ABOUT WITBN

WITBN was established as a key outcome of the inaugural World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference (WITBC ‘08) hosted by Māori Television in New Zealand in March 2008.

Click here to download the Full Council membership application form.

Click here to download the Associate Council application form.

Pictured at the second WITBN Council meeting hosted by NRK Sámi Radio in Norway in late March 2009 (from left to right): Masao Aki, Chief Director, TITV, Taiwan; Leh-Chyun Lin, Director of International Department, PTS, Taiwan; Jim Mather, Chief Executive, Māori Television, New Zealand; Pol O'Gallchoir, Chief Executive, TG4, Ireland; Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Service, BBC Alba, Scotland; Michael O'Meallaigh, Director of Commissioning; TG4; and Mei, Deputy Director of Marketing and Planning, TITV.

The inaugural meeting of the Network was held at TG4 in Ireland in August 2008 and the WITBN Council Report summarises the key decisions that were made at this meeting.The foundation Council members are:

Māori Television was appointed the secretariat organisation until WITBC 2010 and undertook the chairmanship role for two years. Taiwan Indigenous TV (TITV) - with support from Public Television Service (PTS) - took over the chairmanship and secretariat role in March 2010 for two years.

What is the aim of WITBN?

The main aim of WITBN is to develop collaborative relationships between indigenous television broadcasters in order to create opportunities for:

increased audiences;
better access to resources;
enhanced knowledge transfer;
strategic international leadership;
enhancement of schedules through programme exchange; and
reaching out to all other indigenous television broadcasters.

What does WITBN do for its Full Council members?

Promotes partnerships and co-operation between member broadcasters.
Builds capacity and capability within the indigenous television broadcasting sector by identifying opportunities for development, staff exchanges, training, bursaries, scholarships and networking opportunities.
Facilitates the sharing of programme concepts, content for broadcast and news and current affairs materials. A programme exchange scheme and indigenous current affairs programme is in development.
Facilitates the sharing of information and dialogue among members concerning benchmarks, performance measurements, and management of cultural value.
Maintains a website and distributes a regular electronic newsletter.
Convenes member meetings every six months and an international conference every two years for which members receive preferential rates.

What does WITBN do for its Associate Council members?

Provides international networking opportunities with member broadcasters.
Convenes an international conference every two years for which Associate members receive preferential rates.
Offers discounted rate for exhibition stands at WITBC conferences.
Maintains a website and distributes a regular electronic newsletter, free for members, with opportunities for editorial coverage of indigenous language, culture of broadcast related technology, products, events and initiatives.

How can we join WITBN?

WITBN invites membership applications to the network. There are two levels of membership: Full and Associate.

Full Council member organisations must be indigenous television broadcasters that have a mandate to promote and revitalise the indigenous language(s) and culture(s) of their countries, or be non-indigenous broadcasters able to demonstrate commitment and a proven record of contributing to retention and development of indigenous language(s) and culture(s). Broadcasters can include content providers and aggregators. Council members pay an annual membership fee of US$ 5,000. The Council reserves the right to decline WITBN membership applications.

Click here to download the Full Council membership application form.

Associate Council members are organisations that meet the Council membership criteria but do not wish to participate in the leadership of WITBN or are other key stakeholders who wish to support the objectives of the network. Associate members have no decision-making capacity. Associate members pay an annual membership fee of US$ 1,000 (based on calendar year / payment January). The Council reserves the right to decline WITBN membership applications.

Click here to download the Associate Council membership application form.