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NITV: Launch Day

Next week NITV joins SBS, with 24 hrs of Indigenous broadcasting beginning with a live broadcast from Uluru.

Next week NITV joins SBS suite of channels, with 24 hours of Indigenous broadcasting, beginning with a live two hour outside broadcast from Uluru.

Continuing through the day are Indigenous current affairs, kids, News, a concert and movies.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAkOY3_RUJk[/youtube]

Here’s the schedule for next Wednesday:

In a historic day for Australia, a dedicated Indigenous television service will be available for all Australians free-to-air for the first time, when National Indigenous Television (NITV) begins broadcasting on 12 December 2012.

From 12pm, Australians are invited to tune in as NITV switches on, and join the celebrations as the channel dedicated to telling the stories of the world’s greatest story tellers becomes available to every household.

NITV Channel Manager, Tanya Denning, said: “NITV is dedicated to creating and delivering innovative content representing the many voices of the country’s first Australians, and having our unique languages and culture reflected within the media landscape. We’re excited to invite Australians of all backgrounds to tune in, and join us in celebrating our rich and unique culture.”

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 in the Northern Territory, news and current affairs specials, children’s programming and film. 

From the Heart of Our Nation
12pm on NITV
NITV will begin broadcasting free-to-air with a two hour outside broadcast from Uluru in the Northern Territory. From the Heart of Our Nation will be a special television event marking the official ‘switch on’, and will be hosted by Indigenous broadcasters Stan Grant and Rhoda Roberts.

The Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara traditional owners of the area will begin by welcoming audiences from around the nation. Set against the remarkable backdrop of one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, Stan and Rhoda will interview a number of special guest and cross to different locations, as people share their stories about what having this dedicated Indigenous channel available to every Australian means to them.

There’ll also be some dazzling and powerful performances, including special appearances by some of Australia’s leading Indigenous artists during the two hour celebration marking this milestone event.

Living Black Special: Your Stories, Your Voice
2pm on NITV
In an explosive special episode, Indigenous current affairs program Living Black will examine the history of Indigenous broadcasting in Australia and the changing face of the media landscape. Hosted by Karla Grant, Living Black will explore how Indigenous communities are receiving their news and information, as well as how Indigenous issues are portrayed by both mainstream and Indigenous media.

Karla will lead a panel discussion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, activist Sol Bellear, and Aboriginal scholar Professor Marcia Langton, to discuss past, present and future challenges Indigenous people face in their continued struggle to close the gap.

Indigenous issues will also be explored with interviews and expert insight from activist Gary Foley, Koori Mail editor Kirstie Parker, author and social commentator Dr Anita Heiss, outspoken boxer Anthony Mundine and journalist Jeff McMullen.

Jarjums
From 3pm on NITV
NITV is recognised for its commitment to high quality children’s programs that educate, entertain and facilitate learning and development of Indigenous culture. Jarjums (meaning children) is NITV’s daily block of children’s programs from Australia, as well as award-winning programs from other Indigenous cultures around the world.

On 12 December, the programs featured are:
• Waabiny Time (3pm): A Noongar language program commissioned by NITV for an early childhood audience, the program takes children from the ages of three to six on an educational and entertaining adventure, with stories, songs and activities that are authentically Indigenous and encourage participation.
• Tipi Tales (3.30pm): This series follows the adventures of four Ojibway children in the Canadian Prairies, who must learn to solve a problem using the traditional teachings of their ancestors. Through these charming stories, Tipi Tales reflects the Canadian Ojibway culture and the teachings of the First Nations people.
• Raven Tales (4pm): Designed for school-age children and their families to introduce Native American folklore in an entertaining way. Following the adventures of Raven, the trickiest troublemaker of Native American folklore, each episode delivers humorous and heartfelt stories adapted from of wide variety of Native cultures from across North America.
• Bushwhacked (4.30pm): Brandon Walters sets up his city-slicker mate, Kayne Tremills, with eye-popping challenges as they travel around Australia. Weaving Indigenous rites and rituals, and native wildlife and adrenaline-pumping action, the boys are constantly kept on their toes as Brandon sets Kayne amazing missions to complete.

NITV News
5.30pm on NITV
A special edition of NITV News broadcast from Uluru will provide comprehensive coverage of the day and the latest news effecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Hosted by Natalie Ahmat with sports presenter Kris Flanders, the news service that has become a cornerstone of NITV’s schedule will feature crosses to reporters around the country, including the Torres Straits and Canberra.

From the Heart of Our Nation: Reflections, followed by Celebration Concert
From 7.30pm on NITV and simulcast on SBS ONE
At 7.30pm NITV will revisit some of the highlights from the From the Heart of Our Nation broadcast hosted by Stan Grant and Rhoda Roberts, earlier in the day.

From 8pm the party really gets underway as NITV returns to the outdoors at Uluru. As the sun sets on the Rock, there is no better location to bring together Australia’s best Indigenous artists to take to the stage for a live two hour spectacular, and celebrate this special day.

Hosted by the much-loved Ernie Dingo, audiences across the country will be inspired to let their hair down, get off their couches and get grooving as Christine Anu, Troy Cassar Daley, Casey Donovan, Dan Sultan, Archie Roach, Warren H. Williams, Frank Yamma, and the Tjupi Band perform some of their classics – and a few surprises – under the stars.

Movie: Stone Bros
10pm on NITV
Australian Indigenous comedy film Stone Bros is the story of Eddie (Luke Carroll) and his quest to reconnect with his blackfella roots. Sick of city life, he takes off in his beat-up Ford Fairmont to find and return a sacred stone to his hometown, Kalgoorlie but he hadn’t bargained on his skirt-chasing, hardliving cuz Charlie (Leon Burchill) forcing himself along for the ride. Eddie’s spiritual quest takes a further detour when they encounter an Italian sex-god (Valentino Del Toro), a soul-searching cop (Peter Phelps), a failed drag singer (David Page) and a demon dog possessed by Charlie’s jilted girlfriend.

NITV will be available free-to-air from 12pm on 12 December 2012 on channel 34 and Foxtel channel 180.
The special launch day broadcast will also be streamed live online on sbs.com/nitv.

10 Responses

  1. I suppose taxpayers should pay for the NFL? What an idiotic post. Myself and a lot of others are looking forward to this, especially seeing as I don’t have Foxtel.

  2. Good news.
    I used to watch when I had Austar years ago, sometimes when channel surfing something would occasionally catch my eye, and I’d find myself watching…

  3. I’m a little non-plussed as to how Bushwhacked has ended up on NITV when it’s still being broadcast on ABC3.
    Is the show a co-production from ABC and SBS?

  4. I never watched this channel when I had Foxtel as nothing caught my interest However I saw the promo loop the other day, and it looks as though they are showing some US content too which looks quite interesting.

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