WALU-TV

WALU-TV (also styled Walu Television in some sources ) was Palau's first television station. Broadcasting on channel 7, it was available over the air but was encrypted. The station was owned by Western Pacific Communications.

History
WALU-TV was set up in 1976, with the licensing of two transmitters, one to be used by WALU and the other by a cable TV system broadcasting Japanese programs that ended in 1978. As of 1990, the owner of the station was a Palauan businessman, who was also a senator.

All of its programming throughout most of its existence came from videotapes flown in from Hawaii. For a brief period in its existence (1980–1981) a local newscast existed, but was discontinued when some of its staff resigned due to apparent salary disputes.

WALU-TV used a 100-watt transmitter delivering videotaped American programs. Subscribers were charged a monthly fee of US$15 to receive the programs. The signal was descrambled with a decoder, which in case of non-payment, could be deactivated and sent to WALU-TV's studios. The station's coverage area primarily targeted the states of Koror and Airai.

Programming in 1990 ran from 3 p.m. to midnight. The first hour consisted of children's programming, namely Sesame Street and some cartoons, followed by regular commercial programming until sign-off.

In 1993, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Since then, television was only delivered by cable—a company called Island Cable Television was set up in 1990.

Notable staff

 * Steven Kanai
 * Sandra Sumang Pierantozzi (newswriting and live TV broadcasting; 1980)