SBS Operations

[TV.Cynic]

Statement on Acting Managing Director arrangements at SBS

The SBS Board of Directors has today confirmed it will appoint Jane Palfreyman, SBS Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, as SBS Acting Managing Director, while it conducts a global search for a new Managing Director.

This arrangement follows the decision of James Taylor to step down from SBS after 13 years of service. He will remain with the organisation until November for a transition period, before taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at oOh!media.

SBS Board Acting Chair, Christine Zeitz, said the interim appointment provides continuity of leadership and ensures an orderly transition until the next Managing Director is appointed.

Jane Palfreyman joined SBS in 2012 and has held senior positions across Sales and Marketing. In her current role, she leads SBS’s commercial strategy, brand and audience engagement, client partnerships and revenue growth. She brings more than two decades of experience in media and commercial leadership.

Her appointment as Acting Managing Director will take effect from 28 August 2025. The SBS Board has commenced an independent recruitment process to select the organisation’s next Managing Director.

[TV.Cynic]

Australian Red Cross and SBS launch training to help workplaces in the fight against Modern Slavery

Australian Red Cross and SBS have joined forces to launch a new online training program giving Australian workplaces the knowledge and tools to spot, prevent and respond to Modern Slavery. Inspired by survivors and guided by sector experts, the course delivers practical strategies and resources to drive real change.

Modern Slavery is a hidden crime affecting 50 million people globally – and an estimated 41,000 in Australia. With awareness still limited, this training marks a critical step forward.

Head of SBS Inclusion Program Leon Coningham said this partnership combines the deep expertise Australian Red Cross has in supporting survivors and shaping policy, with SBS’s proven reach in creating and distributing impactful learning programs.

“Together an accessible, best-in-class course has been designed to give every workplace practical tools to help prevent Modern Slavery in their own operations and supply chains,” said Mr Coningham.

Australian Red Cross Senior Manager Modern Slavery Prevention and Response Natalie Maxwell-Davis said the program draws on lived experience to drive change.

“This program creates a meaningful way for people to engage with and be informed by lived experience. By partnering with SBS we have been able to develop training that will build collective awareness and catalyse action,” said Ms Maxwell-Davis.

Australian Red Cross CEO Andrew Colvin said Australian Red Cross sees the impacts of Modern Slavery firsthand.

“Survivors who enter the Support for Trafficked People Program have faced the worst forms of exploitation, often hidden in plain sight. Survivors often only get one chance to seek help – it is important that people know how to recognise the signs and respond safely,” said Mr Colvin.

SBS Acting Managing Director Jane Palfreyman said Modern Slavery deprives victims of their dignity, fundamental rights and freedoms, and has no place in a modern, cohesive society.

“SBS is strongly committed to amplifying the voices of those unheard and at risk. We look forward to working with Australian Red Cross to harness the power of organisations to recognise and prevent all forms of Modern Slavery in Australia,” said Ms Palfreyman.

Featuring real stories, expert interviews and practical actions, the training is supported by a range of resources designed to help create change. Topics covered include:

• What is Modern Slavery
• The language of Modern Slavery
• Recognising and responding to Modern Slavery; and
• What organisations can do to address Modern Slavery

The training empowers every workplace to play its part in eradicating Modern Slavery. Find out more at www.redcross.org.au/modernslaverytraining/.

About the SBS Inclusion Program

SBS holds a unique place in the Australian media, inspiring all Australians to explore, respect and celebrate our diverse world and in doing so, contributes to an inclusive and cohesive society with content in over 60 languages. The SBS Inclusion Program is Australia’s leading online DE&I program providing courses and resources covering a range of topics including Inclusion, Disability, First Nations, Cultural Diversity, Gender Equity, Generational Diversity, LGBTIQ+, Appropriate Workplace Behaviour, Neurodiversity, Inclusive Recruitment. The Inclusion Program is currently licensed to more than 650 organisations and over 1.2 million employees.

About Australian Red Cross and Support for Trafficked People Program

The Support for Trafficked People Program is a national support program funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the Australian Red Cross. The program assists people who have experienced modern slavery (including forced marriage if other types of exploitation are also present) in meeting their safety, security, health and wellbeing needs. Through intensive casework, and referrals to specialist services, support may include accommodation, medical assistance, counselling, education and training and social support.

