In Pictures: NITV Best of a decade

KOORI KNOCKOUT (2010)

First broadcast in 2007, the Koori Knockout was NITV’s first-ever outside broadcast.  

Known as one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous peoples in the world, NITV has continued its dedication all the beloved action to homes all across Australia, showcasing the phenomenal talent on the field. Now live streaming on digital platforms, 2019 welcomed over one million audiences tune into the matches. 

Kicking off the decade, the trophy went to Walgett Aboriginal Connection.

Watch last year’s Grand Final on SBS On Demand.

NATIONAL NAIDOC AWARDS (2011)

The annual NAIDOC Awards recognise the outstanding contributions that Indigenous Australians make to improve the lives of people in their communities and across the country, or the excellence they’ve shown in their chosen field.

2011 saw NITV’s first broadcast of the National NAIDOC Awards marking eight years of consecutive broadcasting of this significant event.

FREE-TO-AIR SWITCH ON (2012)

In a historic day for Australia, a dedicated Indigenous television service became available for all Australians free-to-air for the first time, as National Indigenous Television (NITV) began broadcasting on 12 December 2012 as a part of the SBS network.

To celebrate the free-to-air launch and mark this important milestone, NITV will broadcast a day of special programming including two live outdoor broadcasts from Uluru, news and current affairs specials, children’s programming and the film, Stone Bros.

MOVE IT MOB STYLE (2012)

NITV’s first Logie nomination! Indigenous youth dance-based health and fitness program, Move it Mob style, teaches viewers mad dance routines combining Hip Hop with contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander moves, while also delivering strong health messages. 

OUR STORIES, OUR WAY (2013)

An initiative to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the opportunity to produce content from the diverse communities that make up Australia, the Our Stories project showcases factual short documentaries, and provides emerging filmmakers with an invaluable national television platform to showcase the stories from around Australia.  

Watch Our Stories films on SBS On Demand.

KRIOL KITCHEN (2014)

Sisters Ali and Mitch Torres bring together culture, Country and cuisine as they cook up the fresh tastes of Kriol recipes.

Special guests are invited to divulge in foods inspired by the sisters’ rich Kriol lineage in the culturally diverse northern part of Australia, a melting pot of Aboriginal Australian, Malaysian, Chinese and Filipino influences. 

Kriol Kitchen is now in its fourth series, streaming on SBS on Demand.

IN THE FRAME (2014)

Host Rhonda Roberts explores the lives of notable Indigenous personalities as they share photos and talk openly and candidly about their past and their futures.

Guests included Rugby legend, Mark Ella, singer-songwriter Busby Marou, musician and academic Lou Bennett, Olympian Kyle Vander-Kuyp, who shared their memories and recollections of the particular photograph which captured a moment in time. Emotional, entertaining and engaging, the program offered an up-close and personal insight into what makes these personalities so successful and loved.

MARNGROOK FOOTY SHOW (2015)

One of the channel’s first commissions, Logie nominated, the Marngrook Footy Show brings the latest AFL news, all-star interviews and in-depth analysis from a unique perspective.  

After over a decade on air, Marngrook broadcast their last season of the show on NITV in 2019. NITV will continue to cover AFL, as well as a wide variety of sport, as it gives more broadcast opportunities to grow and evolve with fans in 2020.

ANZAC: REMEMBERING OUR HEROES (2015)

In a 100th ANZAC tribute, NITV paid tribute to the military efforts of the Indigenous peoples of Australia, broadcasting a series of short documentaries Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women, who served in the forces.

These documentaries included, Black Digger Proud, a story of a Ngarrindjeri Vietnam veteran, The Forgotten Warriors, about the Torres Strait Islander defence in WWII, Rockhampton Diggers, touching stories of local Queensland servicemen and women and many more.

EXPRESS YOURSELF (2015)

Our first comedy entertainment program, Express Yourself hosted by the hilarious Sean Choolburra presents some of the best Indigenous comedians from across the country in front of a studio audience.

SONGLINES ON SCREEN (2016)

Songlines on Screen showcasing eight short films from the remote regions of Western, Northern and Central Australia.

The films represent Aboriginal peoples ongoing connection to land and culture, as told throughout time by the way of sacred creation songs, and the recording allows First Peoples’ to keep sacred stories alive for future generations. It also offers all Australians the rare opportunity to share the creation stories that are the foundation of our country’s rich history. 

Songlines on Screen is available on SBS On Demand.

SERVANT OR SLAVE (2016)

A truly powerful documentary and one of NITV’s ratings giants. Servant or Slave tells the heartbreaking experiences of five Aboriginal women who were stolen from their families and trained to be domestic servants. 

