Editing Special Broadcasting Service

{{Short description|Australian public radio and TV network}}{{Distinguish|Seoul Broadcasting System|text=[[Seoul Broadcasting System]], also abbreviated as SBS}}{{Other uses|SBS (disambiguation){{!}}SBS}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Special Broadcasting Service
| logo = [[File:SBS Australia Logo (2019).svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2019
| image = SBS, Artarmon.jpg
| image_caption = SBS' headquarters in Artarmon, New South Wales
| type = [[Public broadcasting|Public service broadcaster]]
| location = 14 Herbert Street, [[Artarmon, New South Wales|Artarmon]], [[Sydney]]
| hq_location_country = Australia
| owner = [[Australian Government]]
| net_income = $1.558 million
| net_income_year = 2024
| operating_income = $2.113 million
| income_year = 2024
| revenue = $159.146 million
| revenue_year = 2024
| assets = $353.253 million
| assets_year = 2024
| equity = $243.738 million
| equity_year = 2024
| divisions = [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS Television]] <br /> [[SBS Radio]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.sbs.com.au|sbs.com.au}}
| key_people = [[George Savvides]]<br />(Chair)<br />James Taylor<br />(Managing Director)
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1975|1|1|df=y}}
| num_employees = 1,319{{efn|Counting all ongoing and non-ongoing employees.}}
| num_employees_year = 2024
| area_served = Australia
| founder = [[Fraser government]]
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite report |pages=132–133, 244 |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SBS_2024_Annual_Report_DIGITAL.pdf |access-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208043903/https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SBS_2024_Annual_Report_DIGITAL.pdf |archive-date=8 December 2024 |url-status=live |date=29 August 2024 |title=2024 Annual Report |publisher=SBS}}</ref>
}}The '''Special Broadcasting Service''' ('''SBS''') is an Australian hybrid-funded [[public broadcasting|public service broadcaster]]. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from tax revenue.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/8823848/upload_binary/8823848.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22Operations%20and%20funding%202000s%202007%2003%2028%22|url-status=live|archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012143536/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/archive/SBS|title=Special Broadcasting Service (SBS): Operations and funding|last=Jolly|first=Rhonda|publisher=[[Parliament of Australia]]|date=28 March 2007|access-date=5 October 2019}}</ref> SBS operates six TV channels ([[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]], [[SBS Viceland]], [[SBS World Movies]], [[SBS Food]],  [[NITV]] and [[SBS WorldWatch]]) and seven radio networks (SBS Radios 1, 2 and 3, Arabic24, SBS Chill, SBS South Asian and [[SBS PopAsia]]). SBS is also home to [[SBS On Demand]] video streaming service. 
The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society".<ref name="faq">[http://www.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.html?id=380 SBS: Frequently Asked Questions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308165927/http://www.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.html?id=380 |date=8 March 2005 }} SBS Corporation, accessed 26 May 2007</ref> SBS is one of five main [[free-to-air]] networks in Australia.

SBS formally came into existence in 1975 as a radio network. Full-time transmission began on a new television channel in 1980. In-show advertising commenced in 2006. Commercial breaks are set at five minutes per hour. SBS's most successful imported television series is ''[[South Park]]''.

==History==
As a result of extensive [[post-war immigration to Australia|post-World War II immigration to Australia]] and the end of the [[White Australia Policy]], the federal government began to consider the need for "ethnic broadcasting" – programming targeted at ethnic minorities and mostly delivered in languages other than English. Until 1970, radio stations were prevented by law from broadcasting in foreign languages for more than 2.5 hours per week.<ref>[http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/library/media/Timeline-Commentary/id/109.The-Special-Broadcasting-Service 1978 - SBS set up to air multilingual programs and information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006212452/http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/library/media/Timeline-Commentary/id/109.The-Special-Broadcasting-Service |date=6 October 2017 }}, Multicultural History of Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref> In June 1975 at the behest of Minister for Immigration [[Al Grassby]], two "experimental" radio stations began broadcasting: 2EA in [[Sydney]] and 3EA in [[Melbourne]] (EA stood for "Ethnic Australia"), partly to publicise the Whitlam government's social policy changes to ethnic communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=SBS established |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/sbs-established |website=www.nma.gov.au |publisher=National Museum of Australia |access-date=26 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In March 1976, the [[Fraser government]] established the Consultative Committee on Ethnic Broadcasting, followed by the National Ethnic Broadcasting Advisory Council in January 1977. Initially, it was considered feasible for ethnic broadcasting to be delivered by the [[Australian Broadcasting Commission]] (ABC); however, this plan was abandoned in mid-1977.<ref name=brief>[http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/sbs_3.pdf Brief History of SBS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424152425/http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/sbs_3.pdf |date=24 April 2018 }}, Multicultural Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref>

