NITV goes free to air

12 Dec 2012, 2:37 pm   -   Source: Allan Clarke, SBS

This video has expired

We're sorry but this video has expired. You may find another one to watch on the right or click here to return to the video page.

Share This
0 
+ Comment
4

Australian television history has been made, with the launch of the first free to-air national Indigenous television network.

RELATED

Australian television history has been made, with the launch of the first free to-air national Indigenous television network.

NITV was switched from pay TV to free-to-air at noon (AEDT) today, with a ceremony at Uluru to mark the historic day (12/12/12). NITV now airs on channel 34 (SBS4) on digital TV. It will also broadcast on Foxtel on channel 180.

Launching in 2007 on pay TV, NITV struggled to find its feet and funding, but a merger with SBS earlier this year has seen it make Australian television history.

"We hope what we do with NITV will make everyone very proud of what we can be able to do, and share Indigenous cultures and countries with the entire country," SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said.

Prime Minister Gillard says NITV is set to change the Australian media landscape.
 
"Free to air television is still one of the biggest ways that we share our stories, that we reflect our nation back to ourselves," the PM said.

NITV Channel Manager Tanya Denning said it had taken a "good 30-odd years of getting to this point, having a channel accessible to every Australian.

"There's been a political push to have our place in the Australian media landscape and go back to our ownership of our stories," she added.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed the same sentiments.

“Thirty years in the making, NITV now has its rightful place in the Australian media landscape alongside the various international and world Indigenous broadcasters,” he said.

“But let us be clear, NITV is not just for Indigenous people. The channel will enrich and benefit all Australians who know have access to 60,000 years of powerful storytelling and knowledge. This will improve understanding of Australia’s first peoples and help to create a brighter future for all.”

Living Black Executive Producer Karla Grant hailed today as unforgettable.

"What a significant day in Australian TV history to have SBS and NITV joining forces, launching our first free-to-air Indigenous channel, telling our stories our way", Ms Grant said.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Your Comments

@ Simply Brilliant

John S - from Pennant Hills ,Sydney, 4 months ago

No-one who actually lives here is a tourist. No-one.

Simply Brilliant

FastFoodRiot - from Brisbane, 5 months ago

Its refreshing to watch something thats more Australian than that post-colonial garbage thats passed off as the real thing. We dont need more hyper-realism, just the honest goddamn truth. I think the channel is the start of something great for Indigenous people who truly belong. The rest of us are just tourists.

Uluru Concert!

Lynne Jackson - from Bacchus Marsh, Melbourne, 5 months ago

Absolutely wonderful, wish I could have been there! Thank you for NITV, looking forward so much to what lies ahead!

NITV

Maev - from Sydney, 5 months ago

Where is NITV...I have been watching since midday?...now 1.10PM

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.