French Polynesia media: following news from the fenua online

In French Polynesia, news is mostly read on Tahiti Infos, watched on TNTV and Polynésie la 1ère, and heard on Radio1 or Tiare FM, in French and reo tahiti, and almost always free on these outlets' websites and apps.

Where did the Tahitian print press come from?

The local press took shape in Papeete during the twentieth century around dailies such as La Dépêche de Tahiti and Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Both stopped publishing in the mid-2010s, leaving digital outlets and broadcasters to dominate news from the fenua.

Tahiti Infos, the reference title for daily news

Born as a website, Tahiti Infos became the leading written outlet in French Polynesia, with a printed edition distributed on Tahiti and Moorea. Its coverage is general: territorial politics, the Assembly of French Polynesia, the economy, crime, culture and sport.

French, reo tahiti and the languages of the archipelagos

French remains the main language in newsrooms, but reo tahiti is heard in television and radio bulletins. Some programmes also feature Marquesan, Paumotu or the languages of the Austral Islands, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the five archipelagos.

Covering the outer islands from Papeete

The Marquesas, the Tuamotu, the Austral Islands and the Gambier have no newspaper of their own. Their news reaches readers through correspondents for Polynésie la 1ère and TNTV, private radio stations relayed on the atolls, and statements from island town halls.

Websites, social media and mobile apps

Most news now circulates online: Tahiti Infos, TNTV News and Radio1 publish continuously on their websites and social media accounts. From Paris or Nouméa, mobile apps and live video streams remain the simplest way to keep up with the territory.

No local agency: who supplies the wire copy?

French Polynesia has no news agency of its own. Newsrooms rely on Agence France-Presse for international news, on statements from the French High Commission and the territorial presidency, and on Outremers360 for overseas affairs seen from Paris.

TNTV and Polynésie la 1ère, two complementary channels

Tahiti Nui Télévision, launched in 2000, is the territory's own channel. Polynésie la 1ère, successor to RFO, belongs to the France Télévisions group. Their evening bulletins are available on replay, and our page on television in Tahiti details their schedules.

Private radio: the everyday voice of the islands

Radio1 and Tiare FM, two private stations in Papeete, mix news flashes, local music and phone-in shows. Polynesians living in mainland France listen to them live online, and the full selection is in our guide to radio stations in Tahiti and the islands.

Polynesians abroad and the media they follow

Students in Montpellier or Bordeaux, service members in mainland France and families settled in Nouméa mostly follow Tahitian websites and Outre-mer La 1ère. Links with Nouméa are covered by the New Caledonian press, and our French overseas press hub completes the picture.

Economy, pearl farming and sport in the news

Tahitian pearls, tourism, the cost of living and the budgets voted by the Assembly take up much space. In sport, va'a canoe racing, surfing at Teahupo'o, an Olympic venue in 2024, and local football are followed by TNTV and Tahiti Infos.

What legal framework applies to journalists?

The French press freedom law of 29 July 1881 applies in French Polynesia, and broadcasting falls under Arcom. However, the narrow advertising market leaves newsrooms dependent on local advertisers and, in some cases, on subsidies or public contracts from the territorial government.

Compare sources before you share

Most content is free, with the possible exception of some Tahiti Infos archives. To check a story, compare the TNTV version with the one from Polynésie la 1ère, then consult the High Commission or presidency websites for official decisions.

Following Polynesian news from far away

1. Start the day with Tahiti Infos, which sums up politics, the economy and crime news from Papeete and the islands.
2. Watch the TNTV or Polynésie la 1ère evening bulletin on replay, allowing for the ten to twelve hour time difference with Paris.
3. Listen to Radio1 or Tiare FM live online for news flashes and a feel for local life.
4. Sign up for alerts or apps from Tahitian outlets to be warned about cyclones, ocean swells and decisions by the territorial government.
5. Add Outremers360 and Outre-mer La 1ère to place Polynesian news in the context of all the French overseas territories.
6. Always check an article's date: seen from Europe, a story published in Papeete often carries the previous day's date.

Access to Polynesian media and subscriptions

Useful pointers for reading the Polynesian press

• Languages: French, reo tahiti, plus Marquesan and Paumotu on radio
• Territorial channel: TNTV; public broadcaster: Polynésie la 1ère
• Main written outlet: Tahiti Infos
• Tahiti time zone: UTC-10, no daylight saving time
• Local currency: CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro
• Institutions often cited: Assembly of French Polynesia, territorial council of ministers
• Official sources: territorial presidency and the French High Commission

Common traps when reading news from the fenua

• Believing La Dépêche de Tahiti is still published: archives and old pages still circulate, although the daily disappeared in the mid-2010s.
• Mistaking an old weather warning for a current one; swell or cyclone alerts should be checked with Météo-France Polynésie.
• Treating a post in a local Facebook group as confirmed news when no newsroom in Papeete has picked it up.
• Forgetting that TNTV depends on the territory and Polynésie la 1ère on the French state, which can shape which political stories are highlighted.
• Trusting sites that copy Tahiti Infos articles without a date or author, often just to attract advertising clicks.

Your questions about Tahiti's media