AustLit

'When the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) decided to apply for a remote television satellite licence twenty years ago, success seemed a remote possibility. Winning the licence would make Imparja the first Aboriginal-controlled commercial television station, not only in Australia but the world, with a transmission footprint larger than Western Europe. CAAMA, a very new community organisation, had a battle on its hands to satisfy remote communities, two governments, the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, the media and to convince the wider public that it had the capacity to set up and run a television station. It was a big leap from community radio and recording the music of Aboriginal artists into the world of media moguls like Kerry Packer. The challenges continue to the present day, managing social and cultural integrity within one of the toughest commercial environments in Australia, along with the need to meet community expectations regarding language and cultural programming. This is a struggle against all odds, a story of heroes, densely populated with strong characters, both for and against Imparja's existence and its survival' Sourced: Publishers note (Sighted 11/05/2009)