In October 1977, the government announced the creation of SBS as a new independent [[statutory authority]] for ethnic broadcasting.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110871796|date=14 October 1977|title=Ethnic radio body plan|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502002244/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110871796|archive-date=2 May 2018}}</ref> This was achieved as a result of an amendment<ref>'{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|bataa1977338|Broadcasting and Television Amendment Act 1977}}</ref> to the ''[[Broadcasting Act 1942]]''. SBS formally came into existence on 1 January 1978.<ref name=brief/> The inaugural Chair of SBS was Grisha Sklovsky, and the inaugural executive director was Ronald Fowell. The service was initially a radio network, and had oversight only of the two existing stations 2EA and 3EA.<ref name=brief/> It was always intended that it would be enlarged, but this process was controversial – the [[FreeTV Australia|Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations]] wanted the television functions to be controlled by the ABC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110917302|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|date=18 October 1978|title=Call to postpone ethnic service|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408011733/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110917302|archive-date=8 April 2018}}</ref>

In March 1979, the government set up the Ethnic Television Review Panel, which recommended that SBS expand multilingual services into television. [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]] began test transmissions in April 1979 when it showed various foreign language programs on [[ABV-2]] Melbourne and [[ABN-2]] Sydney on Sunday mornings. Full-time transmission began on a new television channel at 6:30&nbsp;pm on 24 October 1980 ([[United Nations Day]]). The first program shown was a documentary entitled ''Who Are We?'', which was hosted by veteran news presenter [[Peter Luck]]. At the time, SBS was broadcasting on [[UHF]] Channel 28 and [[VHF]] Channel 0 (pronounced as "oh" and not "zero"), with a planned discontinuation of the latter at some time in the future. [[Bruce Gyngell]], who [[Nine Network|introduced television to Australia in 1956]], was given the task of introducing the first batch of programs on the new station.

SBS programming content was initially imported from the suppliers in the countries-of-origin of Australia's major migrant communities and then subtitled into English.<ref name="inventing_sbs_2007_ach">Hawkins, Gay ([[University of New South Wales]]) and Ien Ang ([[University of Western Sydney]]), [http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/156952/Hawkins_and_Ang_InventingSBS_ICS_Pre-Print_Final.pdf "Inventing SBS: Televising the Foreign,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113082437/http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/156952/Hawkins_and_Ang_InventingSBS_ICS_Pre-Print_Final.pdf |date=13 January 2016 }} 2007, ''ACH: The Journal of the History of Culture in Australia'', 26: 1-14, Taylor & Francis, Australia.</ref>

In October–November 1983, the service expanded to service the centres of [[Canberra]], [[Cooma]] and [[Goulburn, New South Wales|Goulburn]],<ref name=SBStimeline2005>{{cite web|url=http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1201|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050718060140/http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1201|title=A brief history of SBS|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=n.d.|access-date=21 October 2019|archive-date=18 July 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116413493 |title=Viewers switch on to Network 28 |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=58 |issue=17,555 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=22 October 1983 |access-date=3 July 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116396600 |title=TIMESTYLE |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=58 |issue=17,584 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=20 November 1983 |access-date=3 July 2021 |page=14 (SUNDAY EDITION) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> subsequently changing its name to Network 0–28. Its new slogan was the eventual long-running "Bringing the World Back Home".<ref>{{Citation 
  | author1=Australia. Special Broadcasting Service. 
  | title=SBS Television – Presentation 
  | journal=Annual Report of the Special Broadcasting Service. 
  | year=1980 
  | issn=0158-5339 
  | series=Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament) 
  | issue=1983/1984, PP no. 10 of 1985 
  | location=Sydney [N.S.W.] 
  | publisher=S.B.S 
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2038253296
  | id=nla.obj-2038253296
  | access-date=21 October 2021
  | via=Trove 
}}</ref> The network changed its name to simply SBS in February 1985 and soon began daytime transmissions.<ref name=SBStimeline2005/> SBS also expanded to the cities of [[Brisbane]], [[Adelaide]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], [[Wollongong]] and the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] in June of that year.<ref name=SBStimeline2005/>

