By CHRIS BONNEY
NITV has not had a chance to take a breather and acknowledge our achievements until now; three years since the station went live on Black Friday, July 13, 2007.
From the moment we went live we had huge expectations to fulfill. We had to capture not only the Imagination of a Nation, but also become a place of belonging for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As Australia’s only channel dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, NITV has met its goals over the last four years. We have created a boutique channel that has informed, entertained and educated the Australian populations. Our stories help preserve languages and we have told stories that showcases the rich diversity of Indigenous culture and creative talent. The channel is focused on locally produced content and growing the skills of Indigenous people in the media and broadcasting industries.
To date we have commissioned more than 1,000 quality hours of programming from the Indigenous production sector, generating hundreds of Indigenous jobs and media careers. All this on a shoestring budget. In fact, for the same price that some networks spend on one drama series. NITV is certainly cost-effective.
And our shows are new and unique – never before has Australian audiences had access to the diversity of Indigenous content as told by us. We are also proud that in 2011 we launched Australia’s first half-hour Indigenous News Service.
Our sports programs Barefoot Rugby Show and The Marngrook Footy Show have a large following of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences. Our children’s programs lead the way in educating Australian children in culture, language and values. Go Lingo is the first Indigenous production to be a finalist in the 2011 Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association Awards.
We have achieved a lot in four years and we are proud to embody Australia's commitment to Article 16 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which states that we have a right to own our media and tell our stories our way.
NITV! It’s your NITV!
For more information about NITV, visit: NITV.org.au
ENDS
Chris Bonney is NITV's Publicity & Communications Manager.
