Uvagut TV reaches audiences across Canada

Programming important to preserve our language, culture and heritage, says Lucy Tulugarjuk

Jill Westerman Jan 27, 2025 12:36 PM

inuit-knowledge-and-climate-change-photo-credit-to-isuma-distribution-international — Uvagut TV has been granted television channel status by the CRTC and will be broadcast as part of a basic cable package to more than 10 million cable subscribers across Canada. One of the many Inuit language programs that will air on the channel will be 'Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change (2010)'. Photo courtesy of Isuma Distribution International

Uvagut TV SA国际影视传媒� CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 first national Inuktut television station SA国际影视传媒� now has permission to broadcast its programming from coast to coast to coast after it was recently granted television channel status by the CRTC.

First launched in 2021 to 600,000 subscribers on Shaw, Arctic Co-op and local satellite channels across Canada, the nationwide launch of the channel took place on Jan. 20 and will be fully operational within weeks.

This means that more than 10 million basic cable television subscribers will now have access to CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 first Inuit language television station and its lineup of movies, documentaries, cultural programming, current affairs shows, interviews with Elders, plus five hours of daily kidsSA国际影视传媒� shows, according to a recent press release issued by Uvagut TV.

During the public CRTC hearing, SA国际影视传媒渙verwhelmingSA国际影视传媒� support was given from across Canada, including 4,900 signatures on a public petition and 167 written interventions from all levels of government, media, Indigenous communities and leaders, educators, and other professionals.

Lucy Tulugarjuk, Nunavut Independent Television (NITV) executive director, said in a press release that this was a SA国际影视传媒渉istoric momentSA国际影视传媒� for all Inuit.

SA国际影视传媒淲e believe Uvagut TV is so important to help preserve our language, culture and heritage.

SA国际影视传媒淎s our Elders pass away one by one, we are fighting against time to keep our culture, our beliefs and language alive for our children and grandchildren. Having Inuktut TV is a powerful way to keep a living language for future generations,SA国际影视传媒� said Tulugarjuk.

Seeking new productions

Now that the distribution of the channel is approved, the station is seeking new and original productions to finance. The station will provide producers with broadcast licence fees and performance envelope allocations for Inuit language productions, including feature films, documentaries, childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 programming and series.

Subscribers to Shaw Direct satellite throughout Canada and Arctic Co-op Cable (Nunavut and NWT) can watch Uvagut TV on their basic cable packages SA国际影视传媒� channel 240 or 267. FCNQ (Nunavik) subscribers can watch on channel 308.

Internet subscribers are able to watch a live stream of the station at: www.uvagut.tv.