Magna Systems has refreshed the broadcast infrastructure at Fiji TV with new shared storage, sync and archive systems to support Fiji TV’s move to HD editing and production

Fiji TV has completed a systems integration project with Magna Systems (Magna) that updates its broadcast editing and production facilities.

The work introduces EditShare shared storage, Leader synchronisation and Disk Archive for long-term storage, replacing older equipment and workflows that had become difficult to maintain.

“… everyone can access the same projects, share ideas and get programmes to air faster …”
– Sunjeewa Perera, CEO, Fiji TV

Fiji TV CEO Sunjeewa Perera said, “This project has changed how we work. Before, our teams were spending more time moving drives between machines than actually editing. The new EditShare workflow means everyone can access the same projects, share ideas and get programmes to air faster. The stability of the new Leader sync system gives us confidence we simply didn’t have before. For our viewers, that means better-quality content, delivered more reliably. Magna understood our challenges from day one and delivered a solution that fits Fiji TV perfectly.”

Fiji TV’s goal was to move its operations toward HD and address a number of technical issues that were affecting day-to-day productivity.

When Magna’s engineering team arrived on site in Suva, they found that the facility’s SPG (Sync Pulse Generator), which provides timing reference for the broadcast plant, was running on a backup unit. The team worked with Fiji TV to replace this with a new Leader synchronisation system, configured with redundancy, to provide more reliable timing across the facility.

Updating Fiji TV’s Workflow from Ingest to Playout

The broadcaster’s editorial workflow had also relied on producers physically moving media on USB drives and portable hard disks between individual workstations. The practice was slow and made collaborative editing difficult.

For a broadcaster covering news, sport, current affairs and cultural programming across two free-to-air channels – Fiji One and Na Lololo – the old approach was becoming hard to sustain.

The integrated solution updates Fiji TV’s workflow from ingest to playout. At the centre sits EditShare, a shared storage and media management platform that connects the Mac workstations across the facility. Fiji TV’s production teams can now collaborate on projects, share media and archive completed programmes for later re-use, removing the need to transfer portable drives between workstations.

Archive and Redundancy

For long-term content preservation, the solution incorporates Disk Archive, providing online storage for completed productions and archive material. Network redundancy measures were also implemented throughout the facility to support operational continuity.

Content now enters the facility through networked ingest, is processed and edited within the EditShare environment by multiple producers and is then handed to the playout chain timed by the new Leader SPG. Improved monitoring gives technical staff a clearer view of the facility and helps them identify issues far earlier, a capability the old setup did not provide.

The system supports Fiji TV’s range of output delivered to viewers across Fiji and the Pacific, including

• live news
• sports coverage
• studio programming, and
• pre-recorded content

Working Beyond Equipment Supply

Magna’s work went beyond equipment supply. Drawing on its experience in broadcast and telecommunications systems integration, Magna worked alongside Fiji TV from initial site assessment and fault diagnosis, through solution design, to installation, commissioning and handover. The aim was to select technology that suited Fiji TV’s operational and budgetary context, rather than simply specifying the latest available equipment.

By addressing the SPG issue and redesigning core infrastructure around redundancy and shared access, Magna delivered a facility that is more reliable and able to support future production requirements. The shift from portable-drive workflows to a networked, HD-ready environment marks a practical step forward for the broadcaster.

“The updated facility positions Fiji TV to meet current broadcast standards and to scale operations as demand for content grows.”
– Sunjeewa Perera, CEO, Fiji TV

Sunjeewa Perera concluded, “For Fiji TV’s staff, the most noticeable change is in day-to-day production. With shared project access, faster media availability and a more stable technical backbone, our editors and producers are able to deliver content with fewer technical interruptions. The updated facility positions Fiji TV to meet current broadcast standards and to scale operations as demand for content grows.”

About Fiji TV

Fiji Television Limited, also known as Fiji TV, is a television network headquartered in Suva, Fiji. It was established in 1994 as the first commercial television station in the country and quickly became the leading broadcaster in Fiji. Since its establishment, Fiji TV has expanded its reach to include a number of channels and has also developed a strong online presence with a website and social media pages that provide viewers with access to its programs and content. Programmes includes news, sports, entertainment, cultural programs as well as international content from around the world. Today, Fiji TV continues to be a major force in the broadcasting industry in Fiji and the Pacific and is dedicated to providing its viewers with the best in local and international television content.