With the government exercising complete control over their wages, theirs is a David and Goliath battle pursuing justice for the crimes committed against them and their story is a barely acknowledged part of modern history whose consequences are still felt today.

LIVING BLACK (2016)

Proudly Australia’s longest-running Indigenous news and current affairs program, alongside fellow journalists, host Karla Grant shares Indigenous stories and perspectives, and investigates topical issues, from politics, music and entertainment, to history, sport and cultural preservation.

2020 will see Living Black’s 18th consecutive year broadcasting, as it returns for a new dynamic season.

GOING PLACES WITH ERNIE DINGO (2016)

Join Ernie Dingo as he explores Australia's most iconic destinations — But this is no ordinary travel show! Ernie introduces us to Traditional owners and other people who live, breathe and work amongst these incredible places.

Australia’s most spectacular scenery is on show, while being navigated by the real-life stories of the people Ernie meets in his quest to discover more about the country’s popular tourist destinations.

Watch all three seasons of Going Places with Ernie Dingo on SBS On Demand.

YOU ARE HERE (2017)

From national issues, to personal battles and triumphs, You Are Here is a showcase of documentaries which explore the place of Indigenous people in Australia today. 

Presented by Miranda Tapsell, each story inspires a sense of place, allowing viewers to discover new perspectives on the Australian spirit through Indigenous storytelling. 

These award-winning documentaries included, Warwick Thornton’s We Don’t Need a Map, Erica Glynn’s In My Own Words, Tyson Mowarin’s Connection to Country and Trisha Morton-Thomas’ Occupation Native.

FAMILY RULES (2017)

Dubbed as the “Indigenous Kardashians”, Family Rules was an insight into family life of nine sisters and their mother with a reality tv-style format. 

Angela, Shenika, Helen, Kelly, Kiara, Sharna, Aleisha, Jessica and Hannah navigate their way through adolescence and adulthood as their mother, Daniella, tries to teach them life lessons. With their own unique sense of humor and style these learn to girls juggle their own aspirations with the reality of their everyday life.

Family Rules Season 3 airs on NITV in March 2020.

LITTLE J & BIG CUZ (2017)

NITV’s first Logie win! Groundbreaking children’s content, Little J & Big Cuz is the first Indigenous animated children’s series, created to entertain and educate early school-aged children.  

Starring the voice talent of Miranda Tapsell, Deborah Mailman, Aaron Fa’Aoso and many other big names, the show follows Little J and his cousin as they explore themes of Indigenous identity, connection to country, traditional knowledge and cultural practices. Series One was also translated from English into six Indigenous languages.

Little J & Big Cuz received the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children’s Program. Season Two broadcast Friday, 10 January 2020 at 7.30pm.

THE POINT (2018)

NITV’s flagship news and current affairs program has seen different hosts, formats and timeslots throughout the 2010s, and in 2018 a refreshed new look and feel introduced John-Paul “JP” Janke and Rachael Hocking as hosts with a weekly, hour-long program. 

From disability to institutionalised racism; addiction to youth parliament; and even extreme sports, key commentators and high-profile talent join the hosts each week to wrestle with the stories and issues impacting First Australians.

The Point is available on SBS On Demand.

BLACK DIVAZ (2018)

A vibrant, captivating documentary which follows the inaugural Miss First Nations pageant in Darwin, Black Divaz, goes on a journey with six Indigenous drag queens from around Australia compete in challenges, talent quests and lip-sync battles, as well as hearing the personal stories of three of the contestants.

This brave and bold documentary from Adrian Russell Wills, explores underneath the glitz and glamour, to uncover the very serious issues facing our community including homophobia and youth suicide, while embracing and celebrating ou First Nations’ vibrant Indigenous LGBTQI+ community.

OVER THE BLACK DOT (2019)

NITV has a strong history in covering rugby league and in 2017, a new footy program with an all-Indigenous panel came to screens. In 2019, it had a whole new look with Jodan Perry as host and panellists Timana Tahu, Bo De La Cruz and George Rose offering in-depth footy analysis, player’s interviews and great entertainment.

SHE WHO MUST BE LOVED (2019)

A touching biographical documentary, She Who Must Be Loved tells the epic life story of 78-year-old Alfreda Glynn, a woman born on a remote cattle station north of Alice Springs in 1939, whose childhood was under the Aboriginal Protection policies.

She managed to carve herself a career while having five children and rearing them on her own, she left a remarkable legacy as the co-founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) and Imparja TV.

She who must be loved is the Winner of the Sydney Film Festival’s Documentary Foundation Australia Award and the Adelaide Film Festival’s Audience Award. It is available on SBS On Demand.