The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today tabled in Parliament the report of a review into the viability of establishing an Indigenous digital television service in the broadcasting services bands.

“The report puts forward a number of options to be considered by Government, and we will be looking at those options carefully in the coming months,” Senator Coonan said. 

It is one of a series of statutory reviews into aspects of digital television.

“The Government will consider the report in the context of other major policy decisions about the way forward in the digital environment,” the Minister said.

In April 2005 funding of $2 million was announced to provide additional television transmitters at Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS) sites across remote Australia.

This initiative will enable remote Indigenous communities to access the Indigenous Community Television Service (ICTV) transmitted by Imparja Television with content provided by remote Indigenous media organisations.

“This is part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring better access to television services for all Australians,” the Minister said.

On the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts’ Broadcasting website: www.dcita.gov.au/broad/policy_reviews/indigenous_television_review_report the full Indigenous digital television report can be accessed online.

Or a printed copy of the report can be obtained by phoning the Community Broadcasting Section of the Department on:  02 6271 1490.