National Indigenous Television (NITV), and the wider SBS network, invite communities to deepen their understanding of January 26 and what it means to be Australian through the upcoming programming slate, Always Was, Always Will Be.
A schedule curated to highlight themes of Country, Identity and Nation will be featured throughout the week, January 19-26, across SBS channels, including documentaries, news, movies and more.
The Sunrise Ceremony, presented by NITV's John Paul Janke and Network 10's Narelda Jacobs, who also host NITV's The Point,will air live from Bundjalung and Yugambeh Country in Coolangatta, QLD on Wednesday 26 January at 6:00am, and will mark the commencement of a daytime simulcast of programs across NITV and SBS. The beautiful and insightful program is led by First Nations perspectives, and includes reflections from non-Indigenous and multicultural voices on Australia's past, present and future. Guests will include Wik and Soloman Islander man and musician Ziggy Ramo, Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman and Associate Professor Chelsea Watego, and prominent journalist Kerry O'Brien. The Sunrise Ceremony will also be simulcast on Channel 10.
A short introductory film titled The Land We Live On will be broadcast prior to the Sunrise Ceremony at 5:55am. In the short film, eight year old Wiradjuri filmmaker Penelope Towney will perform an Acknowledgement of Country for the Dharawal and Yuin Nations, followed by a short reflection on the significance and meaning of a Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.
At 7:30pm on Wednesday January 26, TikTok will partner with NITV in a live concert - TikTok and NITV Present: First Sounds. Hosted by Tyrone Pynor, Bianca Hunt and Grayson McCarthy-Grogan, the concert will feature a specially curated line up of both emerging and established artists including Barkaa, JK-47, Nooky, Becca Hatch, Jesswar, Kobie Dee, Dallas Woods, Kaiit and more. In this innovative cross platform simulcast, communities across Australia will have more access than ever to these performances and celebration of culture. TikTok and NITV Present: First Sounds will be simulcast on NITV and SBS Viceland, and will also be live on NITV's TikTok, @nitv.
At 9:30pm, Larissa Behrendt's documentary Araatika! Rise Up will have its free to air premiere, simulcast across SBS and NITV. The documentary explores how a group of NRL greats came together to create a new pre-game ceremony in response to the Maori Haka - one that could celebrate Australia's First Nations cultures. After fellow Indigenous players Preston Campbell, Timana Tahu and George Rose devised their own pre-game performance, Dean Widders began a journey to bring this dance - and First Nations pride more broadly - to the game.
Tanya Denning-Orman, SBS Director of Indigenous Content, said: NITV proudly reflects and celebrates Australia's diverse First Nations peoples, showcasing our experiences, perspectives and contributions. This year's January 26 programming across the SBS network will reflect this once again, providing a platform for our voices to be heard, for an honest reflection of this country's history and what's needed for a more united and equal future. We invite all Australians to come together to join the conversation.
News & Current Affairs
On Tuesday January 25 Natalie Ahmat will host a special edition of NITV News, NITV News: January 25, which will bring audiences a wrap of events and national conversation leading into the channel's Australia Day, Survival Day and Invasion Day coverage on January 26. At 8:00pm, Karla Grant will host a special episode of Insight - Insight: Indigenous Incarceration' was created in response to Dean Gibson's powerful documentary, Incarceration Nation, broadcast on NITV and SBS in 2021,and in this special episode of Insight,audiences hear of the personal struggles of people who have spent time in prison and from families whose loved ones have died in custody, as well as those working to reduce the incarceration rates and deaths in custody of First Nations people.
NITV News will provide rolling news coverage on January 26 from every corner of the country throughout the day, accessible on air, via Facebook Live and through SBS Radio, with coverage starting with a 30-minute program at 11;30am. The coverage will conclude at 6:00pm with a full wrap up of the day's news, which will be simulcast on SBS. News and opinion pieces will also be accessible through NITV's website and social media pages.
SBS Radio will also be exploring what January 26 means to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and helping people to learn about the Country they're on, with articles covering these topics published in more than 60 languages online.
SBS Voices will publish memoir pieces from the SBS Emerging Writers' Competition, including pieces from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, as well as narratives from migrant perspectives about learning to belong in Australia.
Programming
NITV
Each night at 7:30pm from January 19-25, NITV will air a selection of content curated around the theme of Identity', including a selection of Who Do You Think You Are episodes featuring Casey Donovan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Uncle Jack Charles and Ernie Dingo, as well as the music documentary Gurrumul and classic film Storm Boy. Likewise, at 8:30pm from January 19-25, NITV will air a curated collection of Nation' themed programming, which will highlight stories from our past and present, including History Bites Back, Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky, We Don't Need a Map, Incarceration Nation, Robbie Hood and Occupation Native. At 10:00pm each night, audiences can tune in for a selection of classic movies such as Ten Canoes, Tuduwali, Jedda, Toomelah, Radiance and Sweet Country.
Following In
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
30/06/2025
SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel
30 June, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offeri...
27/06/2025
27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong
Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...
26/06/2025
Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...
20/06/2025
Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...
13/06/2025
Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...
12/06/2025
50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...
06/06/2025
06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...
03/06/2025
Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...
28/05/2025
SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia
28 May, 2025
Media releases
Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...
28/05/2025
ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...
22/05/2025
SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...
22/05/2025
Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast
22 May, 2025
Media releases
Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...
19/05/2025
Eurovision delivers strong Total TV audiences for SBS, dazzling more than 2.21 m...
16/05/2025
Proper Loved Up Stage One Recipients Announced
16 May, 2025
Media releases
Screen Australia's First Nations Department, the Australian Broadcasting Cor...
15/05/2025
Australia's boldest network SBS launches new brand campaign: We Go There...
15/05/2025
We Go There SBS On Demand's new Hub is entirely bold and unmistakably SBS
15 May, 2025
Media releases
The We Go There Hub brings together over 300 ti...
14/05/2025
ABS and SpaceBridge to Join Forces to Strengthen Managed Services Across Europe,...
13/05/2025
Alone Australia Season 3: The Reunion
13 May, 2025
Media releases
As the latest season nears its end, SBS's hit series brings full cast together for re...
13/05/2025
Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...
12/05/2025
And They're Off! The Pure Drama of the Cycling Grand Tours Continues on SBS,...
12/05/2025
10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...
07/05/2025
SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...
07/05/2025
SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location
7 May, 2025
Media releases
SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...
02/05/2025
SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...
01/05/2025
01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives
All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...
30/04/2025
Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award
30 April, 2025
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...
30/04/2025
SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives
30 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...
23/04/2025
We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...
22/04/2025
McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...
16/04/2025
Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...
15/04/2025
Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...
15/04/2025
SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...
14/04/2025
SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...
11/04/2025
Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...
09/04/2025
SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering
9 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...
09/04/2025
SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...
09/04/2025
09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase
Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...
07/04/2025
Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...
07/04/2025
Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...
07/04/2025
SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...
04/04/2025
SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...
01/04/2025
01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June
Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...
31/03/2025
Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...
28/03/2025
Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...
28/03/2025
SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages
28 March, 2025
Media releases
As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...
26/03/2025
The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April
20 March, 2025
Media releases
Family secrets, royal relationships and hidden histories revealed What would you disc...
24/03/2025
ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle a...
19/03/2025
NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous ...
19/03/2025
Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns
19 March, 2025
Media releases
Feminist icon Yumi Stynes shines a spotlight on trailbl...
National Indigenous Television (NITV), and the wider SBS network, invite communities to deepen their understanding of January 26 and what it means to be Australian through the upcoming programming slate, Always Was, Always Will Be.
