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NITV secures another $15m in funding from Government

ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander network National Indigenous Television has won a reprieve, with the federal government giving it another $15 million in funding to keep it on air for another year.

At the same time, the government announced a sweeping review of its investment in the Indigenous media sector, to be coordinated by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

The government was determined to ensure resources allocated to Indigenous broadcasting were giving the best outcomes for Indigenous people, said Indigenous affairs minister Jenny Macklin.

“Indigenous broadcasting provides a vehicle for Indigenous people to communicate their perspective on national issues,” she said.

“We know Aboriginal people enjoy having access to a wide range of programming that is relevant to their experiences and lives.”

Government support for Indigenous media includes substantial investment in NITV and Imparja TV, as well as backing for Indigenous Community TV, five community radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Darwin, licensed community radio stations in 22 regional centres, eight Remote Indigenous Media Organisations and 71 Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services.

The review would also look at other government investment in the sector, including thorugh the ABC, SBS and the Community Broadcasting Foundation, said communications minister Stephen Conroy.

"These organisations make a substantial contribution to the production and distribution of Indigenous broadcasting content, but fall outside the $14.5 million Indigenous Broadcasting Program,” he said.

Information from the review would inform considerations about carrying Indigenous TV and radio content on the new free-to-air digital broadcasting platforms, he said.

NITV, which currently has no free-to-air carriage outside remote Australia, had been operating on a wind-down budget as it awaited word on whether its original four-year funding agreement, which expires on June 30, would be extended.

Indigenous broadcasting is funded and managed by the Department of the Environment, headed by minister Peter Garrett. The announcement on its further funding was made jointly by Mr Garrett, Mr Conroy and Ms Macklin.

NITV chair Terri Janke said the announcement provided the commercial and operational certainty needed "for the immediate future to commit to staff, the Indigenous production sector, commercial partners, and most importantly our audience”.

"NITV looks forward to making a positive contribution to the government’s Review into NITV and the Indigenous broadcasting," she said.

"Continued strategic development and a strong commitment to first class policy solutions will secure a strong future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s broadcasting and digital media landscape."