Asia's first indigenous TV channel goes on air

This article was written by Cheryal Robbins and published by the Macroview Weekly on July 6, 2005.

Asia's first indigenous television channel was formally launched in Taiwan on July 1, 2005. This is a positive indicator of the progress the nation has made in respecting indigenous rights.

The channel is called iTV. It presents programs that focus on indigenous issues, culture, enterprises, as well as the preservation and passing on of indigenous languages. In the mean time, iTV will also have some Chinese and English programs, including a weekday evening news program for English-language learning.

The first indigenous-themed soap opera is currently shown on iTV. It details the lives of young indigenous people living in Taiwan's urban areas, including their experiences of discrimination and identity crisis.