Indigenous broadcasting is making great progress all over the world with a renewed pride in indigenous issues, culture and native languages but broadcasters face many questions. How do they ensure that their unique indigenous identities are retained for eternity? What are their obligations and responsibilities as broadcasters to ensure the integrity of their native languages and the development and promotion of their cultures and status as indigenous peoples? What are the challenges facing indigenous broadcasters? What can they learn from their predecessors, and to what levels of success can they aspire?

 

 

Welsh indigenous broadcaster S4C celebrates its 25th anniversary in November 2007. Chairman John Walter Jones gives us an insight into the model that has ensured the success and longevity of one of the world’s oldest indigenous broadcasters, and how that model has ensured the advancement of Welsh language, culture and people. Mr Jones will outline the key challenges facing S4C and how it is addressing those challenges to ensure future development in this digital world of progressively fragmenting audiences.

 

 

Canadian indigenous broadcaster APTN may be only eight years old but Chief Executive Jean LaRose is targeting the kind of growth that will see APTN recognised as Canada’s fourth national broadcaster by its 10th anniversary. Join Mr LaRose as he outlines the strategies APTN is employing to ensure this remarkable goal is met.

 

 

 

Māori Television will celebrate four years on air in 2008 with the launch of a second channel that will broadcast in the Māori language only. Once a political football, Māori Television has achieved the kind of start that has earned it increasing public support and headlines such as ‘Maori TV is a major success story’ and ‘The little channel that could’ – these from hardened mainstream media. Chief Executive Jim Mather provides insight into the strategies and critical success factors behind the channel’s success to date, and his aspirations for its future.

 

 

 

Irish indigenous broadcaster TG4 began life 10 years ago under the guardianship of the country’s public broadcaster RTE. Hail January 2007, the date that marked the start of TG4’s life as an independent broadcaster responsible for its own destiny. But what does independence hold for TG4 and what strategy is it pursuing to ensure it thrives as an independent operation?

 

 

 

The plight of Australia’s indigenous peoples over many years is well documented. But earlier this year Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders had cause to celebrate when they launched their own indigenous channel, NITV. Chief Executive Patricia Turner outlines the journey of NITV to establishment and the pathway it will take to grow into Australia’s newest ‘national’ broadcaster with a reputation for delivering the best programmes the country has seen.

 

 

 

Indigenous broadcasting is an emerging industry worldwide. Publicly funded, both indigenous and public broadcasting are closely aligned. Formerly Head of Television at TVNZ and now Chief Executive at Australian ethnic broadcaster SBS, Shaun Brown shares his views on the role of mainstream public broadcasters in supporting indigenous broadcasting, and tackles the argument for the commercial imperative in public service television.

 

 

 

ITV, Taiwan’s indigenous broadcaster, became a member of Taiwan’s public broadcasting group, Taiwan Broadcasting System (TBS), on January 1 2007. This may not have been a development favoured by some of Taiwan’s indigenous community. How has TBS gone about structuring ITV to ensure the formerly independent indigenous broadcaster retains its independence, identity and voice?

 

 

 

Indigenous broadcasters worldwide face the challenge of revitalising language and culture while, at the same time, attracting more and more viewers. Strong ratings are the key to silencing the critics, satisfying the advertisers and securing our futures. But what’s the ideal balance and how do we make it work while remaining true to our core purpose?

 

 

 

Be there to participate in, contribute to, and witness the launch of the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network. Led by indigenous television leaders, the purpose of the Network is to promote indigenous broadcasting at the highest levels internationally and to foster closer relationships between broadcasters. The establishment of the Network is a key outcome of the conference.