I have just spent my week end (and some) being a part of NITV’s first Golf coverage, hosted by the Indigenous communities in Murgon and Cherbourg (With a population of 2500 it is one of Australia’s largest Aboriginal communities, it’s 3 hrs west of Brisbane – home to Rugby League Legend Steve Renouf and Actor Leah Purcell).

The Championships are ran by Golf Queensland and open to all Indigenous golfers in Australia. And we have some passionate and talented ones at that.

Keep an eye out for Female winner, 13 year old India Matthews. The determined player comes from a line of great Aboriginal golfers – her great aunt, 86 year old Carmel Conroy from Tasmania, was up there with the best of Australia’s women golfers in her time.

All in all it was a great week end of Golf and National Indigenous Television Sport was signed throughout the entire course not to mention that the majority Indigenous crew managed well at handling the tricky task of covering one of the hardest sports to film in the world.

I didn’t see any blood but we definitely had lots of sweat and even some tears, the community and players were overwhelmed by having lots of indigenous crew running around and filming indigenous golf, another Australian first.

I have no doubt the coverage is going to be entertaining even for those of you not into golf. Sports Journalist Donald Johannsen leads the commentary team with his ‘soothing’ knowledge of golf, the players and even the grass. Co-host EJ Garrett brings a fresh ‘murri’ approach to the coverage and roaming reporter Belinda Miller gets into the underbelly of indigenous golfing with tips, characters and of course the fashion on the field (we sure do have some golfing poster boys and girls out there) ….

For more information check out the media release below….. and of course stay tuned ……

Did you miss a Knockout Game?

Well nevermind, because all the live rugby league action from Lismore in 2007 will be repeated on NITV in a super marathon weekend on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of November.  So you won’t miss out!

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to find out all the gossip and news of what’s happened in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia on your telly?

Especially the things that happen in our communities that just never make the headlines of mainstream television, radio or online services.

At NITV we think a comprehensive Indigenous media service really wouldn’t be complete without our own news and/or current affairs service and we want to know how you think we should do this. All you need to do is complete our NITV Newscaff Online Survey.

By completing the NITV Newscaff Online Survey you’ll provide us with valuable information PLUS you can be in the running to win a 2 year Pay TV subscription with either Foxel or Austar.

To be in the running and to find out more about how you can WIN a 2 year subscription to Austar or Foxtel, read more about the NITV Newscaff Online Survey.

Good luck!

At just 16 years old, Daniel Conifer along with his final HSC exams, Daniel is a sporting and reporting devotee, something he takes very seriously as one of NITV’s budding young Sport Commentators.

In Year 12 at a South-West Sydney school Daniel says, “I really enjoy school! The whole experience is great, not just learning and friends, but all the opportunities it (school) presents”.

Not surprisingly his academic achievements to date are impressive, being awarded Dux of his primary school, and following that up with Dux of his Year for three out of his four years in secondary school. Daniel is also a NSW state student representative and School Captain!

Daniel’s sporting pursuits include, softball something he’s played since t-ball as a 6 year old through the summer, and rugby league throughout winter plus athletics. After dislocating his knee in footy, he turned to reporting on sport for a while instead and has been presenting the 93.7FM Koori Radio Saturday Sport Show right across Sydney since the beginning of 2007.

“It’s great! I love coming in on a Saturday morning and giving the community three hours of what, we hope, is great sport news. It’s really awesome chatting to people on our show, we’ve had people such as Travis Dodd and legends like Gary Ella, Lloyd McDermott.”

Involvement in an ‘On-Air’ movie-making program for indigenous students in South-West Sydney marking 50 years of television in 2006 gave Daniel a good taste of television. That year he also hosted the South West Sydney Aboriginal Achievement Awards and in October this year Daniel joined National Indigenous Television (NITV) as a Commentator and Presenter of the 37th Annual NSW Indigenous Rugby League Knockout in Lismore.

Where to now?

After successfully completing his secondary and then going onto further tertiary studies, Daniel hopes to launch a career in media.

