Nauru Television

Before selecting the New Zealand-backed proposal, there were two further bids from Japan's NEC and Australia's OTCI, but were rejected on the grounds that they were expensive. A proposed cable television network was also mooted, it too was also deemed expensive.

Television broadcasting in Nauru was inaugurated on 31 May 1991, with regular transmissions beginning the following day, 1 June 1991. Covering the majority of the island, the initial duration of broadcasts was approximately five hours per day.

NTV operated as a subscription service in its early years, charging AU$500, AU$80-100 for the installation of an antenna and AU$50 for a monthly reception fee. In 1993, NTV it had 219 subscribers, with the aim of selling 500 decoders to achieve self-sufficiency.

Initially, Television New Zealand were contracted to provide both technical facilities and basic operational training to local employees. Transmitted via satellite or through the regular transportation of videotapes from New Zealand, content consisted of American and New Zealand television programmes. This arrangement continued until 1995 when costs dictated a shift to alternative sources of programme content, specifically that bought in from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Four Corners issue

In 2004, the government of President Ludwig Scotty, seeking re-election, ordered Nauru Television to broadcast the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Four Corners programme on past economic mismanagement under former President Rene Harris, every evening during the week before the election. Harris complained that NTV "had refused to give him equal time to present his side of the story." Scotty was re-elected.