Imparja Television

Imparja Television Pty Ltd
Company type	Proprietary company
Industry	Television broadcasting
Founded	1986
Headquarters	Alice Springs, Australia
Area served	Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
Key people	Freda Glynn (former chairperson)
Products	Television broadcasting, Indigenous programming
Owner	Aboriginal people (via Imparja Television Pty Ltd)
Parent	Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA)

Imparja Television (abbreviated as IMP) operates as an independent Australian television station with coverage extending across six states and territories: the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Headquartered in Alice Springs, ownership and governance rest with Aboriginal people through Imparja Television Pty Ltd.

The name Imparja originates from the Arrernte term Impatye, which translates to footprints. This reflects the station’s dedication to serving Arrernte communities stretching from Mutitjulu to King's Canyon, including Alice Springs and surrounding areas—a metaphor for its expansive influence.

Operations began broadcasting on 2 January 1988. In 2008, following the termination of its partnership with Network Ten, the channel rebranded as Nine Imparja. However, by 2009, it reverted to "Imparja" and "IMP" while maintaining visual elements associated with the Nine Network. The station predominantly features programming sourced from the Nine Network. On 1 April 2025, VAST enhanced Imparja’s broadcast quality by upgrading its transmission to HD.

In October 1984, the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal was assigned the task of distributing commercial television licences tailored for remote regions. By 1985, licences had been awarded to the Golden West Network in Western Australia and QSTV serving north-eastern Australia.

The Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), which had been delivering local language radio since 1980, established Imparja Television Pty Ltd in 1986 to apply for a broadcasting licence. Financial backing came from both Northern Territory and South Australian governments, offering up to $2 million in services and $1 million in loans respectively to support operational feasibility. Throughout the tribunal hearings, political and legal conflicts emerged; some funding pledges were reduced or withdrawn as CAAMA’s application gained momentum. Support from the Australian Bicentennial Authority and Aboriginal Development Commission ultimately ensured CAAMA’s successful licence award. Nevertheless, legal challenges from a competing unsuccessful applicant postponed construction until May 1987.

By October 1987, Imparja had completed the installation of rebroadcasting facilities and studio infrastructure, with its primary transmitter located in Alice Springs. The station’s inaugural test transmission featured the Australia versus Sri Lanka Test Cricket match on 2 January 1988. The official launch took place on 15 January 1988 at its Alice Springs base, officiated by Communications Minister Ralph Willis alongside MP Warren Snowdon.

Imparja holds the distinction of being the first Aboriginal member admitted to both the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations and the Regional Television Association. Freda Glynn served as chairperson during Imparja’s initial decade; she was among a select group of female network chairs worldwide at that time and was also a founding member of CAAMA together with John Macumba and Philip Batty.

Beginning with an audience reach of approximately 62,000, Imparja expanded its coverage to encompass around 125,000 viewers by 1993. Its broadcast footprint included significant locations across South Australia and the Northern Territory such as Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, and Bathurst Island, supplemented by availability through the Optus Aurora satellite service.

Initially presenting content drawn from all three major Australian commercial networks, Imparja later aligned primarily with Nine Network and Network 10 following market aggregation alongside QSTV. The station also incorporated selected indigenous programming from ABC and SBS alongside original productions commissioned directly by Imparja.

1990s

In 1990, Imparja Local News debuted as a fifteen-minute segment within the national news broadcast, delivering local coverage including live reporting of the Northern Territory general election from Alice Springs. Weather updates for regions across the Northern Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales had already begun being produced by the station by 1989.

By 1993, Imparja's viewership had doubled, reaching around 125,000, which led to increased government support in 1994 for its inaugural in-house production, Yamba's Playtime, starring the station’s mascot "Yamba". That same year, the board formed the Imparja Business Development Sub Committee to oversee strategic expansion.

In 1995, Imparja earned the Telstra Indigenous Business Award for Business of the Year. The station enhanced its satellite transmission capabilities by upgrading from Aussat A-Class to Optus B1 and successfully renewed its broadcasting licence. The following year saw the introduction of two new internally produced shows: the BRACS Program, created predominantly by Aboriginal communities, and Corroboree Rock, which showcased Aboriginal music.

In 1997, Imparja Pty Ltd transitioned into a proprietary company. Towards the end of the decade, it shifted to digital satellite technology via the Optus Aurora platform, transferring transmission from Optus B1 to Optus C1. By 1999, after aggregation with the Remote Eastern Australia market, Imparja adopted a combined programming schedule from Nine Network and Network 10.

2000s

By 2001, Imparja's broadcast reach extended to over 430,000 viewers. The 'Imparja Info Channel' (Channel 31) was launched to deliver supplementary programming and community information specifically targeting remote Aboriginal populations; this channel later evolved into Indigenous Community Television (ICTV) before being replaced by National Indigenous Television (NITV) in 2007.

In 2004, Imparja began airing alcohol advertisements for the first time, which sparked criticism from community organizations. The network pledged to allocate 30% of revenue generated from these ads towards substance abuse prevention initiatives.

Imparja National News, with a focus on Alice Springs and national headlines, was discontinued in 2005 ahead of a potential licence area merger with Darwin. However, regulatory conditions necessitated its reinstatement in early 2006, with Ryan Liddle appointed as presenter.

During the mid-2000s, discussions about merging Darwin with Remote Eastern & Central Australia licence areas raised speculation that Imparja might affiliate with Network 10 in Darwin; nevertheless, PBL Media and Southern Cross Broadcasting secured that opportunity through Darwin Digital Television.

