The article is divided into the following sections:
ProgrammingOriginally, Imparja took programmes from all three major commercial networks. However, with the aggregation of their
market area with Seven Central (formerly QSTV), they now carry a mixture of
Nine and
Ten programming.
Imparja also produces some programmes in-house for screening on their channel such as their
weeknightly news programme
Imparja National News (which was replaced in 2005 with
Ten News from Brisbane, but reinstated in 2006), afternoon children's programme
Yamba's
Playtime featuring Imparja's station mascot Yamba the Honeyant, religious programme
On Track,
and indigenous music programme
Nganampa Anwernekenhe.
HistoryIn 1984, there were 8 applicants for the new central Australian remote commercial television service (RCTS).
Six applicants dropped out and remaining were NTD-8 and CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal
Media Association, who set up Imparja as the applicant for the new licence).
In 1985, both NTD and Imparja were deemed unsuitable for the licence - NTD did not have the capacity to produce Aboriginal
programming, and Imparja lacked financial support. Both parties were sent off to fix themselves, and returned six months later. Just prior to
the second hearing, NTD and Imparja entered into negotiation to reach a compromise in order to jointly gain the licence. NTD offered Imparja a
25% share in Television Capricornia (the potential licence holder on behalf of NTD). Imparja refused and countered that with a 50/50 offer in
Television Capricornia which NTD then refused. Both parties then had to go through the process of licence hearings again. At the end of
the second round of hearings, both NTD and Imparja were now deemed suitable, but on the balance, Imparja was given the licence.
NTD appealed the decision, and lost. With the support of the NT Government, they appealed again, this time to the Federal Court.
While this appeal was waiting to be heard, Kerry Packer's PBL took control of NTD8. Packer executives met with Imparja offering a joint
programming/marketing initiative with NTD8 and in turn would drop the appeal. Imparja knocked it back, saying they would wait for the appeal to
be resolved before entering into further discussion. Then, at the last minute before the appeal, NTD withdrew. Imparja got the licence and
their legal costs paid, more than two and a half years after the first licence hearings.
Imparja screened a test broadcast on the 2nd of January 1988, televising a cricket test
match, and officially commenced broadcasting on the 18th of that month.
Aggregation of the Darwin area and the adjacent remote-central licence area was
proposed, thereby allowing Imparja and NTD to transmit services in both regions,
providing five free-to-air channels in total. Under this arrangement, Imparja would most
likely have become a sole Network Ten affiliate. However, Darwin's TND34 adopted a dual
Seven/Ten affiliation in early-2005 and an invitation by the Australian Communications
and Media Authority was made for the allocation of a 'Section 38B' licence for the
Darwin area in December 2005, thereby eliminating the possibility of aggregation.
In 2008, Imparja dropped its Ten affiliation and became a full-time Nine affiliate. It also axed its news service, replacing it with frequent two minute news updates, a weekly current affairs program and National Nine News from Brisbane. The station's logo was changed to that of the Nine dots with "Imparja" to its right, and on-air presentation (and most announcements) were also changed to that of Nine's.
ReferencesCentral Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), " A report
into the activities of the Central Australian Aboriginal
Media Association (Aboriginal Corporation)",
CAAMA, Alice Springs NT, June 1987.
Related linksOfficial:
http://www.imparja.com.au 
