Aboriginal Peoples Television Network facts for kids
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|
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English, French |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. |
| History | |
| Launched | January 21, 1992 |
| Former names | Television Northern Canada (1992–1999) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Whitehorse, YT | CHWT-TV 10 |
| Yellowknife, NT | CHTY-TV 11 |
| Other Areas | See Below |
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is a special TV channel in Canada. It started in 1992. APTN shows programs made by, for, and about Indigenous people in Canada and the United States. It is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. APTN was the first TV network created by and for Indigenous peoples in North America.
Contents
How APTN Started: A Look Back
Why Was APTN Created?
In 1980, a group called the Therrien Committee looked into TV and radio in Canada. They found that Indigenous peoples in the North wanted their own media. The committee said the government should help support Indigenous cultures and languages on TV and radio. This led to a new plan to help create programs made by Indigenous people.
In 1983, the Canadian government created the Northern Broadcasting Policy. This policy aimed to help create TV and radio shows made by Indigenous people in the North. It also supported a program called the Northern Native Broadcast Access Program. This program helped fund TV and radio shows in Indigenous languages. These shows would share Indigenous cultures and viewpoints.
Building the Network
Soon, people realized it was hard to share these new programs across the vast North. So, in 1987, Indigenous and Northern broadcasters met in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. They decided to form a group to create a TV service for the entire North.
In 1988, the Canadian government gave them $10 million to start this network. The new service was first called Television Northern Canada (TVNC). It was approved in 1991. TVNC officially began broadcasting on January 21, 1992. It reached homes in Canada's northern territories and far northern parts of the provinces.
Becoming a National Channel
After several years, TVNC wanted to reach all of Canada. They showed how special and important a national Indigenous TV service would be. On February 22, 1999, TVNC was given a license to broadcast across the whole country.
On September 1, 1999, the network changed its name to the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). It became available on all specialty TV services across Canada. APTN was the first national public TV network for Indigenous peoples.
APTN's Budget
In 2023, APTN had a yearly budget of $47 million. This money helps them create and broadcast their programs.
How You Can Watch APTN
APTN sends out its programs in several ways. It has different versions (called "feeds") for different parts of Canada. There are feeds for Eastern Canada, Western Canada, and Northern Canada. There is also a special high-definition (HD) feed.
APTN can be watched over-the-air in far northern areas. This means you can pick up the signal with an antenna. It also has main stations in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Since 1999, all cable and satellite TV companies in Canada have had to include APTN in their basic TV packages. This means most people in Canada can watch APTN easily. In 2019, APTN also launched APTN Lumi. This is a streaming service. It lets you watch APTN shows on the internet and on streaming devices.
What Programs Does APTN Show?
APTN has many different kinds of shows about Indigenous peoples. These include:
- Documentaries (real-life stories)
- News shows
- Dramas (story shows)
- Entertainment specials
- Children's shows
- Movies
- Sports events
- Educational programs
About 56% of APTN's shows are in English. About 16% are in French. And about 28% are in Indigenous languages.
Some popular shows that have been on APTN include:
- APTN National News (for news)
- Blackstone (a drama series)
- Mohawk Girls (a comedy-drama)
- Skindigenous (a documentary series about tattoos)
- Treaty Road (a show about treaties)
- Wild Archaeology (a show about archaeological discoveries)
Shows for Kids
APTN has a special block of shows just for kids, called APTN Kids. These shows are fun and educational.
Some of the original shows made for APTN Kids include:
- Anaana's Tent
- Animism: The Gods' Lake
- Doggy Day School
- Lil Glooscap and the Legends of Turtle Island
- Louis Says
- Raven Tales
- Tiga Talk
- Tipi Tales
- Wapos Bay
Sports on APTN
APTN also broadcasts sports! In 2019, APTN started showing NHL hockey games. What makes it special is that the commentary for these games is in Plains Cree. This is a unique way to celebrate Indigenous languages through sports. APTN and Sportsnet plan to broadcast several games in Cree each year.
APTN in High Definition
In 2008, APTN launched a high-definition (HD) channel called APTN HD. HD means the picture quality is much clearer and sharper. This allows viewers to enjoy APTN's programs in the best possible quality.
First Peoples Radio
APTN also has a radio side! In 2017, a part of APTN called First Peoples Radio Inc. (FPR) was allowed to start radio stations. These stations are in Toronto and Ottawa. They are made for Indigenous people living in those cities. The stations started broadcasting in 2018 and are called Elmnt FM. They share programs with other Indigenous radio stations across Canada.
APTN Looking to the United States
APTN is also working to launch a similar TV channel in the United States. It might be called All Nations Network. This shows that there is a lot of interest in Indigenous programming. APTN has already shown some programs made in the U.S., like the film Skydancer. This film was shown on both APTN and PBS in the U.S.
See Also
In Spanish: Aboriginal Peoples Television Network para niños
- CBC North
- World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network
- Aboriginal Canadian personalities
Images for kids
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Logo while under the name Television Northern Canada (TVNC)
