Matamata is home to many things namely some of the country’s top stud and dairy farms but to the disbelief of many, it also has its own free-to-air television station.

Family Television was formed seven years ago by prominent community member, Daryl Anderson, who recognised a gap in the market for family safe community television. With the desire to provide a safer alternative to mainstream television broadcasters he set about up-skilling in a field that up until that point, he had no experience in.

A former Banker then Dairy Farmer, Daryl, his wife Larisa and their three children relocated to Northland for six months where he worked for FamilyTV Rodney, gaining the skills and experience that were vital for setting up and operating a television station. In January 2002 FamilyTV went to air.

In the early years FamilyTV was staffed by a small but enthusiastic and passionate team of volunteers and broadcasted from 7pm-11pm.

Five years on and things have changed dramatically. Now there are 28 on the payroll and the station broadcasts 24/7 from FamilyTV’s head office which is located in the town’s old court house. The station operates under the umbrella of Television Media Group, which has diversified and grown with the station and not only produces local television shows but also has its own IT company, AlphaMedia Concepts, which designs websites and its other company, and AlphaMedia Productions which produces promotional DVDs for clients around the country.

“We have an excellent skill base that allows us to cross-feed our resources into other areas,” says Daryl. The station is operated by a charitable trust which is self-funding from revenues generated and as a capital investment; it requires support from the community. “We set it up as a charitable trust because we wanted the community to share ownership in terms of venture capital and providing a product the community wants.”

To-date, this dynamic station produces shows that are aimed at the whole family. There is MishMash for kids; Hooked on Fishing provides weekly tips on top fishing spots and much more; InDepth - a thought-provoking current affairs show that looks at Waikato and Rotorua issues in depth; EveryDay -an entertaining magazine-style show which is hosted by Anne-Marie Miller and Farming Today; all of which have a uniquely Waikato and Bay of Plenty flavour. They are “family safe”, informative, and focused on local people and issues. For those who like to keep informed and up-to-date with international news and current affairs, Family TV screens Germany’s (in English) international news service Deutsche Weller (DWTV) on which there are plenty of quality documentaries on a vast array of topics.

Currently the transmission range covers the Southern Waikato towns of Matamata, Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Tirau and Putaruru and since July 2006 Rotorua now receives FamilyTV. Television Media Group also acquired Rotorua’s tourist channel, Geyser TV, in 2004 making further inroads to the Bay of Plenty’s broadcasting landscape.

“As a group we’ve come further than I had ever imagined we would at this point,” Daryl says.

For tuning or any other information: www.familytv.co.nz or phone 07 888 5030.