If you or someone you know is experiencing exploitation, help is available. You can report to the Australian Federal Police on 131 AFP (131 237) or www.afp.gov.au; or seek confidential advice and support from the Additional Referral Pathway on 1800 000 277 or www.salvationarmy.org.au.

[JohnsonTV]

SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with bold, illuminating stories across the network

left to right: Ashan Khan (Secrets from the Curry Kitchen), Jus Reign (Late Bloomer), Tannishtha Chatterjee (UNindian), Akshay Ajit Singh (Four Years Later)

From drama and documentaries to food, music and podcasts, SBS is the destination for all Australians to celebrate and connect through Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas and Tihar.

In celebration of the Festivals of Lights, SBS is lighting up screens and homes with a vibrant line-up of premium multilingual content that reflects the rich traditions of Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas and Tihar, and welcomesall communities from across the nation to connect and celebrate together.

From now until November, audiences can enjoy a kaleidoscopic line-up spanning world-class series, movies, documentaries, cultural explainers, podcasts, festive food shows, music videos, engaging student resources, community events and more. With the Festivals of Lights celebrated by over a billion people globally, including more than one million Australians of South Asian heritage, now is the perfect time to spotlight vibrant stories and perspectives from these diverse communities.

Performers from the Australian Nepali Multicultural Centre celebrating Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. Photo credit: Abhas Parajuli.

SBS Acting Managing Director, Jane Palfreyman, said, “SBS is proud to celebrate the Festivals of Lights with all Australians. Whether you mark Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas or Tihar – or you’re simply curious – our coverage invites everyone to share, learn and celebrate together. By showcasing stories in English and other languages, we’re helping build understanding, belonging and social cohesion right across the country.”

SBS Audio’s Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Nepali, Punjabi, Sinhala, Spice, Tamil and Telugu programs have a wealth of new content and explainers on the way. Highlights include:

• SBS Gujarati: Video and audio features with interfaith couples reflecting on what Diwali means to them and how they celebrate in unique ways, plus a video story showcasing the traditional Gujarati celebration of Annakut – which translates to mountains of food.
• SBS Hindi: A video exploring what Diwali signifies across cultures and a collaboration with celebrity chef Helly Raichura on fusion sweets made using native Australian ingredients.
• SBS Punjabi: An audio and video interview with Laura Jane Singh, a First Nations healing practitioner who married into a Punjabi family. This intersectional story explores how Laura and her Punjabi husband Inderjit Singh blend their unique cultural rituals in celebration of Diwali.
• SBS South Asian: Audiences can also enjoy curated music programming in six languages to get into the festive spirit. Tune in from 18-20 October for music specials from SBS Gujarati, SBS Hindi, SBS Nepali, SBS Punjabi, SBS Sinhala and SBS Telugu. Plus, in a first, SBS South Asian headed to Cairns for a full day of live broadcasts and content creation, featuring dozens of interviews with local community members, leaders and parliamentarians in ten languages. You can listen now in Hindi, Nepali and Punjabi, or check out SBS Gujarati, SBS Malayalam, SBS Sinhala and SBS Tamil’spodcast coverage, with more videos and podcasts to be released by all language teams this week.
• SBS Spice: The English-language digital channel for Gens Y and Z South Asian Australians, is bringing the festivities to the studio with Party in the Pod, a limited vodcast series where conversations flow over food. Across three episodes, South Asian influencers, creators, artists and community figures come together to share stories and celebrate under the twinkling studio lights.

SBS On Demand is ringing in the Festivals of Lights with the Celebrating Diwali | Deepavali collection, featuring seven curated shelves that capture the essence of this cross-cultural occasion. Highlights include critically acclaimed SBS Original romantic drama series Four Years Later, vibrant animation The Glassworker, Jasmeet Raina’s unmissable comedy series Late Bloomer, compelling documentaries like World’s Largest Cricket Stadium, and a dedicated Hindi Music Videos shelf that is guaranteed to get the party started. Audiences can also explore the platform’s broader South Asian collection which spotlights the best of South Asian films, TV, shows, and news.

