ICTV
Indigenous Community Television

OVERVIEW

Indigenous Community Television (ICTV) represents the broadcasting and communication needs of members within IRCA (Indigenous Remote Communications Association). ICTV broadcasts on Imparja's narrow cast channel and is coordinated by PY Media. ICTV is the hub for a dedicated remote Indigenous television service, which is cost effective, embracing of Indigenous talent, and ready for growth. ICTV already possesses the three key elements that bind its strength together, like the strands of wire that twist to make cable. These are community, accessibility and sustainability. Without all of these inter-related elements, the notion of a dedicated remote Indigenous television service cannot be achieved.

Justifications for strengthening the support for ICTV throughout Australia include:

• ICTV takes full advantage of the national Indigenous narrow cast channel, operated by Imparja.
• It is possible to provide ICTV as a permanent single satellite channel building upon its existing programming and Imparja's existing infrastructure.
• Community acceptance provides the foundation for a dedicated remote Indigenous television service.
• ICTV is about establishing and maintaining a presence on the vast Australian broadcast landscape.
• ICTV supports Indigenous language and culture; currently 70 to 80 per cent of program content is broadcast in Indigenous languages from across Australia.
• ICTV has the potential to mature into an industry icon throughout all regions of Australia.

A SUSTAINABLE WORKING MODEL

The first use of Imparja's Channel 31 were a series of broadcasts in 1998 by PY Media staff and Warlpiri Media Manager, Tom Kantor. These initial broadcasts consisted of Inma Pulka and Bush Mechanics which were received by PAKAM in Broome, NIRS in Brisbane and PY Media in Umuwa. These broadcasts were known as "FEEDING THE BEAM".

Since the beginning of 2001, PY Media has taken full advantage of the national Indigenous narrow cast channel, ICTV, operated by Imparja. With the full support of Imparja, PY Media, through its technical division, WaruTech, was first to use the network to produce a live broadcast. The Central Australian Football Competition was broadcast every weekend from Alice Springs back to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands during the 2001/2002 seasons. The technology and broadcast skills developed during this period were then utilized to expand and revitalize the flagging BRACS network across the APY Lands.

Today, PY Media is responsible for coordinating the programming of eight hours of Indigenous community broadcasting every day on Imparja's Channel 31. This consists of programs supplied by members of the IRCA (Indigenous Remote Communications Association) from across remote Australia. Every month the eight hours of programming is refreshed with new content to be played out of PY Media's Alice Springs office. In addition to this, it is important to note that currently an estimated 70 to 80 per cent of program content is broadcast in Indigenous languages from across Australia.

The reasons for the dramatic increase in broadcast hours in 2005 are:

• United IRCA program content contribution;
• Increased technical and programming support from Imparja;
• A PY Media increase in video production staff and video trainers.
• PY Media's ability to transmit programming directly to Imparja for satelite delivery across the entire Australian continent including Tasmania.

To contribute Indigenous programs to ICTV, please contact:

PY MEDIA
08/8953-8641
dooch@waru.org

Imparja's ICTV program guide