THE Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) has received the first batch of its digitised archive recordings, marking a major milestone in efforts to preserve the country’s unique radio broadcasting history.
The handover took place during a brief ceremony at the SIBC headquarters in Honiara, where Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Rod Hilton, officially presented the digitised recordings to SIBC Chief Executive Officer Johnson Honimae and staff.
The milestone was made possible through the Solomon Islands–Australia Media Sector Partnership, in collaboration with ABC International Development and the national broadcaster, with the aim of safeguarding priceless audio archives for future generations.
As part of the project, more than 200 boxes of analogue tapes were sent to Australia for professional cleaning, repair and digitisation. The first batch, comprising approximately 200 restored recordings, has now been returned to Honiara, with further batches expected to follow over the coming year.
SIBC officials have welcomed the project, describing it as a significant step towards preserving the nation’s rich broadcasting heritage and ensuring the recordings are accessible for research, education and public interest.
