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Tanya Denning Orman appointed SBS Head of Indigenous

NITV channel manager takes on new role as SBS responds to a troubling week.

NITV channel manager Tanya Denning Orman has been appointed SBS Head of Indigenous content.

She will oversee the development and delivery of First Nations storytelling across the SBS network.

This is the first time SBS has had a head of Indigenous content and follows a troubling week in which the broadcaster came under fire for workplace culture from former Indigenous staff.

Tanya Denning Orman joined NITV in 2007 as a commissioning editor and was appointed channel manager in 2012 when it became part of SBS. A Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman from North Queensland she is one of the youngest television executives in Australia

She continues as channel manager at NITV in addition to her new duties for SBS.

3 Responses

  1. I remember there was some reluctance from SBS at the time then senator Stephen Conroy proceeded with the plans and funding for NITV on SBS. It’s a good thing that it went ahead as I think it means and provides a lot to indigenous Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, all Australians and the communities in general for education and culture.

  2. This is a great appointment. Tanya is the off-screen star of NITV. Adding broader responsibilities to her role is a sign that SBS is finally embracing Indigenous broadcasting. Having been part of an inquiry into the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector (most of whose recommendations were ignored by the communications department bureaucrats!) I was hired by the government to negotiate arrangements for NITV to join the SBS stable. It would be fair to say that there was little initial interest among the senior executives and to his credit then MD Michael Ebeid overruled their objections. Without the support of SBS NITV simp;ly would not exist. The transition from a separate entity to its current position is a great tribute to Tanya and her staff.
    PS: Just a shame that SBS rebuffed requests to provide spectrum for community TV. They could easily have done so.

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