On 5 January 1986, SBS ceased broadcasting on the [[VHF]] channel 0 frequency. Although many Australians at the time did not have UHF antennas, SBS's VHF licence had already been extended by a year at this stage and not all antennas had worked well with the low-frequency Channel 0.<ref>[http://televisionau.com/feature-articles/sbs The History of Australian Television: SBS Television] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008073003/http://televisionau.com/feature-articles/sbs |date=8 October 2014 }}, accessed 22 May 2007</ref>

In August 1986, the government proposed legislation that would amalgamate SBS into the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]. This was highly unpopular with ethnic-minority communities,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136292891 |title=Protest against ABC-SBS |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=61 |issue=18,778 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=3 March 1987 |access-date=3 July 2021 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and after protests from both SBS staff and communities, resulted in the [[Prime Minister of Australia]], [[Bob Hawke]] announcing in 1987 that the proposed amalgamation would not proceed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118187216 |title=Government abandons SBS-ABC merger |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=61 |issue=18,833 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=27 April 1987 |access-date=3 July 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>  The [[SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra]] was soon launched in 1988 with founding conductor [[Matthew Krel]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263332358 |title=SBS youth orchestra plan |newspaper=[[The Australian Jewish Times]] |volume=94 |issue=4 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 September 1988 |access-date=3 July 2021 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Plans to introduce limited commercial-program sponsorship, as well as the establishment of SBS as an independent corporation with its own charter, were put in place in July 1989. A program called ''[[Eat Carpet]]'', showcasing local and international short films, was also launched in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120911915 |title=Still some spark in SBS |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=63 |issue=19,494 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=20 February 1989 |access-date=3 July 2021 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The passage into law of the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 officially made SBS a corporation in 1991.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|sbsa1991254|Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991}}</ref> Throughout the early 1990s, [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]] coverage was expanded further to include new regional areas such as the [[Latrobe Valley]], [[Spencer Gulf]], [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], northeast [[Tasmania]], [[Cairns]] and [[Townsville]].<ref>{{Citation 
  | author1=Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. 
  | title=Audience 
  | journal=Annual Report 
  | year=1992 
  | issn=1038-6696 
  | series=Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament) 
  | issue=1991/1992, PP no. 373 of 1992 
  | location=Canberra 
  | publisher=Australian Govt. Pub. Service 
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2168777670
  | id=nla.obj-2168777670
  | access-date=21 October 2021
  | via=Trove 
}}</ref><ref>{{Citation 
  | author1=Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. 
  | title=Annual report 
  | year=1992 
  | issn=1038-6696 
  | series=Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament) 
  | issue=1992/1993, PP no. 333 of 1993 
  | location=Canberra 
  | publisher=Australian Govt. Pub. Service 
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1681855061
  | id=nla.obj-1681855061
  | access-date=21 October 2021
  | via=Trove 
}}</ref><ref>{{Citation 
  | author1=Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. 
  | title=Annual report 
  | year=1992 
  | issn=1038-6696 
  | series=Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament) 
  | issue=1993/1994, PP no. 361 of 1994 
  | location=Canberra 
  | publisher=Australian Govt. Pub. Service 
  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1186376929
  | id=nla.obj-1186376929
  | access-date=21 October 2021
  | via=Trove 
}}</ref>
[[File:SBS, Artarmon.jpg|thumb|The SBS' corporate headquarters in [[Artarmon, New South Wales]]]]
In 1992, SBS's radio and television facilities were gradually relocated to new premises in [[Artarmon, New South Wales|Artarmon]], [[New South Wales]]. Radio services were initially located in [[Bondi Junction]] and television services in [[Milsons Point, New South Wales|Milsons Point]]. The new building was officially opened on 10 November 1993 by the prime minister, [[Paul Keating]], and a national radio network was launched in January 1994. The new service initially covered Brisbane, [[Adelaide]], [[Perth]], and Darwin, while original stations 2EA and 3EA were renamed Radio Sydney and Radio Melbourne, respectively. However, the new national service was launched on a separate frequency in Sydney and Melbourne in July of that year. Throughout 1996, the radio services were expanded to cover [[Hobart]] and [[Canberra]], while [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]]'s coverage was further expanded to include the [[New South Wales North Coast]] and the town of [[Albury]].

