Australian Subscription TV viewers will soon have access to National Indigenous Television’s signal via retransmission on Foxtel.
NITV and Foxtel have signed an agreement to commence satellite retransmission from 1 November 2007. Cable retransmission will commence soon afterwards.
NITV is currently available via Imparja Television’s second channel to remote communities across Australia and via direct to home satellite receivers.
The agreement was announced today by Ms Pat Turner, NITV’s Chief Executive Officer and Foxtel’s Chief Executive Kim Williams AM.
For the first time National Indigenous Television’s signal will beam to subscription TV subscribers in Brisbane, Sydney and the NSW Central Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and all of Western Australia.
Viewers will have access to NITV’s program schedule and program details via Foxtel’s electronic program guide (EPG), with a range of digital services including one touch recording on the Foxtel iQ personal digital recorder.
The NITV channel will be included in Foxtel’s entry level package – Get Started. The service offers the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programming from all over Australia and showcases a mix of genres, as well as programs in traditional languages.
Ms Patricia Turner welcomed the opportunity to share Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content with more of Australia: ‘We are very excited to be a part of Foxtel’s platform, and proud to be taking NITV to the next stage of transmission. Together we are making history and sharing Indigenous stories and culture with more of Australia’.
‘With this agreement we are taking another step forward in the process of achieving reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all Australians,’ she said.
Foxtel Chief Executive Kim Williams AM said,’Foxtel are proud to be the first national carrier to offer the NITV service. Foxtel is all about offering diversity of content and we are committed to showcasing Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander content on the Foxtel platform. It is a most exciting development and we have high hopes for it.’
[release from NITV & Foxtel]