Fiji All Newspapers List
- Shanti Dut
Television stations in Fiji
- Disney Channel (Southeast Asia)
- Fiji Television
- Fiji Two
- Nickelodeon (Australia and New Zealand)
- Pacific Broadcasting Services Fiji
- Sky Pacific
- Nickelodeon (Asia)
- Mai TV
- Fiji One
- FBC TV
Nestled in the heart of the South Pacific, Fiji's media ecosystem pulses with the rhythm of its coral reefs and volcanic peaks—a blend of colonial legacies, cultural diversity, and modern innovation. As a nation of over 300 islands, Fiji's press has long served as a bridge between its indigenous iTaukei communities, Indo-Fijian heritage, and global influences. From the ink of 19th-century broadsheets to the pixels of today's apps, Fijian journalism navigates political upheavals, natural disasters, and economic aspirations. This comprehensive guide delves into Fiji newspaper history, catalogs all newspapers in Fiji, ranks the Fiji most popular top 10 newspapers, spotlights the most popular TV channels in Fiji, traces the digitalization of newspapers in Fiji, and forecasts the newspaper future amid a shifting digital tide.
With over 80% internet penetration by 2025 and a youthful population hungry for real-time updates on rugby triumphs, climate resilience, and political reforms, Fiji's media is more vital than ever. Whether you're a traveler planning a Yasawa Islands escape or a researcher unpacking Pacific narratives, this SEO-optimized exploration uncovers the stories shaping Fiji's fourth estate. Let's set sail through its pages.
Fiji Newspaper History
The saga of Fiji newspaper history is etched in the archipelago's turbulent timeline, from British colonial outposts to four military coups and a vibrant democratic revival. It begins in the humid ports of Levuka, where the first presses hummed amid cotton plantations and missionary zeal.
On September 4, 1869, The Fiji Times was born, founded by Australian entrepreneur George Littleton Griffiths in Levuka, then Fiji's capital. Printed on rudimentary hand presses, it catered to European settlers, traders, and planters, blending shipping news, court reports, and editorials on "civilizing" the islands. By 1874, as King Cakobau's confederacy teetered, The Fiji Times advocated for British annexation, influencing the 1874 Deed of Cession that folded Fiji into the empire. Circulation hovered around 500 copies, but its voice echoed in Sydney and London, shaping perceptions of the "Cannibal Isles."
Colonial expansion birthed competitors. The Western Pacific Herald (1879) targeted the northern sugar belts, while Fiji Times and Herald merged titles by the 1890s, relocating to Suva in 1887 as the new capital flourished. Indigenous voices emerged tentatively: Nai Lalakai (Fijian for "The Herald"), launched in 1898 by the government, disseminated colonial policies in iTaukei language, fostering literacy amid indentured Indian labor influx post-1879.
The 20th century amplified diversity. Hindi publications like Jagriti (1930s) voiced Indo-Fijian sugarcane workers' grievances during the Great Depression, while Shanti Dut (1940s) advocated for independence. World War II rationed paper, but post-1945 booms saw Pacific Islands Monthly (regional) and local dailies thrive. Independence in 1970 under Prime Minister Kamisese Mara heralded a freer press, with The Fiji Times circulation soaring to 20,000 by the 1980s, covering ethnic tensions between iTaukei and Indo-Fijians.
Coups scarred the sector. The 1987 Rabuka coup censored The Fiji Times, prompting a defiant blank-page edition—spaces for excised stories symbolizing silenced truths. The 2000 Speight coup saw arson gut the newsroom; 2006's Bainimarama takeover imposed the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA), fining critics and deporting foreign editors. The Fiji Times suspended publication in protest, resuming under heavy scrutiny.
Repeal of MIDA in 2023 under Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's coalition marked a thaw, boosting investigative reporting on corruption and climate impacts. By 2025, with over 20 outlets, Fiji's press embodies resilience—once printed on bark-cloth masi during paper shortages (e.g., 1908 editions at Auckland Museum)—now digitized for global reach. This history underscores journalism's role in Fiji's identity: a watchdog forged in fire, inked in adaptation.
Comprehensive List of All Newspapers in Fiji
Fiji's print and digital media reflect its tri-lingual tapestry—English, Fijian (iTaukei), and Fiji Hindi—serving a population of 930,000 across urban Suva and rural Vanua Levu. As of 2025, the sector includes about 15 major titles, per Wikipedia and w3newspapers directories, with many hybrids blending print and online. Ownership spans independents, state entities, and conglomerates like Motibhai Group. Here's an exhaustive all newspapers in Fiji list, noting language, frequency, and est. reach (2025 data from Feedspot and RSF).
