APTN National News
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has moved a step closer to starting a new network across the border in the United States.
APTN announced Friday that it is launching All Nations Network with Castalia Communications.
Described as a “24-hour network” APTN said ANN intends to provide “native news sports, scripted, lifestyle, feature-length movies and children’s programming written, produced, and directed by Native Americans.”
APTN’s CEO Jean La Rose said it’s the right time for Native Americans to have their own channel.
“Certainly, our experience in Canada has been one of creating and providing opportunities for our producers, for our storytellers, to tell our stories, in our words, to our Peoples and to the world,” said La Rose in a statement. “Native American producers are poised and eager to have the same opportunities and we believe that we can work together to provide a unique window into the lives – past, present and future – of this community.”
APTN’s statement said the network has the support of actor Robert Redford and Oscar-nominated actor Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves), as well from musician Robbie Robertson (The Band) and director Jim Jarmusch.
“There is demand for a national Native network across the country,” said Jarmusch in the prepared statement. “A vibrant new generation, a golden era of Native film-makers and artists will be born and have a dedicated channel through which to express their voices. There is a market that is waiting. There is an audience that is waiting. The time is now.”
The network will be headquartered in New Mexico.
APTN has been operating in Canada for more than 15 years providing Indigenous content.
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