Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the official public broadcasting entity in the Solomon Islands. Its roots trace back to the 1940s when the U.S. military initiated broadcasts in what were then the British Solomon Islands. Established formally in 1976 to succeed the Solomon Islands Broadcasting System (SIBS), SIBC operates as the national voice across radio and, more recently, television. It runs four radio stations—two with nation-wide reach (Radio Happy Isles and Wantok FM) and two serving specific provinces (Radio Happy Lagoon in Western Province and Radio Temotu in Temotu Province). In November 2023, SIBC expanded into television with the launch of SIBC TV Service, funded by a SBD 18.5 million (US$ 2.17 million) government of Saudi Arabia-backed initiative.
Media assets
Radio: Radio Happy Isles, Wantok FM, Radio Happy Lagoon, Radio Temotu
Television: SIBC TV Service
State Media Matrix Typology
Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)
Ownership and governance
SIBC was instituted under the Broadcasting Ordinance of 1976. It was placed under the State Owned Enterprise (SOE) Act in 2007 and its subsequent regulations from 2010 affirm that it remains government‑owned. Its board of directors reports to the Minister of Finance and Treasury, and ultimately the Prime Minister serves as the responsible minister.
Source of funding and budget
SIBC’s operations are sustained through a combination of advertising income, commercial revenues, and government grants. In February 2023, the Office of the Prime Minister provided a one-time injection of SBD 5 million (US$ 590,000) to bolster local and international broadcasting capacities, in addition to an annual grant of SBD 1 million (US$ 118,000). According to SIBC, the corporation has returned a profit every year except for 2017.
Editorial independence
Historically, SIBC has enjoyed public trust and a reputation for editorial independence. However, since 2022, tensions have mounted: the government removed SIBC from the SOE list, a move viewed by independent observers as potentially linked to censorship, though the government claimed it aimed to spur SIBC toward greater commercial self-reliance. Reports by SIBC staff suggest that these reforms effectively require government approval of news content, as part of a purported effort to guard against misinformation, claims the Office of the Prime Minister denied.
Editorial pressure appears tied to the government’s sensitivity regarding the Solomon Islands’ closer ties with China. During the tenure of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, the government allegedly threatened to limit foreign journalist access. Whether the transition in May 2024, when Jeremiah Manele (also from the OUR Party) became Prime Minister, has improved governance over SIBC is still unclear.
Nonetheless, a content analysis by the Media and Journalism Research Center did not find overt bias favoring authorities, so SIBC was not classified as state-controlled; nonetheless, any future evidence of editorial manipulation could prompt reclassification.
August 2025