National Indigenous Television | |
---|---|
Launched | 13 July 2007 12 December 2012 (free-to-air) |
Network | SBS Television |
Owned by | Special Broadcasting Service |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV) 16:9 |
Audience share | 0.1% nationally (2016 ratings year, ) |
Slogan | Telling Your Stories |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | Nationally |
Headquarters | Artarmon, New South Wales, Australia |
Replaced | ICTV |
Sister channel(s) |
SBS SBS HD SBS Viceland Food Network |
Website | nitv.org.au |
Availability
|
|
Terrestrial | |
UHF (DVB-T 64-QAM) | |
Freeview (virtual) | 34 |
Satellite | |
VAST (DVB-S2 8PSK) | |
VAST (virtual) | 34 |
Foxtel (virtual) | 144 |
Cable | |
UHF (DVB-C QAM) | |
Foxtel (virtual) | 144 |
TransACT (virtual) | 502 |
National Indigenous Television, commonly referred to as NITV, is an Australian television channel that broadcasts programming produced primarily by indigenous peoples of Australia.
It was initially only carried by cable and satellite providers, along with some limited over-the-air transmissions in certain remote areas. However, in 2010, the Australian Government commissioned a wide-ranging review of its investment in the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector. The review was headed up by retired senior public servant Neville Stevens with the assistance of Expert Panel members Laurie Patton and Kerrynne Liddle. The review recommended that NITV continue to receive government funding only on the basis that it was re-structured.
Subsequently, Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy invited NITV to enter in negotiations with the Special Broadcasting Service to access one of that network's unused digital terrestrial channels. SBS took over the management and operation of NITV on 1 July 2012, and the network was re-launched as a free-to-air channel on Freeview channel 34 on 12 December 2012.
Indigenous groups and individuals lobbied the Australian Government to fund a nationwide Indigenous television service in the 1980s and 90s, however no major political party championed this cause.
In the late 1990s the Imparja Info Channel (also known as "Channel 31") was launched free-to-view on the satellite Optus Aurora service, providing largely Aboriginal programming direct to homes and via network of BRACS transmitters to remote Aboriginal communities. The Aboriginal programming on this channel later became known as Indigenous Community Television.
In 2004, Imparja stated a desire to run a better funded service, at least within its license area. In the same year, a voluntary NITV Committee was formed and a summit was held in Redfern, Sydney. The summit involved a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media professionals and community members committed to the establishment of a national Indigenous broadcasting service.