What’s the status of advertising on SBS radio? Noticed that SBS PopAsia is running ads for the McDonald’s BTS meal, which obviously makes sense, but it’s literally the only ad in the whole hour.
I assume it’s basically that SBS can run ads, but demand is so low they almost never do? Does anyone listen to their other stations enough to know?
I’d be interested how Chill/PopDesi/PopAsia do in the ratings, but without them I can see even less desire to advertise.
As part of SBS’s commitment to continue evolving to meet the needs of contemporary Australia, SBS has commenced the regular review of its language services provided through SBS Radio, today opening public consultation to invite feedback on the draft selection criteria.
The SBS Language Services Review is a process undertaken every five years in line with the national Census, to ensure SBS Radio services reflect Australia’s rapidly changing and increasingly diverse society. The selection criteria will be used in conjunction with the 2021 Census data to determine the languages to be serviced. and help inform the way those services are delivered, for the next five years.
The Language Services Review encompasses SBS’s audio and language offering including radio, SBS On Demand, podcasting and other digital platforms.
The six-week public consultation, which begins today and concludes on 12 November 2021, is an important opportunity for communities to contribute to the future of SBS Radio services and the network’s broader audio and language offering, with all feedback considered in establishing the final selection criteria that will be used.
SBS Director of Audio and Language Content, David Hua, said, “SBS has a unique ability to reach and connect with Australia’s diverse communities through its multilingual services, across multiple touchpoints. For more than 45 years, we’ve been continuing to adapt the way we provide innovative and meaningful services to communities, and today we do so across radio, online, podcasts and apps in more than 60 languages. This review will help shape SBS as we look towards turning 50.
“The vital role of SBS’s multilingual services has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering critical updates and health information to communities in their preferred language. The Language Services Review is an important opportunity to ensure we continue to reflect the needs of communities in Australia today.
“Regularly updating our language offering enables SBS to better service the largest communities with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as offering services to emerging and high-needs communities. Giving our audiences a voice in this process is a critical element, and we encourage communities across Australia to share their feedback.”
The selection criteria are due to be finalised by May 2022, with the revised SBS language services to be implemented before the end of 2022.
The public consultation period for the selection criteria runs from 5 October to 12 November 2021. To view the draft selection criteria and submit feedback, go to sbs.com.au/consultation.
At the start of this morning’s Cantonese program, I hear presenters reading an acknowledgment of country. I think it’s a recent addition. Not sure it extends to other foreign language shows on SBS Radio.
As part of SBS’s commitment to continue evolving to meet the needs of contemporary Australia, SBS has today announced the final selection criteria it will use as part of the 2021-22 Language Services Review.
SBS received more than 2000 submissions, representing 80 languages, during the public consultation period – running from 5 October to 26 November 2021 – offering people and organisations the opportunity to provide feedback on the criteria that was being proposed.
The Language Services Review encompasses SBS’s audio and language offering including radio, podcasting, and other digital platforms.
The feedback from the public consultation helped shape the final selection criteria, published today, which will now be used in conjunction with the 2021 Census data to the languages to be serviced. and help inform the way those services are delivered, for the next five years.
The last Language Services Review was conducted during 2016-2017, SBS has committed to reviewing its language services every five years in line with the Australian census.
The revised SBS language services will be announced before the end of 2022.
For more information and to view the final selection criteria, go to SBS.com.au/LanguageServicesReview
2021-22 Language Services Review Final Selection Criteria
High Needs Languages Criteria: (a minimum of 15 languages subject to SBS funding)
SBS may also include a sizeable ethnic community if its needs are significant but not adequately captured in the Large Language or High Needs Selection Criteria. Factors which SBS may take into account include:
SBS will take into account the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian community.
SBS will take into account language services provided by all parts of the organisation.
*Population size based on 2021 Census data –Main language other than English spoken at home.
The final Selection Criteria and Census 2021 data will determine which languages are serviced by SBS. Subject to funding, SBS will determine when and how the language services will be delivered –e.g., via AM/FM, digital radio, digital television, online and/or podcast.
SBS should be making a special case for the Ukrainian refugees. More Ukrainian broadcast time.
Of course, should be matched by less Russian time.
I don’t really agree about the less Russian time.
Before you jump to conclusions and call me a Russian sympathizer, I’m just going to say that I’m against the Russian actions in Ukraine.
Anyway, I don’t think less Russian time is good because the diaspora in Australia may not be completely pro-Putin, so I reckon keep the broadcasting hours for Russian as they are right now, but increase the Ukrainian time I’m a supporter of.
why discriminate against Russian-speaking people in Australia who are most likely as against the war on Ukraine as much of the rest of the world are.
Agree with you both, I appreciate your reasoning.
So the census data came out on Tuesday, and it looks like some changes to the radio schedule will be announced in several months.
to do this, there will be three outcomes: Drop, Unsure, and Remain. I’ve weighed my predictions on the language population, similar to what they did last time:
Anyway without further ado, the outcomes for the programs based on my personal predictions.
I am open to any discrepancies you may see, and I am also open to debate.
Drop - Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian,
Unsure - Assyrian, Dari, Dutch, Hebrew, Hmong, Kurdish, Lao, Maltese, Samoan, Serbian, Somali, Swahili, Ukrainian
Remain - Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Cantonese, Croatian, Dinka, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Khmer, Kirundi, Korean, Macedonian, Malayalam, Mandarin, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Rohingya, Russian, Sinhalese, Spanish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Tigrinya, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese
I am sure Ukrainian programs will remain. The local community needs the latest news on Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine from a trusted source, while an increasing number of Ukrainian refugees arriving here will also need information on settling in Australia.
I reckon they’ll probably increase the number of programs to two or three times a week …
Agreed, there will be more Ukranians here than the census suggests, as many would have arrived this year
Here’s a Friday Night Quiz for the bored.
Who can score 100% on matching the above languages to at least one originating country?
Eg. Italian = Italy
I scored 39 of 43. Karen, Kirundi, Malayalam (not where you might think) & Telugu languages got me 
Score
35-37: Good
38-39: Very Good
40-41 : Excellent
42-43: Simply Brilliant
Quiz posted here in the interest of the service that SBS provides to cultures that made Australia their home & as a fun educational quiz, assuming contestants will google their unknown language origins.
Amazing. I’ve memorised these languages off by heart so I got full marks.
A shame, but why would you want to return?
SBS Radio to change to SBS Audio next year