DIGICEL RISING STARS

July 20th 2010 - DIGICEL RISING STARS

Contacts:

Magdalena Moimoi

Marketing, Digicel Tonga

Mobile: +676 886 5314

DIGICEL STAR AUDITIONS TAKES OFF IN TONGA!

Friday 11^th June – Nuku’alofa: Digicel (Tonga)’s adaptation of the Caribbean’s Digicel Rising Star’s Competition has successfully launched Auditions throughout the Kingdom.

Jamaica’s Digicel Rising Stars being the most watched programme in the history of Jamaican television, instantly became an inspiration for Digicel (Tonga) to launch a competition to the same effect for the People of Tonga.

Digicel Rising Stars Jamaica searching for talent in 2004, not many people realised just how big the show would be six completed seasons later. Many sceptics viewed it as just another talent show, but during its six years on air the Digicel Rising Stars team has arguably unearthed and discovered more talent from across Jamaica than any other talent competition in Jamaica's history, which is what “Digicel Star’s” in Tonga is looking to find.

Digicel Star rapidly becoming Tonga’s biggest and best singing Competition is due mainly to support shown by some of Tonga’s Top businesses. With the support given, the Digicel Stars production team is given the opportunity to hold auditions in Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua, travel out to the villages of Tongatapu in addition to the auditions at the Four Seasons Lagoon Resort.

1^st Prize includes an all Expenses Trip to be part of Jamaica’s Digicel Rising Stars Competition sponsored by Digicel Jamaica. Air New Zealand has generously sponsored Return Trips to Australia and New Zealand respectively. Chathams Pacific has sponsored flights for Digicel Star Judges and Production Team to visit Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua as well as provide return tickets for winners from each of the islands to fly down to Tonga and become part of the Competition in July with Loumaile Lodge and Black Pearl Suites providing accommodation. Puataukanave Hotel, Sandy Beach Resort and The Hideaway in ‘Eua, have also generously provided accommodation for the Digicel Star Team visiting the Islands. Prizes will also include Cash Money, Electrical Equipment and much more from Digicel and sponsors including TMN TV2, Four Seasons Lagoon Resort, Image Center NZ, Leiola Duty Free, Nokia, Vete Electronics, Prema & Sons, Punjas and Coca-cola, Beach Hut Café, 88.6FM, Talking Heads ICMI Speakers & Entertainers.

Digicel (Tonga) ensures that the Digicel Star’s competition is a nation-wide event so as to give everyone in Tonga an opportunity to participate. The idea is to find and showcase untapped Tongan talent and ultimately bring it to the forefront in fine style. Just like in Jamaica, each contestant participating in the competitions will reflect a different part of Tongan culture and music, showing the diversity of a nation.

ABOUT DIGICEL PACIFIC

With operations in six markets Digicel Pacific has become the fastest-growing telecommunications provider within the region and has recently won a licence to operate in French Polynesia.

Digicel’s launch in Samoa in November 2006 was followed by Papua New Guinea in July 2007, Tonga in May 2008, Vanuatu in June 2008 and Fiji in October 2008. Digicel launched in Nauru in September 2009 bringing mobile communications to the country for the first time.

Globally the Digicel brand now operates in 32 markets across the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific and is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets.

Digicel is the proud sponsor of sport and community initiatives across the Pacific including the Digicel Fiji 7s, Manu Samoa Rugby, the Digicel Cup club rugby tournaments in Fiji and Tonga, Beach Volleyball and Cricket in Vanuatu and the PNG Volleyball Federation.

For more information, please visit http://www.digicelpacific.com