A Remote Possibility
The Battle for Imparja Television, by Wendy Bell
Bell, W. (2008) A Remote Possibility - The Battle for Imparja Television, Alice Springs, N.T.: IAD Press
'When the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), based in Alice Springs, decided to apply for a remote television satellite licence, in 1998, success seemed a remote possibility. Winning the licence would make Imparja the first indigenous-controlled commercial television station, not only in Australia but the world, with a transmission footprint larger than Western Europe. Wendy Bell’s well-researched book explores CAAMA’s battle to satisfy remote communities, two governments, the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal, and the media. She follows the story with all its twists, reversals and passions through the challenges that continue to the present day, managing social and cultural integrity within one of the toughest commercial environments in Australia, along with the need to meet community expectations regarding language and cultural programming. Detailing the CAAMA's battle, this is truly a story of heroes, densely populated with strong characters, both for and against Imparja's existence and its survival.'
Wendy Bell was born in Sydney, and has lived in both Alice Springs and Papua New Guinea. As well as writing on Indigenous issues in Australia, she has also been an adviser for the Australian government on overseas development assistance programmes.