Further programming highlights across SBS channels, include:

• SBS main channel is bringing back beloved favourites, including Luke Nguyen’s India (from Thursday 17 October, 11.05am); Bollywed (from Monday 20 October, 3.00pm); and Treasures of India with Bettany Hughes (from Monday 20 October, 4.10pm).
• SBS VICELAND will entertain with The Matchmakers (from Monday 20 October, 5.45pm); and Brand Bollywood Downunder (Tuesday 21 October, 11.20pm).
• SBS Food is serving up a flavourful line-up, including two series premieres. Catch Maneet’s Eats and Secrets of the Curry Kitchen weeknights from October 15 at 6.00pm and 6.30pm.
• SBS World Movies is hosting a movie marathon on Monday 20 October with four channel premieres: award-winning family drama Gulmohar (5.00pm), cross-cultural rom-com UNindian starring Brett Lee and Tannishtha Chatterjee (7.30pm), sports drama Ghoomer (9.30pm) and dramedy Maja Ma (12.00am).

All titles will also be available to stream free on SBS On Demand.

SBS’s education arm, SBS Learn, is supporting classrooms across Australia with ready-to-use resources for Diwali/Deepavali, designed for both primary and secondary students. The materials explore how, why and when the Festivals of Lights are celebrated, and include hands-on activities such as creating a rangoli or kolam, making a traditional diya – an oil lamp used during Diwali, and a recipe for preparing a simple barfi sweet. A multilingual video, subtitled in Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Nepali, Punjabi and Tamil, further supports learning and reflects the diversity of Diwali celebrations across South Asian communities.

Around Australia, SBS has partnered with a variety of community celebrations organised by local councils and associations, bringing festivities to NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic and WA. Check SBS’s Festival Guide for details of this year’s events.

For more information, visit sbs.com.au/Diwali

[TV.Cynic]

SBS Learn’s Dharug Ngurra resource empowers classrooms to meaningfully celebrate NSW Aboriginal Languages Week

SBS Learn is encouraging teachers to celebrate this year’s NSW Aboriginal Languages Week by exploring Dharug Ngurra. This ready-to-download classroom resource was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal-owned education organisation Wingaru to help meaningfully embed knowledge about First Nations cultures in schools and support the preservation and revitalisation of Aboriginal languages.

Created for primary school classrooms, the resource introduces educators and students to the rich history, language and cultural traditions of the Dharug people, the Traditional Custodians of the area known today as Greater Sydney. Dharug is one of many Aboriginal languages spoken on the East Coast of NSW, and through this resource, students can learn about Dharug dhalang (language) sounds and words while deepening their understanding of how language plays a crucial role in preserving cultural identity. ‘Ngurra’ means Country or place in Dharug.

Produced in consultation with Dharug language speakers, Dharug Ngurra is designed to support teachers to integrate Aboriginal language and culture into everyday learning. The beautifully illustrated resource aligns with both the NSW and Australian curriculums and includes teacher notes, a pronunciation guide, worksheets and tasks connecting students to Country, culture and language, and guidance and tools for Acknowledging Country.

SBS Director, First Nations, Tanya Denning-Orman, said: “At SBS, we recognise that language is at the heart of culture and identity. Our partnership with Wingaru to create Dharug Ngurra empowers teachers to bring First Nations language and culture into the classroom. NSW Aboriginal Languages Week is a wonderful time to celebrate and explore Dharug language, but this learning can continue all year round. We thank the Dharug language speakers and all who contributed to this latest SBS Learn resource, and hope it contributes to vital work happening in communities around the country to revitalise First Nations languages, while deepening cultural understanding for students across Australia.”

Wingaru CEO and founder, Lesley Woodhouse, said: “Language is more than words – it holds stories, connection and lore. Across Australia, First Nations language speakers are leading projects to keep languages strong. Dharug language is central to the culture of the 29 Dharug-speaking clans across Sydney, and Dharug community are working hard to revitalise our dhalang (language) through the efforts of Elders, speakers and projects like the Bayala Language Project. When teachers include Dharug language in their practice, they help strengthen it. I encourage more educators to connect with the local language of their area and learn the appropriate protocols to include it in everyday education.”

NSW Aboriginal Languages Week celebrates the strength, resilience and diversity of Aboriginal languages and the communities working to preserve, teach and revitalise them. This year’s theme ‘Let Our Voices Fly’ highlights the importance of keeping languages alive through education, community and culture, and SBS Learn’s Dharug Ngurra resource provides an opportunity to bring this theme to life.