On 3 February 2008, Imparja refreshed its branding by removing its longstanding emblem after twenty years and ceased affiliation with Network 10 to become solely aligned with Nine Network. This rebranding coincided with the cancellation of Imparja National News and adoption of Nine Network’s visual identity elements.

2010s

On 19 May 2010, the Australian Communications and Media Authority granted a licence for a new digital-only television channel serving remote areas—a joint venture between Imparja Pty Ltd and Southern Cross Central. This channel launched on 30 June 2010 under the name 10 Central (CDT).

In December 2010, Imparja expanded its presence onto terrestrial digital television and the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) platform by creating two distinct feeds: Imparja North (covering Queensland and Northern Territory) and Imparja South (serving New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania). Although both feeds feature identical programming schedules, they differ to accommodate daylight saving time variations relevant for program classification.

Additionally, Imparja introduced digital channels 9Go! and 9Gem; while there is a single feed for 9Gem, separate northern and southern feeds are provided for 9Go!. Currently, there are no announced plans to offer an HD simulcast or additional Nine Network channels such as 9Life or 9Rush.

2020s

On 16 November 2022, Imparja discontinued its independent branding and transitioned to receiving a dirty feed from the Nine Network.

On 24 March 2023, the station experienced a break-in that resulted in damage to both walls and technical equipment.

In May 2023, the Albanese government included additional funding in its budget to help avoid major reductions in Imparja’s service offerings.

Programming

Imparja Television operates exclusively as an affiliate of the Nine Network. It stopped airing Network Ten content on 3 February 2008. The channel features original programming created by local Aboriginal communities, such as Bush Mechanics and Yamba's Playtime, along with coverage of regional Australian rules football, community sports events, news bulletins, and religious programming. It frequently broadcasts films produced by the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, which holds shares in its parent company.

The station’s schedule aligns with the Nine Network’s Brisbane feed (Eastern Standard Time), but broadcasts are shifted thirty minutes earlier in regional Northern Territory compared to the previous Central Standard Time schedule, reflecting its Alice Springs heritage.

News and current affairs

Imparja no longer produces a dedicated news program and currently airs Nine News content.

History

In 1990, Imparja introduced a local news segment during its simulcast of National Nine News, initially centered on Alice Springs. This developed into Imparja National News, a thirty-minute program delivering local, national, and international news aimed at both Indigenous and non-Indigenous viewers, with significant focus on Indigenous Australian topics.

The bulletin was discontinued in 2005 ahead of a license area merger with Darwin, but was reinstated in 2006 following Australian Communications and Media Authority mandates requiring local news services. It was again cancelled in 2008 and replaced by brief news updates and the weekly current affairs show Footprints, which concluded in 2009. Between 2014 and mid-2016, Emma Groves presented local news updates.

Starting in 2009, Imparja began broadcasting the Darwin edition of Nine News live on weekdays at 6:30 pm (AEST), replacing A Current Affair, thereby reintroducing a Northern Territory-focused bulletin. Since the expansion of Nine News to a full hour, the Darwin edition is now aired live on Imparja’s 9Gem channel.

Prominent news presenters over the years included Ryan Liddle, Catherine Liddle, Emma Groves, among others from 1990 through 2016.

Sport

Imparja transmits most sports programming sourced from the Nine Network’s Wide World of Sports brand, covering events such as football, rugby league, cricket, netball, golf, and tennis. Until 2008, the station also broadcast selected motorsport events and Australian rules football matches.

Terrestrial

Imparja provides free-to-air digital broadcasting of the channels Imparja, 9Gem, and 9Go! through terrestrial means. As of 2021, transmissions originate from 28 towers and extend to more than 20 remote communities, utilizing low-power retransmitters. The network holds broadcast licenses for the Remote Central and Eastern Australia TV2 region as well as the Mount Isa TV1 area, serving towns including Alice Springs, Bourke, Ceduna, Charleville, Coober Pedy, Cooktown, Katherine, Longreach, Mount Isa, Roma, and Weipa. Coverage also includes certain signal black spots near the border of Western Australia.

Satellite

Across Australia—excluding Western Australia—Imparja’s channels are accessible free-to-view via the VAST satellite platform. The channel 9Gem is transmitted as a single national feed, whereas Imparja and 9Go! operate with two distinct regional versions. The northern feeds, Imparja North and 9Go! North, cater to audiences in the Northern Territory and Queensland under the Northern Australia TV3 license area, following Australian Eastern Standard Time. Meanwhile, the southern feeds, Imparja South and 9Go! South, serve New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Norfolk Island within the South Eastern Australia TV3 license area on Australian Eastern Summer Time.

Both northern and southern Imparja channels are available in high-definition format.

Until March 2008, Imparja was also broadcast in New Zealand but ceased due to governmental restrictions. Additionally, it remains available in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea through Digicel Pacific’s subscription service.

Logos

The original emblem of Imparja Television drew inspiration from artwork by an Arrernte artist and traditional custodian, representing significant local features such as the MacDonnell Ranges, Todd River, and the Yeperenye caterpillar. On 30 January 2006, Bruce Dunlop Associates introduced a refreshed logo design that incorporated a blue sphere behind the original symbol. Following Imparja’s re-affiliation with the Nine Network in 2007, the station replaced its longstanding emblem with the distinctive Nine Network dots.

External links