Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

Indigenous news and current affairs programming is at the heart of NITV. The government remains strongly committed to SBS delivering news and current affairs which reflects the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Since NITV joined SBS in 2012 and launched as a national free-to-air channel, NITV news has been an integral part of the NITV offering and the channel's commitment to producing news that goes to the heart of communities is paramount.

The government understands that SBS have done comprehensive audience research and analysis of nightly ratings in the 5.30 pm timeslot. NITV news averages 2,000 viewers. SBS said in a statement on 27 February that the NITV team is exploring new opportunities for news and current affairs and challenges to find the right time and the right platform and device that will resonate for audiences. In the same statement, SBS said that news is the largest area of investment for NITV and the level of funding will remain unchanged, with no impact to current budgets or employee resources.

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