English-Language Dailies and Weeklies (Mainstream Appeal)
- The Fiji Times (1869) - Daily, Suva-based, Motibhai-owned. Circulation: ~25,000 print; 500K+ digital. Focus: National news, sports.
- Fiji Sun (1975) - Daily, CJ Patel-owned. ~30,000 print; 1M+ online. Pro-business, entertainment-heavy.
- The Fiji Daily Post (1997-2011, revived digitally) - State-linked, intermittent print. Online focus: Politics, economy.
- The National (Regional weekly) - Covers northern divisions, ~5,000 copies.
- iTaukei (Fijian) Language Newspapers
- Nai Lalakai (1898) - Weekly, government-backed via Fiji Times. Circulation: ~14,000. Cultural, community news.
- Volasiga (Weekly) - Fijian supplement to Daily Post. ~10,000 readers.
Fiji Hindi Language Newspapers
- Shanti Dut (1940s) - Weekly, Indo-Fijian staple. Circulation: ~13,000. Social issues, festivals.
- Aapla FM (Hindi weekly insert) - Tied to radio, ~8,000.
Multilingual and Niche/Online-First
- Fijivillage (2000s) - Digital daily, Communications Fiji Ltd. English/Hindi/Fijian. 500K+ monthly views: Breaking news, rugby.
- FBC News (State-owned) - Online portal, multilingual. Integrated with TV/radio.
- FijiLive (1990s) - Digital, independent. ~200K users: Investigative, international.
- The Jet (Community weekly, Nadi-based) - English/Fijian, tourism focus. ~5,000 print.
- Islands Business (Regional magazine, monthly) - English, Pacific-wide. ~10,000 subscribers.
- Repúblika (2009) - Satirical weekly, English. Circulation: ~3,000.
- Rural News (Agricultural weekly) - English, farmer-oriented. ~4,000.
This roster evolves; print declines (down 20% since 2020) yield to apps and newsletters. Suva dominates production, but digital bridges rural gaps, amplifying voices on land rights and remittances.
Fiji Most Popular Top 10 Newspapers
In 2025, popularity fuses print sales, web traffic, and social engagement, per Feedspot rankings and RSF metrics. English dailies lead, but multilingual digitals surge amid 85% mobile news consumption. Here's the Fiji most popular top 10 newspapers, blending legacy and innovation:
The Fiji Times
- Rank#1
- Language: English
- Founded: 1869
- Est. Reach (2025): 500K+ digital
- Key Focus: In-depth news, rugby
Fiji Sun
- Rank#2
- Language: English
- Founded: 1975
- Est. Reach (2025): 1M+ online
- Key Focus: Business, entertainment
Fijivillage
- Rank#3
- Language: Multilingual
- Founded: 2000s
- Est. Reach (2025): 500K monthly
- Key Focus: Breaking, sports
FBC News
- Rank#4
- Language: Multilingual
- Founded: 1970s
- Est. Reach (2025): 300K+
- Key Focus: State news, weather
FijiLive
- Rank#5
- Language: English
- Founded: 1990s
- Est. Reach (2025): 200K users
- Key Focus: Investigations, politics
Nai Lalakai
- Rank#6
- Language: Fijian
- Founded: 1898
- Est. Reach (2025): 14K print
- Key Focus: Cultural, community
Shanti Dut
- Rank#7
- Language: Fiji Hindi
- Founded: 1940s
- Est. Reach (2025): 13K print
- Key Focus: Social, festivals
The Jet
- Rank#8
- Language: English/Fijian
- Founded: 2010s
- Est. Reach (2025): 50K online
- Key Focus: Tourism, local
Islands Business
- Rank#9
- Language: English
- Founded: 1970s
- Est. Reach (2025): 10K subs
- Key Focus: Pacific regional
Repúblika
- Rank#10
- Language: English
- Founded: 2009
- Est. Reach (2025): 20K social
- Key Focus: Satire, opinion
The Fiji Times reigns for trust (post-MIDA repeal), while Fiji Sun's dynamic site draws youth with videos. These powerhouses mold discourse on elections, cyclones, and 7s rugby glory.