[[Comedy Central]]'s ''[[South Park]]'', SBS's most successful imported television series, was first aired in 1997. A time-delay system was installed for [[South Australia]] in May 1999, shortly before the establishment of the Transmission Services division (intended to manage transmission and self-help services). A New Media division, responsible for the SBS website, was established at the start of 2000 in time for the first [[webcast]] of the [[Australian Film Institute Awards]]. Ratings continued to increase through 2000 to 2001 – increasing to an overall 5.2% average weekly audience share.<ref name="history">[http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1201 SBS: History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302020843/http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1201 |date=2 March 2007 }} SBS Corporation, accessed 26 May 2007</ref>

In April 2003, SBS Radio dropped four languages from its schedule, Irish, Scots Gaelic, Welsh, and Belarusian, and added four others, Amharic, Nepalese, Malay, and Somali, while increasing the broadcast hours for [[Cantonese]], [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]], and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]. SBS broadcast the 2004 [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens Olympics]] in partnership with the [[Seven Network]]. and also broadcast [[Euro 2008]] in Austria and Switzerland.
[[File:SBS Building in the Federation Square.jpg|thumb|The SBS building in Melbourne's [[Federation Square]]]]
[[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] and [[Arabic language]] broadcasts were added to SBS's ''WorldWatch'' television schedule in 2003.<ref>{{cite web | title = SBS Timeline | url = http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1201 | publisher = Special Broadcasting Service | access-date = 20 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070302020843/http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1201 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2 March 2007}}</ref> However, the [[Vietnamese Australian|Vietnamese community]] protested the Vietnamese-language service, whose content was taken from [[Vietnam Television|VTV4]], [[Vietnam]]'s government-controlled national broadcaster. They found the portrayal of the communist [[Flag of Vietnam|Vietnamese flag]] and [[Ho Chi Minh]] offensive and stated that the program's lack of reporting on political arrests and religious oppression was also offensive, especially to those who had fled the country following the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Crunch time for SBS over Vietnamese news bulletin | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/01/1070127351359.html?from=storyrhs | newspaper = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]| date = 2 December 2003 | access-date = 20 May 2007 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080124104200/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/01/1070127351359.html?from=storyrhs | archive-date = 24 January 2008}}</ref> This backlash prompted SBS to remove the bulletin from schedule and from then on to display disclaimers before all externally produced bulletins in order to distance it from the content.

In May 2008, SBS unveiled a new-look logo as well as a new [[backronym]]ic slogan: "Six Billion Stories and counting".<ref>[http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1248 SBS: Six Billion Stories and counting] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719040822/http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbscorporate/index.php?id=1248 |date=19 July 2008 }} SBS Corporation, accessed 8 May 2008</ref>

On 8 May 2012, SBS received $158 million in government funding,<ref name="SBS Funding">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/05/158m-funding-boost-for-sbs.html|title=$158m funding boost for SBS|date=9 May 2012 |publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=10 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511091812/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/05/158m-funding-boost-for-sbs.html|archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> of which $15 million would be used yearly, to fund the formation of a new free-to-air channel devoted to [[Indigenous Australians|the indigenous peoples of Australia]].<ref name="New Indigenous Australian Channel">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/05/new-indigenous-tv-channel-for-sbs.html|title=New Indigenous TV channel for SBS|date=9 May 2012 |publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=10 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607010748/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/05/new-indigenous-tv-channel-for-sbs.html|archive-date=7 June 2012}}</ref> which would replace the existing [[National Indigenous Television]] on 12 December 2012, with 90% of its staff transferring to this new channel.<ref name="NITV Staff Transfer">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/05/sbs-but-wait-theres-more.html|title=SBS – but wait there's more...|date=10 May 2012 |publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=10 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513055721/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/05/sbs-but-wait-theres-more.html|archive-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> On 12 December 2012, NITV was re-launched as an SBS-operated [[free-to-air]] channel, replacing SBS4.<ref name="NITV Replaces SBS4">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/12/nitv-launch-day.html|title=NITV: Launch Day|date=5 December 2012 |publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=12 December 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207113014/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/12/nitv-launch-day.html|archive-date=7 December 2012}}</ref>

SBS is a supporter of [[same-sex marriage]]<ref name=SSM>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senators-accuse-sbs-of-campaigning-against-australian-law-by-supporting-samesex-marriage-20151020-gkdcm2.html|title=Senators accuse SBS of campaigning against Australian law by supporting same-sex marriage|author=Knott, Matthew|date=20 October 2015|work=[[The Age]]|access-date=21 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021025046/http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senators-accuse-sbs-of-campaigning-against-australian-law-by-supporting-samesex-marriage-20151020-gkdcm2.html|archive-date=21 October 2015}}</ref> and pulled an anti-same-sex marriage advertisement ahead of its telecast of the [[Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/anti-marriage-equality-ad-pulled-from-sbs-tv/story-fnizhakg-1227253242695|title=Anti-marriage equality ad pulled from SBS TV|date=9 March 2015|work=[[News Ltd]]|access-date=21 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006041649/http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/anti-marriage-equality-ad-pulled-from-sbs-tv/story-fnizhakg-1227253242695|archive-date=6 October 2015}}</ref> Then managing director, [[Michael Ebeid]], defended SBS's position on the issue.<ref name = SSM/>

On 17 November 2015, the new food channel, [[SBS Food Network]], was launched. On 17 November 2018, the channel became SBS Food.