Dharag Ngurra is the latest First Nations language classroom resource published by SBS Learn, following Learn Wiradjuri: Volume 1 Ngumbaayand Learn Wiradjuri: Volume 2 Bula, based on a published Wiradjuri Workbook written by Professor Lynette Riley and Diane Riley-McNaboe.

SBS Learn also encourages teachers to explore SBS’s award-winning interactive animation My Grandmother’s Lingo and the accompanying resource, which offers an opportunity to learn about the importance of preserving language and discover the endangered Aboriginal language of Marra, from the Arnhem Land region.

To explore Dharug Ngurra, and other SBS Learn resources, visit SBS Learn.

[Expensive_Horse5538]

The Australian is reporting that Paramount ANZ chief Beverley McGarvey is on the shortlist to replace James Taylor as Managing Director. Apparently despite SBS saying they are conducting a “global search”, apparently the search hasn’t extended beyond 10’s Pyrmont studios.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/media-diary-boxing-promoters-bikie-shootings-sixfigure-loans-nine-radio-shock-jock-mark-levys-real-naked-story/news-story/f00e482cbfeeb30ba7aeea9631a1c56c

[NuStraya]

SBS News+ for 2026 then?

[TV.Cynic]

New research shows sense of belonging is growing stronger among multilingual Australians

A new report released today by SBS and the University of Canberra highlights an overall increase in multilingual audiences’ sense of belonging compared to the first wave of research published in 2023, and also demonstrates the powerful role of inclusive media.

Across four measures of belonging, the most significant increases were in the proportion of multilingual audiences that say their needs are being met (69%, +8pp) and that members care about each other (64%, +7pp) in their local communities.[1] Additionally, those who feel their culture and language are represented fairly in news feel a stronger sense of belonging (63%) than those who don’t feel fairly represented (32%).

The Sense of Belonging and Media Representation among Multilingual Audiences in Australia study surveyed 1,876 respondents across seven languages – Arabic, Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi, Vietnamese and English. The research was co-led by Rebecca Griffiths, SBS’s Audience Research Lead, and Professor Sora Park, University of Canberra’s Director of News & Media Research Centre.

Together with news and media representation, other contributing factors to belonging were found to be residential status, length of time in Australia, and English language confidence. Punjabi speakers, included for the first time in this research, reported the highest sense of belonging across all the cohorts surveyed, while Mandarin speakers feel the least connected.

The study also found that media representation plays a key role in communities’ confidence to participate in society, which can lead to a greater sense of belonging. Overall multicultural audiences feel less fairly represented by Australian media compared to the general population, particularly among Arabic, Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. Multilingual audiences, however, feel more fairly represented by SBS News (56%) versus general Australian news (46%), with variances across the different language communities studied.

Director of News & Media Research Centre, Professor Sora Park, said: “Cultural representation in the broader Australian media is a key factor in fostering a sense of belonging within society. Multilingual audiences also expressed a strong desire for more media content in their language, and we found that each community holds nuanced preferences regarding how their culture and language are portrayed.’’

SBS Acting Managing Director, Jane Palfreyman, said: ‘’SBS has been contributing to a sense of belonging for all Australians for 50 years by driving an inclusive and multicultural media landscape. This second wave of research shows positive outcomes, demonstrating progress while recognising there is more to be done. By platforming diverse voices and perspectives, we can continue to build connection and a more socially cohesive Australia.”

The full report can be accessed here: Sense of Belonging and Media Representation among Multilingual Audiences in Australia.

[JohnsonTV]

SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce2025 Digital Originals Shortlist

SBS, NITV and Screen Australia are excited to unveil the 10 projects shortlisted for the first round of the 2025 Digital Originals initiative. Now in its sixth year, this award-winning program champions bold, innovative scripted storytelling from the next wave of Australian screen talent. Select series will be commissioned and premiere on SBS On Demand and NITV.

A flagship partnership between SBS, NITV and Screen Australia, Digital Originals is central to SBS’s commitment to developing and commissioning bold and risk-taking scripted series from diverse voices both on screen and behind the camera. The initiative supports rising talent from underrepresented communities in the sector, including those who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), First Nations, people with disability, female and gender diverse, LGBTQ+, and those based in regional and remote areas.

