On Wednesday December 12th National Indigenous Television (NITV) began broadcasting on SBS digital marking a historic step for Indigenous media.
In 2006, it was estimated that less than 2 hours per week of Indigenous-produced content was broadcast across all media. Since beginning in 2007, National Indigenous Television has shown approximately 2,000 hours of content from genres ranging from sport, news and current affairs, culture, music and children's programs. It is the only national channel in Australia that is dedicated to reflecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture. But how did it all begin?
In 2004, Indigenous media professionals and community representatives from across Australia attended a summit, held at Redfern in Sydney. Following months of lobbying and meetings, the Australian government announced in September 2005, that it would fund the creation of an Indigenous television service, starting in July the next year. The service, called National Indigenous Television (NITV), would be built on the current narrowcasting service, Imparja Television and was charged with producing and commissioning Indigenous programming.
“There were huge challenges with this television service. We had massive expectations on our shoulders. And every one of the people behind the scenes… wanted this to be something for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and something for all Australians.”
Ms Denning says one of the biggest achievements of NITV was the growing news and current affairs service. NITV News grew from a five-minute update to a 30-minute weekday bulletin and has won multiple awards.
“I think if you look back, one of the biggest achievements that NITV has made to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is really nurturing and growing a news and current affairs service that is truly from the Indigenous perspective”, Ms Denning says. “So despite the challenges and despite the obstacles, we managed to keep pulling through due to the heart and passion of a lot of the people behind the scenes."
NITV begins broadcasting on SBS-4 (digital channel 34) at 12pm (AEDT) on December 12, 2012, starting with a two hour broadcast from Uluru.
Journalist Stan Grant is co-hosting the event, which includes a welcome from traditional owners of the iconic red centre.
"It's incredibly poignant for me. I grew up in an Aboriginal community in New South Wales. My earliest memories are of sitting around with my parents and my grandparents and just hearing stories. We are storytellers. That is how we incorporate our history, that is how we pass on our culture, through storytelling. And now to be involved in a network that is going to be able to share those stories with the rest of Australia is going to be a huge step forward for us," Stan Grant says.
The broadcast will be followed by a one-hour special of Indigenous current affairs program Living Black (from 2pm AEDT).
Host Karla Grant says the program will examine the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media in Australia.
"We have a panel that is going to join me. We have Mick Gooda the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social justice Commissioner. Professor Marcia Langton, and we also have Malarndirri McCarthy who used to be in broadcasting and was also a politician in the Northern Territory."
In the evening (5:30pm and 7pm) NITV News will broadcast a special edition from Uluru, crossing to reporters around the country.
Then, as the sun sets on the rock, some of Australia's best Indigenous musicians will take to the stage for a two-hour concert (from 8pm AEDT) including singer Casey Donovan, Christine Anu, Troy Cassar-Daley and Rhoda Roberts.
NITV begins broadcasting on SBS-4 (digital channel 34) at 12pm (AEDT) on December 12, 2012.
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