In June 2016, SBS announced that SBS 2 was set to be rebranded as [[SBS Viceland]] with content from US-Canadian youth Vice Media from November 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvtonight.com.au/2016/06/viceland-to-replace-sbs-2.html|title=Viceland to replace SBS 2|date=23 June 2016|website=tvtonight.com.au|access-date=2 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018021234/http://tvtonight.com.au/2016/06/viceland-to-replace-sbs-2.html|archive-date=18 October 2017}}</ref>

On 1 July 2019, SBS relaunched their former pay-TV movie channel, World Movies as [[SBS World Movies]] and it became a free-to-air channel.

On 12 January 2022, SBS announced that a sixth free-to-air television channel, with the working title [[SBS WorldWatch]], would be launched in 2022. The channel would be free to air and would broadcast all foreign-language bulletins currently broadcast on SBS and SBS Viceland, and new locally-produced news bulletins in Arabic and Mandarin Chinese in prime time. The Arabic and Mandarin bulletins launched on 15 February 2022 through [[SBS On Demand]], while the SBS WorldWatch channel itself was launched on 23 May.<ref>{{cite news|last=Quinn|first=Karl|title=Australian news in Mandarin and Arabic? It's about to hit free-to-air TV thanks to SBS|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/australian-news-in-mandarin-and-arabic-it-s-about-to-hit-free-to-air-tv-thanks-to-sbs-20220516-p5alrh.html|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=June 6, 2022|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Song|first=Darcy|title=SBS launches free-to-air multilingual news channel, SBS WorldWatch|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/sbs-launches-free-to-air-multilingual-news-channel-sbs-worldwatch-738288|work=[[Mumbrella]]|date=May 22, 2022|access-date=June 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Services==
===Television===
{{for|the main SBS channel|SBS (Australian TV channel)}}
Regardless of state or territory, SBS television services always use the callsign "SBS". On 14 December 2006, SBS announced its intention to change to [[720p]] as its [[High-definition television|high-definition]] transmission standard for [[SBS HD]].<ref name="hd">{{cite web |date=14 December 2006 |title=SBS chooses 720p High Definition |url=http://www.dba.org.au/newsletter/IB-DecJan07-full.asp#RECEPTION11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103100428/http://www.dba.org.au/newsletter/IB-DecJan07-full.asp#RECEPTION11 |archive-date=3 January 2007 |access-date=14 December 2006 |work=Digital Broadcasting Australia |publisher=dba.org.au}}</ref> SBS had previously down converted its scheduled [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]] high-definition content to the [[576p]] standard. On 5 June 2012, SBS upgraded its HD format from [[720p]] to [[1080i]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SBS upgrades HD to 1080i format on 5 June 2012 |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/article/126213/SBS-upgrades-HD-to-1080i-format-on-5-June-2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024045822/http://www.sbs.com.au/article/126213/SBS-upgrades-HD-to-1080i-format-on-5-June-2012 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
![[Virtual channel|LCN]]
!Service
!Notes
|-
!3
|[[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]]
|576i Standard Definition broadcast of main SBS Programs. Formerly known as SBS ONE. Original analogue channel ([[simulcast]] until last [[Analog switchoff|ASO]])
|-
!30
|[[SBS HD]]
|[[1080i]] [[simulcast]] of SBS
|-
!31
|[[SBS Viceland HD]]
|Aimed at a young demographic, formerly known as SBS TWO. Available in 1080i High Definition only
|-
!32
|[[SBS World Movies]]
|Dedicated movie channel for Australian & international movies. Available in 1080i High Definition only
|-
!33
|[[SBS Food]]
|Food and cooking channel, formerly known as SBS Food Network. Available in 576i Standard Definition only
|-
!34
|[[National Indigenous Television|NITV HD]]<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220000406/https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/nitv-switches-to-hd-on-december-5th.html |date=20 November 2023 |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/nitv-switches-to-hd-on-december-5th.html |url-status=live |work=[[TV Tonight]] |first=David |last=Knox |title=NITV switches to HD on December 5th}}</ref>
|Broadcast of National Indigenous Television main channel in [[1080i]] High Definition.
|-
! 35
| [[SBS WorldWatch]]
| A dedicated free-to-air television channel delivering multilingual local news bulletins in more than 30 languages as well as two local bulletins in Mandarin and Arabic. Available in [[576i]] Standard Definition only.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/sbs-to-launch-free-to-air-news-channel-aimed-at-mandarin-arabic-speakers-20211119-p59agj.html|url-access=registration|title=SBS to launch free-to-air news channel aimed at Mandarin, Arabic speakers|first=Zoe|last=Samios|date=22 November 2021|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
|-
!36
|[[NITV]]
|National Indigenous Television main channel in 576i Standard Definition
|-
|}

