home | news l

Indigenous TV Network Launches New-Look Website

12 February 2009 - An international alliance of indigenous television broadcasters has unveiled a revamped website www.witbn.org as part of its mission to retain and grow indigenous languages and cultures.

The new-look website of the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network
(WITBN) includes information, videos and links to its member organisations; updates on programme and news sharing initiatives; membership application forms; community news; and e-newsletters.

The nine foundation Council members are National Indigenous Television (NITV), Australia; Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), Canada; TG4, Ireland; Maori Television, New Zealand; NRK Sami Radio, Norway; BBC ALBA, Scotland; South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), South Africa; Taiwan Indigenous TV (TITV) / Public Television Service (PTS), Taiwan; and S4C, Wales.

The chairman of WITBN, Jim Mather, who is chief executive of Maori Television, says the network promotes partnerships and co-operation between member broadcasters. It also builds capacity and capability within the indigenous television broadcasting sector by identifying opportunities for development, staff exchanges, training, bursaries, scholarships and networking opportunities.

Two major initiatives for Council members in 2009, a Programme Exchange Scheme and an international indigenous current affairs programme are well underway, Mr Mather says. Taiwan Indigenous TV, supported by the Public Television Service, will also host the next World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference in 2010.

'The redesigned online resource will fulfill a major objective of WITBN which is to facilitate sharing amongst indigenous television broadcasters worldwide. The website is a key communications tool for our network and we invite like-minded organisations to take the initiative and work together to achieve common goals.'

Membership application forms for WITBN are available on the website www.witbn.org.

Source: The Age

Further information: www.witbn.org page - includes news index and external links