sentiment facing the coalition government, particularly on social media and we are to see if this new funding will help stop the public dissatisfaction.

According to FijiVillage, CFL's General Manager, Charles Taylor, welcomed the government's recognition, calling this support the first of its kind granted to a private broadcaster. He stressed that the CFL is the only broadcaster in Fiji operating its independent transmission service and claimed that the CFL network has the largest reach in the country.

Meanwhile, several social media users have raised concerns over how CFL, as the parent company of news media outlet FijiVillage, will ensure fair and balanced reporting while being funded by the government. The question on many minds is how CFL will hold the government accountable, particularly as it now receives taxpayer dollars for public service campaigns.

We have sent these questions to Honourable Biman Prasad, Mr. Standley Simpson, Head of the Fiji Media Association, Vijay Narayan, Head of News at FijiVillage, Dr. Shailendra Singh, Head of Journalism at USP, and Nilesh Lal, Head of Dialogue Fiji.

The agreement between CFL and the government covers the period from April 1st, 2025, to July 31st, 2026.