In a landmark acquisition deal, the US-based First Nations Experience (FNX) channel has secured rights to broadcast a variety of First Nations programming produced by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF).
The deal includes FNX acquiring several ACTF series and relicensing others. The live-action show ‘Barrumbi Kids’, along with series two and three of preschool animated show ‘Little J & Big Cuz’ are set to premiere on US soil.
Concurrently, the first series of ‘Little J & Big Cuz’ has been relicensed for further broadcasting. The broadcaster has also obtained rights for ‘Thalu’, ‘Red Dirt Riders’, and ‘Ready for This’, as well as relicensed ‘Double Trouble’ and the first two series of ‘Waabiny Time’.
This comes as FNX, a channel committed to Native American and world Indigenous content, is carried by 34 affiliate stations and is available through several digital streaming platforms.
This move will see ACTF’s content air in 29 states across America, from Alaska to New York, engaging more than 75.5 million households with Indigenous Australian narratives.
FNX’s Yucatec Maya producer and television director, Frank Blanquet, endorsed the ACTF titles as an exemplary addition to the channel’s offerings.
“We’re delighted to team up with the ACTF,” “Our aspiration at FNX is to offer a platform that allows Indigenous people to honour their cultures, stories, songs, and music. Bringing these Australian narratives to our US audience aligns with our vision to empower our future generations and uplift our Native and Indigenous communities.”
ACTF’s CEO, Jenny Buckland, expressed her enthusiasm about the opportunity to extend the reach of these culturally significant programs.
“Australia’s First Nations screen practitioners are some of our most accomplished sector members,”
Buckland stated.
“We’re thrilled to provide this wide array of exceptional content that uplifts First Nations culture, particularly for young viewers.”