The 10 shortlisted teams are currently participating in an immersive development workshop in Sydney hosted by SBS, NITV and Screen Australia. The workshop features sessions with industry mentors including Alistair Baldwin (Latecomers; Erotic Stories), Hannah Ngo (Latecomers; Bird Drone), Jub Clerc (Warm Props; Sweet As), Julie Kalceff (First Day; Starting from… Now), Mithila Gupta (Four Years Later; Winners & Losers), Nicole Coventry (Sherbert Rozencrantz, You’re Beautiful; Eaglehawk) and Taofia Pelesasa (Moni; Parramatta).

The workshop gives teams the opportunity to enhance their narrative-writing skillset and develop their projects in line with the SBS Charter and SBS Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines. It will culminate in teams pitching to SBS, NITV and Screen Australia, with up to five projects selected for further development funding. From these, up to three scripted series will advance to receive production funding and premiere on SBS On Demand, SBS VICELAND and NITV.

This year’s initiative received more than 200 applications from across the nation. The strong response is a testament to the enduring relevance and impact of Digital Originals in shaping the future of the Australian screen industry.

SBS Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha, said: “Digital Originals continues to be one of the most impactful pathways in the world for visionary new voices to break through and tell bold, original scripted stories. It is a cornerstone of SBS’s commitment to developing the next generation of screen creatives. Selected from more than 200 applications, we can’t wait to collaborate with this talented cohort and help bring their stories to life.”

NITV Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production, Dena Curtis, said: “Digital Originals is a powerful pathway for First Nations creatives to grow, develop and break into the industry. We’re thrilled to see such a broad spectrum of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander projects shortlisted this year, reflecting the strength of new talent coming through. We can’t wait for these bold new voices to continue evolving and share their stories with NITV audiences.”

Screen Australia Director of Narrative Content, Louise Gough, said: “Digital Originals is an important talent escalation initiative and partnership with SBS and NITV that has created tangible pathways for early career creatives from a range of backgrounds to tell bold and distinctive stories for Australian audiences. We’re excited to support 10 new teams as they develop their projects, learn from industry experts and Digital Originals alumni and build their industry connections at this year’s workshops. I can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort create.”

Digital Originals continues to build on its legacy as a launchpad for underrepresented creatives to break into the industry and garner local and international recognition. Recent Digital Originals successes include the Series Mania selected series Moonbird (2025); Appetite (2023) which premiered at the Canneseries TV Festival and was also nominated for a Rose d’Or; Night Bloomers (2023) which won the 2024 Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) Award for Best Web Series; Latecomers (2022) which also premiered at Canneseries and went on to win the 2024 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards for Best Online Drama or Comedy and the 2023 Casting Guild Australia Awards for Achievement in Casting; and the AACTA award winning series A Beginner’s Guide to Grief (2022).

Alumni of Digital Originals have gone on to secure key creative roles across SBS Original drama series and elsewhere in the industry including: Mohini Herse (Appetite) who went on to be set-up director for SBS Original Four Years Later, Latecomers producer Liam Heyen and director Madeleine Gottlieb reprised their roles for anthology series Erotic Stories, The Tailings director Stevie Cruz-Martin who later directed award-winning series Safe Home, Homecoming Queens’ Corrie Chen and Michelle Law who have both gone on to create critically acclaimed projects, and filmmaker Dylan River who directed Robbie Hood.

The selected Digital Originals projects and the teams for the workshop are:

Bump Into You: When hard of hearing James bumps into Deaf sign-language user Frankie, it sparks an unexpected romance that challenges them both to confront their identities, family expectations, and what it means to belong.

Team: Nathan Borg, Sam Martin.

Durries: Jason and Vinay are two bumbling wannabe foot soldiers in the Tobacco Wars who are on the run after burning down the wrong building.

Team: Kevin Han, Michaela Le, Rohan Ganju.

Good Boy: A lonely motel receptionist falls in love with a man in prison. When she copycats a crime to prove his innocence, her fantasy life tips into a criminal reality.

Team: Rebecca Metcalf, Anu Hasbold.

Jellybean: As opening night nears, a Torres Strait Islander choreographer hides a pregnancy and faces the hardest decision of her life – to become a mother, or choose herself.

