2023 Upfronts: NITV

• 10 years of NITV on SBS
• 20 years of Living Black
• Season 5 of Going Places with Ernie Dingo
• First Inventors with Rob Collins, Keeping Hope with Mark Coles Smith
• Our Law expands to series
• Finding Jedda, a reimagining of the 1954 auditions for the iconic Australian film Jedda.

NITV highlights for 2023 were announced today at SBS Upfronts.

On 12 December 2022, NITV celebrates 10 years since it joined the SBS network. To mark the occasion, NITV presents a special live broadcast event From the Heart of our Nation, A Celebration, inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as the sun sets on Uluru.

Amongst the 2023 highlights Rob Collins uncovers ancient Indigenous innovations on Country in The First Inventors; Living Black, presented by Karla Grant celebrates its 20th year on air and Going Places with Ernie Dingo returns with additional guests actor Aaron Fa’aoso, journalist Rae Johnston, Network 10 television presenter Narelda Jacobs, and entrepreneur and presenter Bianca Hunt.

In Keeping Hope, Mark Coles Smith reveals suicide in Indigenous communities is now at epidemic proportions while Finding Jedda is a reimagining of the 1954 auditions for the iconic Australian film Jedda.

In Our Law, documentary cameras are granted intimate and candid access to the Indigenous officers and cadets while football shows Yokayi Footy and Over the Black Dot return for an Indigenous perspective of the AFL and NRL.

SBS Director of Indigenous Content, Tanya Denning-Orman, said: “What a line-up of First Nations programming we have coming up in 2023! We’re celebrating culture, connecting to Country, and championing the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities from across the continent, right across the SBS network. Whatever platform you use to come to SBS, you’ll find more stories from the world’s greatest storytellers that will inspire and instil pride in all Australians. It includes our biggest ever offering of new content from NITV, as we celebrate 10 years of being available to every Australian as part of SBS – join us for a party at Uluru in December as we mark this major milestone.”

The First Inventors
TX: 2023 on NITV
Number of Episodes: 4 x 1hr
In this flagship series, The First Inventors uncovers the vast, innovative knowledge of Indigenous Australia. Rob Collins takes a journey through continental time and Country as he meets and collaborates with First Nations experts whose front-line Australian field work is illuminating ancient innovations and discoveries. The First Inventors is a Ronde Pty Ltd production for NITV. A production for NITV and Network 10. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with NITV. Financed with support from the National Indigenous Australians Agency, with Tourism Australia, Screen NSW and Screen Territory.

Our Law
TX: 4 January 2023 (double episodes) on NITV
Number of Episodes: 6 x 30mins
After 170 years of locked doors and sealed lips, documentary cameras are now granted intimate and candid access to the Indigenous officers and cadets attempting to break the cycle of Indigenous incarceration and repair a deeply troubled relationship between police and First Nations people, while giving voice to the communities being policed. Our Law is a Pink Pepper Pty Ltd and Periscope Pictures Pty Ltd production for NITV. Principal production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department, in association with NITV. Financed with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.

Going Places with Ernie Dingo S5
TX: July 2023 on NITV and SBS
Number of Episodes: 12 x 52mins
Going Places with Ernie Dingo will return to NITV in 2023, introducing a new suite of iconic destinations. From the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley to the old-growth forests of Pemberton, Ernie will continue showcasing the beauty that our country has to offer. After four seasons, Ernie will be hitting the road with some friends – actor Aaron Fa’aoso, journalist Rae Johnston, entrepreneur and presenter Bianca Hunt and Network 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs. Produced by NITV.

Big Mob Brekky
TX: July 2023 on NITV
Number of episodes: 5 x 60mins
Order your coffee blak and tune in for a yarn with the Big Mob Brekky crew. We’ll check in with mob right across the country for a feed, a laugh and all the latest in black news and entertainment during NAIDOC Week.

Events: 

National Indigenous Music Awards 2023
TX: August 2023 on NITV
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) will return to NITV in 2023, bringing Indigenous music and stories to audiences around Australia.

National Indigenous Fashion Awards
2023 TX: August 2023 on NITV
The National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), provides a vibrant and exciting platform to celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers, whilst contributing to the capacity building of the sector.

NAIDOC
TX: July 2023 on NITV
NAIDOC Week celebrates and reflects on the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. SBS and NITV will once again offer an impressive multiplatform NAIDOC offering for all Australians including new programming content.

