Anniversary of NITV’s Broadcast Launch

13 July 2007

National Indigenous Television first appeared on screens on 13 July 2007. The anniversary celebrates a significant platform for programming produced by and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

First Nations stories on television

SBS’s tenth-anniversary account identifies the original broadcast date. NITV’s later nationwide free-to-air launch through SBS in December 2012 was a separate milestone. This entry marks the original 2007 service rather than treating the two launches as one event.

Representation and control

The history of NITV sits within a wider First Nations media movement. Access to broadcasting matters, but so do decisions about who commissions, makes, presents and controls the stories. A channel can provide space for news, languages, children’s programming, sport, culture and debate.

The anniversary offers a way to discuss representation without expecting any one program to express every First Nations perspective. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have distinct histories, languages and views. The range of stories is part of the achievement.

For schools and workplaces, choose an age-appropriate program and identify its creators and context. Watching can be a starting point for discussion, but it should not replace engagement with local people or be treated as cultural training that applies everywhere. Respect screening rights and cultural notices.

Reflecting and learning

Compare who is speaking on screen with who is making decisions behind the camera. How do ownership, commissioning and audience shape the stories that can be told?

Start with the sources below and distinguish the original event from later interpretations and commemorations. When using this date in a classroom or workplace, allow time for questions and further reading. First Nations peoples have diverse histories and perspectives; this brief introduction does not speak for every community.

Sources and further reading

• Celebrating 10 years of National Indigenous Television — SBS
• History of NITV — NITV/SBS

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.