The highly anticipated reality TV show Canoe Race aired its first episode last weekend on Television Blong Vanuatu (TBV), drawing widespread attention both locally and internationally. In addition to its television broadcast, a public screening was held at Waterfall Area in Port Vila, where around 100 guests gathered to watch. Online, nearly 20,000 viewers tuned in via TBV’s Facebook livestream.
A joint production between V-Lab and VBTC, Canoe Race is Vanuatu’s first-ever locally produced reality competition, showcasing aspiring entrepreneurs competing for a grand prize of 2 million vatu to launch or expand their businesses. The first episode introduced the nine contestants, who pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges. By the end of the episode, the judges selected six participants to advance to the next round.
Speaking on the success of the show, co-producer Mark Antoine of V-Lab expressed his excitement over the strong audience response.
“We are extremely happy with the outcome. The statistics show that people from across Vanuatu and even countries like Australia and New Zealand tuned in. Since this is the first show of its kind produced in Vanuatu, we see areas for improvement, but overall, the response has been fantastic. Viewers were excited to meet the contestants and see their business ideas come to life,” he said.
Antoine emphasized that the competition is not just about business ideas but also about developing the key qualities of a successful entrepreneur, including commitment, passion, and problem-solving skills. While the first episode focused on introductions and eliminations, future episodes will challenge contestants to demonstrate their abilities in real-world business scenarios.
“From Episode 2 onwards, there will be no more eliminations, but rather a series of challenges testing different business skills. Each episode will focus on a specific theme, designed to push contestants to think critically and creatively,” Antoine added.
In addition to the television broadcast, Canoe Race will be brought to local communities through a series of public screenings. The first community screening is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, at Ohlen Field in Port Vila at 7 PM. Local vendors are encouraged to participate by selling their products, and Vodafone will host games and activities for attendees. Additional screenings will be held in Freshwater, Anambrou, and Seaside in the coming weeks.
Antoine extended his gratitude to the sponsors and partners who made the show possible, including the Australian and New Zealand governments, Vodafone, the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu, Colorite Printers, and Vanuatu Ferry, as well as VBTC and V-Lab for their continued support.
Viewers can follow Canoe Race on Television Blong Vanuatu and VBTC’s Facebook page for weekly episodes and updates on upcoming community screenings.