Keeping Hope
TX: 2023 on NITV
Number of Episodes: 1 x 1hr
Mark Coles Smith is at the beginning of a difficult personal journey. He has been haunted by unanswered questions regarding the suicide of his best friend in the Kimberly ten years ago. While the passing of years has numbed the pain, Mark reflects how people who die young are frozen in time. However, with those who take their own lives, it’s difficult to properly celebrate their lives because when talking about them, feelings of guilt and remorse inevitably arise. They become statistics and painful memories. Suicide in Indigenous communities is now at epidemic proportions. It’s something we must talk about. Mark travels across the Kimberley to visit some of the worst affected areas and speaks with professionals, Indigenous community leaders and his own family to find out what’s being done and what is still needed. Keeping Hope is a Joined Up Films production for NITV. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest.

Finding Jedda:
Two girls go head-to-head for the role of a lifetime, in a reimagining of the 1954 auditions for the iconic Australian film Jedda. Writer/director Tanith Glynn-Maloney (Robbie Hood) teams up with executive producers Dan Lake and Meg O’Connell (Retrograde). Finding Jedda is a Since 1788 Productions, Unless Pictures, and Orange Entertainment production for NITV. This project is also supported by Screen Territory. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV through the No Ordinary Black initiative. Financed with support from Screen Territory.

Mudskipper:
Martha, a Torres Strait Islander woman, works tirelessly in a laundromat loading machines and folding washing, ready for the collection of her boss. When a mysterious visitor arrives, Martha is reminded of the life she has left behind. The creative team features writer/director John Harvey (Water), writer Walter Waia and producer Gillian Moody (Ties That Bind). Mudskipper is a Brown Cab Productions production for NITV. This project is also supported by Screen Queensland. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV through the No Ordinary Black initiative. Financed with support from Screen Queensland.

Shiny One:
A comedy from writer/director Viviana Petyarre (Utopia Generations), producer Tanith Glynn-Maloney (Robbie Hood) and executive producers Dan Lake and Meg O’Connell (Retrograde). The film centres on a youngfella named Wenye, who leaves his remote community to pursue a dream vision calling him to the big smoke to find his pot of gold. Shiny One is a Since 1788 Productions, Unless Pictures, and Orange Entertainment production for NITV. This project is also supported by Screen Territory. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV through the No Ordinary Black initiative. Financed with support from Screen Territory.

The Lost Crystal of Jessica’s Room:
From writer/director Gary Hamaguchi and producer Jodie Bell, who previously collaborated on Saving Seagrass. The film follows two children who play a game where they use a treasure map to find a crystal in their backyard, but the crystal is not what is seems. The Lost Crystal of Jessica’s Room is a Ramu Productions production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV through the No Ordinary Black initiative. Financed with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.

Larapinta
TX: February 2023 on NITV
Number of Episodes: 6 x 30mins
Larapinta is an environmental documentary, told through the eyes of young presenter Talia Liddle. Drawing on inspiration from documentaries such as Our Planet, it will educate and inspire audiences to connect to Country, to look at Country from a different perspective, as something to care for rather than something at our disposal. Larapinta will look at the effect of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and Country but it will also show the strength that continues to this day – an equal balance of horror and beauty. Larapinta is a No Coincidence Media Pty Ltd and Pursekey Productions Pty Ltd production for NITV. Principal production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department. Financed with support from Goolari Media with post-production support through the Western Australian Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Rebate. Developed with the assistance of Screen NSW.

News & Current Affairs
In 2023, our dedicated team of NITV journalists across the country will continue to deliver breaking news, cover the big stories and explore the issues that matter most to our communities. NITV’s flagship current affairs program The Point is back with NITV’s John Paul Janke and Network 10’s Narelda Jacobs, joined by key commentators and high-profile personalities each week to discuss the stories you need to know through a unique Indigenous perspective. Karla Grant returns for the 20th year of Living Black, where she sits down with inspiring and influential people to delve into issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, bringing personal insight to extraordinary stories. Living Black is SBS’s longest running Indigenous current affairs program. Veteran journalist Natalie Ahmat and our team of First Nations journalists are back on screens seven days a week in 2023 with daily editions of NITV News and Friday national wrap program Nula.

Sport
Championing young, diverse players and perspectives, Yokayi Footy returns to NITV in March. Viewers will get their footy fix, be treated to player interviews, and enjoy moving community stories as football and Indigenous culture intersect. Over the Black Dot also returns in March, with an all-Indigenous panel covering NRL highlights alongside special guests, championing Indigenous achievements and having some laughs along the way. The Koori Knockout will also return to NITV, live in October.

Separate posts follow for SBS, SBS VICELAND, SBS Food, SBS World Movies, SBS World Watch and SBS on Demand.

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