“A degree in journalism or media and communications from uni would be great, as it would allow me to work in the media, my dream job…I really enjoy radio and there are many options, and a wealth of opportunities out there!”

Somehow we think it’s not such as dream for someone as talented as Daniel. Keep an eye out for Daniel throughout NITV’s coverage of the Koori Knockout 2007 with repeat screenings and new games weeks days all throughout November.

Trisha Morton-Thomas has worked in the Australian media industry for over 20 years in various roles as a presenter on ABC’s Message Stick TV to producing in radio, to starring in the acclaimed feature film directed by Rachel Perkins, “Radiance”, to name a few. Most recently a freelance filmmaker and producer, NITV is proud to announce that Trisha has joined our team as our third Commissioning Editor. For more information go to our Media Room.

A sneak preview into the programs coming up on NITV

To find out more about all of the exciting new programming coming up on NITV across Australia have a read of this speech by CEO Patricia Turner “What’s on the Black Box” from the launch of NITV on Pay TV on Thursday the 1st of November in Alice Springs.

To view video highlights go to our Video Viewing Room to see Sport on the Black Box and What’s on the Black Box?.

At the launch of NITV last week in a ceremony celebrated in Alice Springs on Thursday the 1st of November, NITV Board Member and Chairperson of the Australian Indigenous Communications Association and General Manager of Bumma Bippera Media in Cairns, Ken Reys summed up the enormous achievements in the development of NITV so far. Read his speech NITV Launch on Pay TV & Achievements to Date.

To see all our photographs go to our Viewing Room

Yamba & friends at the NITV Pay TV launch on 1 November 2007

NITV is proud to announce that today we significantly increased our potential audience as our service of Indigenous television programming launches via retransmission on the pay TV networks of both Foxtel and Austar’s Channel 180 around the nation. This development increases NITV’s coverage of Australia to take in urban Australian city centres and major regional centre particularly in south east Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, southern South Australia and Western Australia. There are also areas where the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are located.

To find out how you can get NITV in your area see our Tuning In information. Or for a preview of what you can expect on NITV see our video highlights and promotions in our Viewing Room.

Every year on the October long weekend, NSW hosts the famed Koori Knockout of Aboriginal Rugby League teams from all around the state. This year NITV was the key official broadcaster and a sponsor of the event in Lismore. Catch this year’s 2007 Koori Knockout on NITV featuring a new match every night of the week starting this Monday the 5th of November premiering at 7 pm with repeat programs throughout the week each day at 9am. Check our TV Guide for times.

Get NITV

In urban areas you can get NITV on Foxtel, Austar, Imparja TV retransmission or via personal satellite with Optus Aurora. Go to our Footprint map to see out how to get NITV in your region.

In the meantime see our Photo Album of NITV at the Knockout.

The Marngrook Footy Show
Football is often a central part in our Indigenous communities and many of our talented players are snapped up around the country in all codes of football at a professional level, particularly Australian Football and Rugby League. Tune into the Marngrook Footy show to get the low down on all your favourite players.Like the native game that inspired the show’s title, Marngrook is a fast-paced panel show based on talented Indigenous football players from all over Australia – a show about Aussie Rules with an Indigenous Style. The all Indigenous panel uncovers players’ backgrounds and heritage, inside news and current affairs, the weekly tips, as well as the dirt, gripes and fights on the premier sports wrap up. Your host Grant Hansen is Australia’s first Indigenous AFL football caller and alongside him are Co-host and former St Kilda player Gilbert McAdam and roving AFL news reporter Leila Gurruwiwi.

“The Marngrook Footy Show will provide an Indigenous perspective on AFL Football from former and current AFL Stars, and people who have played the game”, said Grant.

Regular panel members include Ronny Burns, former Geelong and Adelaide player, Derek Kickett former Kangaroo, Essendon and Sydney Swans champion and Alan Thorpe former Sydney, Bulldogs and Carlton player.

NITV showcasing informative sports programming for and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, for all Australians to enjoy!