National Indigenous Television
National Indigenous Television (NITV) aims to boost the Indigenous television production sector across Australia and to have a positive impact on Indigenous culture and identity.
Launched on 13 July 2007, NITV is available as a distinct television channel in remote areas via the Imparja Television narrowcast service and nationally on pay television via Foxtel Channel 180, Austar and Optus. The service is also carried on:
- channel 502 on TransACT's TransTV service in Canberra
- Neighborhood Cable in Geelong, Ballarat and Mildura
- channel 39 on the Parliament House TV distribution system
NITV commissions, produces and aggregates Indigenous television content. It provides Indigenous news, children's TV, documentaries, drama, sport and other entertainment reflecting the breadth of Indigenous communities. It is Australia's first national Indigenous television service.
The Australian Government provided $48.5 million over four years to 30 June 2010 to support NITV. On 11 May 2010 the government announced in the Budget that it would provide funding of $15.2 million to NITV for a further 12 months, until 30 June 2011 pending a national review into the government's investment into the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector.
That review reported in January 2011 and recommended significant changes to NITV's structural arrangements. Accordingly, funding in 2011–12 will cover NITV's operations during the transitional year. On 1 September 2011, the Minister invited NITV and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) to commence discussions on the format and structure of a possible new Indigenous television service. Negotiations are currently being conducted between the two organisations.
Further information on the review is available from the Indigenous Broadcasting Review 2010 page.
Contact information
Assistant Manager
National Indigenous Television
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: 03 6211 9325 or 0409 313 476
Email: indigenousbroadcasting@dbcde.gov.au
