In a landmark moment for Indigenous representation in media, the four-part documentary series, The First Inventors, has become National Indigenous Television (NITV)’s most successful original commission in seven years.
The series was co-commissioned by NITV and Network 10, marking a first-time collaboration of its kind between the broadcasters.
The First Inventors delves into more than 65,000 years of invention and innovation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Presented by Logie Award-winning actor and Tiwi Islander man, Rob Collins, the series offers a deep dive into the world’s longest surviving culture.
Collins leads a team of First Nations investigators who explore significant archaeological sites and make ground-breaking discoveries that have caught the attention of Australian media.
As a tribute to this year’s NAIDOC Week theme of ‘For Our Elders’, the series also reflects the rich tapestry of Indigenous stories and traditions. It serves to amplify the voices and stories of the First Nations peoples, aligning with SBS’s Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan and Paramount ANZ’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan. The primary goal of the docu-series is to spark positive societal change through the celebration of the world’s oldest storytellers.
Tanya Denning-Orman, SBS’s director of Indigenous content, expressed her pride in the series, stating,
“We are incredibly proud of the way The First Inventors has broken new ground in illuminating the history of this continent, and enhancing our collective understanding as a nation of the more than 65,000 years of knowledges and cultures that continue to influence and enrich our lives. It’s fantastic to see the audience response as Australians connect with this incredible story of our country.”
Senior Vice President Content and Programming, Paramount ANZ, Daniel Monaghan, said:
“It’s an honour to host stories of the longest continuous civilisation on Earth. Not only will The First Inventors give all Australians the chance to learn more about the country we live on, but it will also help us to better understand the world we live in. Thank you to our friends at NITV, Screen Australia and Ronde Media for helping us to bring these incredible stories to light.”
The program has averaged 304,000 national viewers, reaching over 2.4 million Australians across the 10, 10 Play, NITV and SBS on Demand platforms.
This number is expected to rise with on-demand viewing. The first episode was watched by over 100,000 Total TV viewers on NITV and SBS on Demand, achieving the highest audience result for the First Nations media channel since 2016.
One of the significant findings highlighted in the series is the archaeological dig at Lizard Island. It revealed the earliest evidence of Indigenous manufacture and use of pottery, confirming a trade route as old as the Silk Road. Another key discovery included Australia’s oldest underwater archaeological finding off the coast of Western Australia in the Dampier Archipelago.
The First Inventors, a Ronde Pty Ltd production, was largely funded by Screen Australia in association with NITV.