Fiji Most Popular TV Channels
Television captivates 70% of Fijians daily, per 2025 Nielsen data, outpacing print amid free-to-air dominance. State and private broadcasters vie for eyes, streaming rugby and Bollywood via apps like Walesi. The most popular TV channels in Fiji (2025 ratings from BBC and Wikipedia) include:
- Fiji One (Fiji Television, 1994) - FTA leader, 60% share. News, dramas, sports; 24/7 digital.
- FBC TV (State-owned, 1990s) - Entertainment/news mix, multilingual. ~40% urban reach.
- Mai TV (PBS-owned, 2007) - Youth-focused, music/videos. Rising with 20% share.
- Fiji Two (Fiji TV sister) - Movies, repeats; 15% viewership.
- Sky Pacific (Pay-TV, Digicel-acquired 2016) - 14 channels, international; 100K subs.
- VITI+ (Streaming, 2020s) - On-demand rugby, local films; 200K users.
- Disney Channel (SEA) - Kids' niche, via Sky; family staple.
- Nickelodeon (ANZ) - Animated hits, bundled.
- ABC Australia - News/education, FTA.
- EMTV (PNG affiliate, Fiji TV legacy) - Regional soaps.
Fiji One's rugby coverage spikes viewership, while Walesi.gov.fj democratizes access post-2020 launch. In 2025, amid election cycles, these channels amplify national unity.
Digitalization of Newspapers in Fiji
The digitalization of newspapers in Fiji mirrors a global pivot, accelerated by 2020's COVID lockdowns and 5G rollout. With 80% smartphone ownership, print's 30% decline since 2019 yields to apps and social feeds.
Pioneers like The Fiji Times launched e-editions in 2000, now boasting 500K monthly uniques via PressReader integration. Fiji Sun's 2025 overhaul—partnering Daylight and Bastion Digital—unveiled a CMS with real-time updates, Fijian sections, and data analytics, training 50+ staff in SEO and video. Fijivillage's mobile-first model hits 500K via push alerts on cyclones and markets.
Challenges persist: Low ad yields (digital CPMs 50% below print) and rural bandwidth gaps hinder monetization. Yet, successes abound—Islands Business subscriptions rose 25% post-paywall; FBC News integrates TV clips for 300K cross-platform users. Social media (Facebook 70% news source) boosts virality, but misinformation on ethnic issues demands fact-checks via Pacific Fact-Check Hub.
By 2025, 60% revenue shifts digital, per ABC International Development, empowering niche voices like The Jet's tourism feeds. This transformation isn't erasure—it's evolution, blending masi-era grit with code.
Newspaper Future in Fiji
Gazing into the newspaper future in Fiji reveals a hybrid dawn: print as artifact, digital as lifeline, amid climate threats and youth exodus. Experts forecast 70% digital consumption by 2030, per 2025 State of Media report, with AI tools aiding personalization.
Optimism stems from post-MIDA freedoms: Investigative pods like FijiLive's corruption series gain traction, while Fiji Sun's phased subscriptions (Q2 2026 rollout) target 100K payers via newsletters and podcasts. Regional collabs, like USP's journalism training, fortify ethics against fake news on TikTok.
Hurdles loom: Bainimarama-era ad blacklists linger subtly, and sea-level rise endangers printing hubs. Yet, innovations shine—blockchain for transparent funding, VR tours in The Jet. Youth (50% under 25) demand climate accountability; outlets like Repúblika satirize via memes.
As Rabuka's reforms stabilize, Fiji's press could lead Pacific media: Sustainable, inclusive, unbound. "Digital isn't the end—it's the voyage," quips a Fiji Times editor. The future? Inked in code, resilient as reefs.
Pages Turning in Paradise
Fiji's media—from storied histories to streaming futures—mirrors its people's bula spirit: Warm, weathered, wondrous. As newspapers digitize and TVs stream, they unite a scattered archipelago. Dive deeper; the next headline awaits.
The landscape of Fiji Most Popular Top 10 Newspaper and media channels is a testament to the nation's literacy and hunger for information. From the historic columns of The Fiji Times to the HD broadcasts of FBC TV and the instant feeds of FijiVillage, the media serves as the watchdog and the storyteller of the nation.
For the reader, the investor, or the tourist, these outlets are more than just businesses; they are the lens through which the vibrant, complex, and resilient spirit of Fiji is viewed. As digitalization sweeps across the Pacific, the medium may change—from paper to pixel—but the message of unity and progress remains constant.