The Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV) has unveiled plans for an expansion to its broadcasting services for Uvagut TV following the mandatory distribution ruling from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Several new original productions were confirmed for Uvagut TV in 2025, starting with Inuit Makers (Kingulliit Productions), a 13-part documentary series directed by Carol Kunnuk and Gabriela Gamez showcasing Inuit sewing, carving fishing and more.

There’s also the 6 x 60-minute series GO NORTH! (Terre Innue) from director Kim O’Bomsawin, which focuses on Inuit ways of travel; the six-part Arnaapik (Kingulliit Productions), from directors Lucy Tulugarjuk, Miali Buscemi and Maia Iotzova, which depicts the tragedy of violence against Inuit women and children.

Among the children’s programming is Louise Flaherty and Neil Christopher’s 20-minute animated short Mangittatuarjuk (Mangittatuarjuk Productions), about a dangerous being haunting the Arctic; the 13-episode first season of Tundra Friends, hosted by Susan Aglukark and directed by Thomas Anugti Johnston and Aviaq Johnston; as well as Nadia Sammurtok’s 13-part series Tuktu, focused on five Arctic animal friends.

Lastly, there’s Wrong Husband (Kingulliit Productions), the feature film directed and produced by Zacharias Kunuk.

On Nov. 25, NITV is starting a short film contest, between two and five minutes, for cell phone-shot videos with the theme of “home.” Prizes will be given in several categories, with the winners broadcast during Uvagut TV’s opening week.

In the first quarter of 2025, NITV will issue requests for proposal for Inuit-owned production companies to pitch original content.

Yesterday (Nov. 6), NITV began a five-week producer training workshop for Inuit and northern residents, with 25 confirmed participants at press time. Training is led by Tulugarjuk, NITV’s executive director as well as producer Nataq Ungalaq. Funding is provided by the Canada Media Fund. NITV said it plans to run similar workshops over the next five years.

Later this month and into early December, NITV will be posting opportunities online for new roles in production, finance, administration, communications and programming for potential Inuit employees. The network is also looking for space for a new head office in Iqaluit, large enough for 12 employees.

Uvagut TV launched in January 2021, becoming Canada’s first 24/7 Inuit-language TV channel. It airs various programs in Inuktut, including children’s series, documentaries, current affairs programs and films. The channel’s mandatory distribution is effective Jan. 20, 2025 at a rate of $0.09 per subscriber.

The channel had earlier committed to providing five hours of local current affairs programming and five hours of children’s programming with a commitment to 80% of the programming being in Inuktut.

Image courtesy of NITV