Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 17, 2007

IGLULIK - A new Inuktitut language television station, based in Iglulik, is expected to be up and running this fall.

A local company with a global reputation, Isuma Productions, is getting set to launch Nunavut Independent Television (NITV).

"We haven't a specific broadcast date mainly because ... we need to get set up for broadband Internet satellite," said Katharine Irngaut, Training coordinator for the station.

The idea to start the new station came up when the current staff felt there wasn't enough Inuktitut language television.

"We find that the Inuktitut content of APTN is very, very small, and the resources of IBC are limited," she said.

She said NITV will start by broadcasting a few hours every day, and that the company hopes the broadcasting time will grow.

"We're hoping to start with at least four hours of programming a day - two hours of original programming and two hours of archived work," she said.

Some of the archived work will include productions by Isuma Productions and affiliates such as Arnait Productions and Artcirq.

People interested in producing a new show, she said, will be given an opportunity to do so through NITV.

"If anyone has the ambition, heart and drive ... we'll do everything in our power to make it happen for them with all the resources that we have here," said Irngaut, though details of such a program have not yet been worked out.

"We haven't really had a chance to talk in depth as a group about specifics," she added.

So far, NITV is only equipped to broadcast in the Iglulik area, but plans are in the works to broadcast online on Isuma TV in order to reach viewers in other regions of Nunavut and all over the world.

Irngaut also said there is opportunity for other communities to get involved.

"Any community that wants to participate can get a satellite dish and hopefully we can link up with a faster connection," she said.

NITV also plans to extend its reach by setting up regional offices in communities around the territory.

For now, the team at NITV is working on getting the station up and running by either late in October or in early November.