Team: Brooke Collard, Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury.

Loops: Two mismatched brothers must put aside their tangled differences to save their crumbling family rug store. But when a corpse is discovered wrapped in their Signature Rug, their last shot at redemption twists into a knot they may never untangle.

Team: Kauthar Abdulalim, Oz Malik, Noor Hoblos.

Musket: When Levi dumps a stolen colonial-era musket into Jack’s ute, two Koori best mates are forced into a tense overnight mission to return it – navigating rowdy classmates, buried memories and the silent weight of a boys’ school in a town that’s never truly seen them as equals.

Team: Jack Steele, Bronte Gosper.

Rogue One: Community policing meets chaos in the Top End where justice is murky, youth are smarter than the cops and the local BBQ holds more intel than HQ.

Team: Mema Munro, Cian McCue, Rebecca Parker.

SCAMMERS: After retiree Denise Reynolds loses her life savings to a scam caller, she reluctantly teams up with her young aged-care worker Anika Luthra to scam the scammers back. But as Anika and Denise get closer to each other and the truth, they uncover a greater scam much closer to home.

Team: Mehhma Malhi, Xavier Hazard, Paige Wharehinga.

The Salt Line (Working title): When a Torres Strait Islander detective returns home to investigate bones rising from the tidal mudflats, she’s pulled into a case where the island is being swallowed by the sea, old stories are waking and the truth may slip beneath the tide.

Team: John Harvey, Walter Waia, Mariana Babia.

Womb for Improvement: Kaz just wanted to chill – until her baby-crazy girlfriend, a coma-bound Nan and a sassy Aboriginal AI dragged her into the wild ride of queer parenthood. Matriarchy meets motherboard in this offbeat comedy about making a family, Blakfella-style.

Team: Tahlee Fereday, Damienne Pradier.

Digital Originals is part of SBS’s broader commitment to improving inclusion in the screen industry. Read more about this work here.

[TV.Cynic]

SBS calls for bold, thought-provoking factual ideas: up to $50,000 in development funding available

At SBS, We Go There – and now we’re calling on Australian factual producers to join us. We’re on the hunt for bold, thought-provoking and innovative new factual series ideas that push creative boundaries and spark national conversations. Successful applicants will receive up to $50,000 in development funding to help bring their vision to life.

Emerging from recent callouts for new documentaries, powerful series The People vs Robodebt explored political scandal through an innovative blend of documentary and scripted drama, while The Hospital: In The Deep End took three well-known Australians onto the frontline of the public health system, providing an unfiltered look at the challenges the health system faces.

Now, we’re searching for the next landmark SBS series – one that embodies our Charter and tackles a hot button issue impacting Australia today. We’re after ideas that challenge beliefs, provoke national conversations and trigger transformation. The kind of series that makes people think, feel and act.

Whether your idea features a daring stunt or experiment, employs inventive storytelling, or secures exclusive access to high-profile talent, it must bring a fresh, distinctive lens on the issues that matter most to Australia.

The SBS Factual Commissioning team will provide up to $50,000 in development funding for standout ideas with the potential to become must-see TV for a broad audience – particularly 35-55 year olds. Proposals are encouraged to include initial ideas for complementary digital content to deepen audience engagement and reach.

Head of SBS Unscripted, Joseph Maxwell, said: “At SBS we are always looking for bold new ideas that push boundaries. We want to work with the production community to deliver distinctive Australian content that matters. Our initiatives consistently deliver landmark shows – most recently, The People vs Robodebt. We are encouraging risk taking and innovation with SBS’s audience and Charter always front of mind.“

Submission details:

• SBS is seeking original factual format ideas ranging from three to eight episodes of up to one hour each in duration.
• Project proposals should be no more than four pages, and submissions must include a title, a logline and a single paragraph synopsis. Please include a short paragraph on how you hope to spend the development funds and a list of deliverables if successful.
• Submissions must be emailed to the SBS Factual pitching portal factual@sbs.com.au, with the subject line ‘New Factual Format Call out’. Please note all submissions will receive an acknowledgement email, but only successful applications will receive a feedback email due to volume.
• All applications must be eligible for state and/or federal documentary funding programs.
• Entries are now open and will close Friday 9 February 2026.