NBC marks 50th anniversary of PNG radio service with week of celebrations

Celebrations marking NBC's 50 years of radio service in the country began on Monday at the broadcaster's headquarters and provincial stations.

The week-long event was opened by NBC's Deputy Chairman Henao Iduhu, who is also a pioneer NBC journalist.

Reflecting on NBC's history since its establishment as the National Broadcasting Commission to its transition to Corporation, he said: "NBC was called National Broadcasting Commission, only a service provider like any other government agencies depended entirely on government until government brought about reforms in its governance and structures.

"NBC was no different to National Housing Corporation, Post PNG, Air Niugini, Telikom PNG, and today we celebrate the 50th anniversary, the best day of NBC."

He also paid tribute to the pioneer broadcasters in the likes of late great grand chief Sir Michael Somare and Sevese Morea, among others who brought the organization to where it is today.

"Radio popular voices known to the country, the greatest man of all times, none other than the late great grand chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, his voice broke Papua New Guinea airwaves, even well before NBC was born, in the same period, there was also the famous radio announcer in English and motu, late Sevese Morea, whose voice transformed Papua New Guineans," he said.

NBC have provided news, informationa and entertainment since transitioning from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on December 1, 1973, the day Papua New Guinea gained self-governance, to the National Broadcasting Commission first and later the National Broadcasting Corportation.

Governor Parkop switches on Christmas lights for NBC and NCD

NCD Governor Parkop officially launched NBC's 50th anniversary week-long celebration at the NBC headquarters at Five Mile in Port Moresby.

The program began with speeches, floats and live music performances in the morning followed by an evening program which included NCD Governor Powes Parkop switching on NBC's and NCD's Christmas lights.

The anniversary celebrations at the NBC's office at Five Mile included the Christmas lights switch-on, along with a night filled with fun and excitement, from a roadshow float, to stall decorations, games, comedy and live music.

Balloons were released into the air as part of the first day of celebrations.