On 1 June 2006, the SBS managing director, [[Shaun Brown (business)|Shaun Brown]], announced the corporation's desire to initiate in-show commercial breaks, in the same manner as the commercial television networks. He said that the move would raise $10 million in the first year, as he believes that SBS's current strategy of showing ads between programs "is unpopular with viewers". "On average we lose more than half our audience during these breaks – this is 30 percent more than other broadcasters", claimed Brown upon announcing the new move.<ref>{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Murray|title=SBS caves in over ad breaks|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/sbs-caves-in-over-ad-breaks/2006/06/01/1148956480914.html|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=2 June 2006|access-date=25 November 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115103541/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/sbs-caves-in-over-ad-breaks/2006/06/01/1148956480914.html|archive-date=15 January 2008}}</ref>

SBS's commercial breaks remained at their existing statutory limit of five minutes per hour, as opposed to the fifteen minutes per hour permitted on Australia's fully commercial stations. An individual break lasted between one and two minutes. A related change was the launch of a one-hour {{nowrap|6:30 pm}} edition of ''[[SBS World News|World News]]'', replacing the half-hour ''World News Australia'' and ''World Sport'' programs. In-show advertising commenced on 9 October 2006 during the {{nowrap|7.30 pm}} broadcast of ''[[MythBusters]]''.

Former SBS television services are [[SBS Essential]] (LCN 31, sporting events, and other digital-only projects, when available) and [[SBS World News Channel]] (LCN 32, foreign news service).

====Subscription channels====
In 1995, SBS launched a new division called SBS Subscription TV. In October 1995, the first subscription channel to launch was [[World Movies]]; the channel focuses on independent international films. It was closed on 31 January 2018 but relaunched on free-to-air television on 1 July 2019. In April 2010, SBS launched [[Studio (TV channel)|Studio]] (previously marketed at as STVDIO); that channel focused on arts programming such as classical and popular music, literature, film, visual arts and dance with documentaries and performances. However, Studio closed down on 27 March 2015 and was replaced by [[Foxtel Arts]].

===Radio===
{{Main article|SBS Radio}}
[[SBS Radio]] broadcasts in 74 languages in all Australian states, producing an estimated 13,500 hours of Australian programming for its two frequencies in Sydney and [[Melbourne]] as well as for its national network. Much like [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]], SBS radio receives funding from a mix of government grants, paid-for government information campaigns and commercial advertising.<ref name="aboutradio">[http://www.radio.sbs.com.au/index.php?page=ab About SBS Radio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509224811/http://www.radio.sbs.com.au/index.php?page=ab |date=9 May 2007 }}
</ref> SBS Radio broadcast the [[UEFA Euro 2008]] in Austria and Switzerland.

Following "extensive community consultation" in 2003, SBS introduced a range of new programs, including services in [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Somali language|Somali]] and [[Amharic language|Amharic]] – in addition to the expansion of many existing programs.<ref name="aboutradio" />

In April 2013, SBS rolled out a major overhaul of its radio [[broadcast programming|schedule]]. The last major review of the SBS Radio schedule had taken place in 1994, and since then Australia's demographics had changed significantly. With the new schedule SBS intends to better reflect Australia's ethnic composition. With the addition of six new languages: [[Malayalam]], [[Dinka language|Dinka]], [[Hmong language|Hmong]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Swahili language|Swahili]] and [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]], SBS has brought the total number of languages from 68 to 74.<ref name="New SBS Radio Schedule has launched">
[http://www.sbs.com.au/radio/schedule2013 New SBS Radio Schedule has launched] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926053842/http://www.sbs.com.au/radio/schedule2013 |date=26 September 2013 }}, accessed 14 September 2013
</ref><ref name="SBS Announces New Radio Schedule For 2013">
[http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/685/h/SBS-Announces-New-Radio-Schedule-For-2013 SBS Announces New Radio Schedule For 2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831145314/http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/685/h/SBS-Announces-New-Radio-Schedule-For-2013 |date=31 August 2013 }}, accessed 14 September 2013</ref>

SBS rolled out a trial of [[Radio Data System|RDS]] (Radio Data System) in the Melbourne and Sydney broadcast areas in November 2012. Radio listeners can identify the SBS Radio service by the "SBSRadio" identifier and, if their radio permits, by RDS scrolling text on their FM-capable RDS radio.

