Minister explains ban on live streaming at PG

loau-solamalemalodddd-keneti-sio-minister-of-education-sports-and-culture

Samoa Minister of Sports, Loau Keneti Sio, who is also chairman of the Pacific Games Organizing Committee has defended the ban on all media live streaming the games on social media.

Samoa Observer reported the minister saying all the conditions for media coverage of the games had been explained and were printed on the media passes.

“The rules are set on in the pass and overseas media are more than welcome to send out still photos,” he said.

The matter was raised after a complaint from the FSM Chef de Mission, Alik Johnson, who said the live streaming was the only way “our people back home can see their sons and daughters play”.

He said he was saddened by the ban, but Minister Loau said this was a condition of the host broadcasting agreement with Melanisian Media Group.

“They have the exclusive erights to broadcasting the games and this is why we piut restrictions on the media,” he said.

Loau said FSM should have brought a TV crew if they wanted to cover the country sports teams.

“American Samoa brought their TV station crew as well as the other islands and they are focusing on their atheletes,” said the Minister.

He said that the committee has more than a hundred volunteers monitoring the crowds to stop individuals streaming the games.