[[NOW and NEXT]] data was progressively added to all radio services in 2012 and 2013. This now/next data is displayed on FM RDS Radio (Melbourne/Sydney) and [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB+]] receptions areas for radios that can display metadata.

NOW and NEXT Radio schedule is also displayed on free-to-air [[Terrestrial Digital Television]] (DTV) program guides and on [[TiVo]] and TBox where applicable.

SBS rolled out the 14-day rolling radio schedule over DTV television in November 2012. A radio event (or program) can be viewed and booked/recorded to PVR or the listener reminded. The schedule adapts to daylight saving changes as required.

Following the Language Services Review in 2021, SBS re-introduced a range of new and existing programs in revised languages in November 2022.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!
!Service
!Notes
|-
!rowspan="2"|Analogue with<br />digital [[simulcast]]
|[[SBS Radio 1]]
|Original SBS Radio 1 broadcasts (usually on [[Very high frequency|VHF]] band II){{efn|name=programming|Different areas receive different programming, but they all for the most part follow the programming of a selected city's SBS service.}}
|-
|[[SBS Radio 2]]
|Original SBS Radio 2 broadcasts (usually on [[Medium frequency|MF]]){{efn|name=programming}}
|-
!rowspan="5"|Digital only
|[[SBS Radio|SBS Radio 3]]
|Commenced April 2013. Radio 3 broadcasts the best of the BBC World Service and SBS Special events coverage including the [[FIFA World Cup 2014|2014 FIFA World Cup]] 
|-
|[[SBS Radio|SBS Chill]]
|SBS Chill "provides a music break from the stress of work, the rush that is daily life and all the complexities of your world".
|-
|[[SBS Radio|SBS Arabic24]]
|Arabic-language programming 24 hours a day.
|-
|[[SBS PopAsia]]
|Asian pop music in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and more.
|-
|[[SBS Radio|SBS South Asian]]
|Bollywood, Bhangra, Desi pop music, South Asian News and Talk Programming.
|-
|}

===Other===
====On demand====
{{See also|SBS On Demand}}
SBS on Demand is a [[video on demand]] and catch-up TV service run by SBS.<ref>{{cite web | title=SBS On Demand | website=SBS Australia | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/ | access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref> In April 2016, SBS launched a video on demand application called "SBS On Demand VR",{{cn|date=June 2023}} later renamed "SBS VR".<ref>{{cite web | title=Watch Virtual Reality & 360 Videos - SBS VR | website=SBS VR  | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/vr | access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>

====Multilingual services====
SBS has been providing multilingual services since 1975. Alongside news and radio, the SBS in-language units in both Sydney and Melbourne, provide a range of language services for medium to large organisations, private and government businesses. These include accredited translations, typesetting, voiceovers/re-narration, subtitling and video services in over 68 languages.

====SBS independent====
{{Main article|SBS independent}}
SBS independent (SBSi) was the primary production unit of SBS programming, which existed from August 1994 to December 2007. At the end of 2007, SBS independent was merged with the SBS Content and Online Division.

====Youth orchestra====
{{Main article|SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra}}
The SBS Youth Orchestra was an Australian premier youth orchestra, founded in 1988 by the now late [[Matthew Krel]]. It was disbanded in 2013.

====SBS Sexuality====
An online platform that celebrates "the diversity of sexuality in Australia and its multicultural communities".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality|title=SBS Sexuality {{!}} Home|website=SBS Sexuality|access-date=2016-08-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803100612/http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality|archive-date=3 August 2016}}</ref>

====Film distribution====
SBS used to distribute films in the early 1990s. In 2014, SBS revived its film distribution division as SBS Movies, which then teamed up with SBS' home video distributor [[Madman Entertainment]]. Both SBS and Madman released the 2016 American film ''[[Hell or High Water (2016 film)|Hell or High Water]]'' in Oceania.

==Corporation==

===Board===
;Chair
* Grisha Sklovsky {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}} (1978–1981)<ref>{{cite web|title=Sklovsky, Grigorij Abramovitch (1915 - 1995)|url=http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P003037b.htm|website=Encyclopedia of Australian Science|access-date=14 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231043308/http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P003037b.htm|archive-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>
* [[Nicholas Shehadie|Sir Nicholas Shehadie]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AC|OBE}} (1981–1999)
* [[Carla Zampatti]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AC}} (1999–2009)
* Joseph Skrzynski {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AO}} (2009–2014)<ref>{{cite news|title=New SBS Chair appointed|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/445/h/New-SBS-Chair-appointed|access-date=14 February 2018|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=6 November 2009|format=Media Release|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202708/https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/news-media-releases/view/id/445/h/New-SBS-Chair-appointed|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>
* Nihal Gupta (2014–2016)<ref>{{cite news|title=Nihal Gupta named new SBS chairman|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/nihal-gupta-named-new-sbs-chairman|access-date=14 February 2018|agency=SBS News|date=17 October 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202721/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/nihal-gupta-named-new-sbs-chairman|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Dominic|title=SBS chair Gupta in sudden exit|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/sbs-chair-gupta-in-sudden-exit-20160210-gmqm4f.html|access-date=14 February 2018|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 February 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214142328/http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/sbs-chair-gupta-in-sudden-exit-20160210-gmqm4f.html|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>
* [[Bulent Hass Dellal]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO}} (2017–2020)<ref>{{cite news|title=Government announces new SBS board chairman|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/government-announces-new-sbs-board-chairman|access-date=14 February 2018|agency=SBS News|date=14 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214202815/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/government-announces-new-sbs-board-chairman|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>
* [[George Savvides]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM}} (2020–present)<ref>{{cite news|title=George Savvides announced as new SBS chair|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/george-savvides-announced-as-new-sbs-chair-634066|access-date=11 July 2020|agency=Mumbrella|date=9 July 2020}}</ref>

;Managing director
*Ron Fowell (1978–1985)
* [[Ron Brown (Australian public servant)|Ron Brown]] (1985–1987)<ref name=BriefHist>{{citation|url=http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/sbs_3.pdf |title=Brief History of SBS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223341/http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/sbs_3.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2012 |date=1997 |url-status=unfit }}</ref>
*[[Brian Johns (businessman)|Brian Johns]] (1987–1992)<ref name=BriefHist/>
*Malcolm Long (1992–1997)<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.broadcastaustralia.com.au/the-company/directors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126151559/http://www.broadcastaustralia.com.au/the-company/directors|archive-date=26 January 2014|title=Directors of Broadcast Australia|quote=From 1993–97 he was Managing Director of SBS Corporation}}</ref>
*Nigel Milan (1997–2005)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/sbs-chief-resigns/2005/08/05/1123125897607.html|url-status=live|url-access=registration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111044524/http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/sbs-chief-resigns/2005/08/05/1123125897607.html|archive-date=11 January 2007|title=SBS chief resigns|date=5 August 2005|publisher=Fairfax Media|newspaper=The Age}}</ref>
* [[Shaun Brown (business)|Shaun Brown]] (2005–2011)
* [[Michael Ebeid]] (2011–2018)<ref>{{citation|url=https://newmatilda.com/2011/04/21/can-man-save-sbs |url-status=live|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116213347/http://newmatilda.com/2011/04/21/can-man-save-sbs|title=Can this man save SBS?|date=21 April 2011|first=David|last=Ingram}}</ref>
* James Taylor (2018–present)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/sbs-appoints-james-taylor-as-new-managing-director|archive-date=11 December 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211060839/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/sbs-appoints-james-taylor-as-new-managing-director/g1kzgsd65|title=SBS appoints James Taylor as new managing director|date=19 October 2018|agency=SBS News}}</ref>

;Current board members
*[[George Savvides]], Chair
*Christine Zeitz, Deputy Chair
*James Taylor, Managing Director
*Vic Alhadeff
*Aaron Fa'Aoso
*Peeyush Gupta
*Andrew Lu
*Katrina Rathie
*Cassandra Wilkinson<ref name="Board">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219234501/https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ |work=SBS |access-date=20 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Digital radio in Australia]]
* [[List of programs broadcast by Special Broadcasting Service]]
* [[SBS Sport]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://www.sbs.com.au/}}
*[https://www.sbs.com.au/inlanguage SBS In Language Service]

{{Special Broadcasting Service}}
{{Australian free-to-air television networks}}
{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Special Broadcasting Service| ]]
[[Category:Public television in Australia]]
[[Category:Television broadcasting companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Radio broadcasting companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Multilingual broadcasters]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1978]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1978]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia]]
[[Category:Publicly funded broadcasters]]
[[Category:Publicly funded English language broadcasters]]